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Firmware Contractor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ALTEN Technology USA

FPGA Firmware Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$135K - $140K/yr

Provided on-site Required Qualifications * 4+ years of experience in FPGA firmware design and ... Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans ...

Landis+Gyr

Senior Engineer, Firmware

Lafayette, IN · On-site

$115K - $152K/yr

All staff, contractors and visitors have a responsibility to adhere to these communicated standards ... Senior Engineer, Firmware Requisition ID: 21222 Location:

Landis+Gyr

Senior Engineer, Firmware

Lafayette, IN · On-site

$115K - $152K/yr

Troubleshoots code for firmware (IC embedded code) applications. Work often involves analog and ... All staff, contractors and visitors have a responsibility to adhere to these communicated standards.

Artemis Consultants

Firmware Engineer

Dallas, TX · On-site

This role will involve working with internal teams, external contractors, and customers to design ... Experience implementing firmware security features and encryption schemes * Working knowledge of ...

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Firmware Contractor information

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$75K

$167.4K

$205K

How much do firmware contractor jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for firmware contractor in the United States is $167,438.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $143,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Firmware Contractor vs Firmware Engineer?

AspectFirmware ContractorFirmware Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires relevant certifications, experience, and sometimes freelance or contractual licensingUsually holds a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or related fields; full-time employment often with company-specific training
Work EnvironmentContract-based, often remote or on-site project-specific rolesFull-time or permanent positions within companies or R&D teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies hiring temporary or project-specific firmware development supportEmployed by organizations to develop, test, and maintain firmware regularly

Firmware Contractors typically work on a temporary basis, focusing on specific projects, while Firmware Engineers are full-time employees involved in ongoing firmware development and maintenance within organizations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Firmware Contractor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Firmware Contractor, you need expertise in embedded systems programming, proficiency in languages like C/C++, and a background in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with hardware debugging tools, version control systems (such as Git), and real-time operating systems (RTOS) is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies ensure reliable, efficient firmware development and seamless collaboration with hardware and software teams.

What are some common challenges faced by firmware contractors when integrating their work with hardware teams?

Firmware contractors often encounter challenges related to hardware-software integration, such as incomplete hardware documentation, evolving hardware designs, or unexpected hardware bugs. Effective communication with hardware engineers is crucial to address these issues quickly and to ensure that firmware is optimized for real-world device constraints. Contractors may also need to adapt to different development environments and toolchains depending on the client's setup. Regular sync meetings and thorough testing on actual hardware are essential practices to ensure smooth collaboration and successful project outcomes.

What are Firmware Contractors?

Firmware contractors are professionals who specialize in developing, testing, and maintaining firmware, which is the low-level software programmed into hardware devices. Unlike full-time employees, contractors are typically hired on a temporary or project basis to address specific needs, such as creating new firmware for a product or updating existing code. Their work involves close collaboration with hardware and software teams to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of electronic devices. Firmware contractors often have expertise in languages like C or C++, and work across industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, and IoT.
More about Firmware Contractor jobs
What job categories do people searching Firmware Contractor jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Firmware Contractor jobs are:
Firmware Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Firmware Contractor job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,438 per year, or $80.5 per hour.
FPGA Firmware Engineer

FPGA Firmware Engineer

ALTEN Technology USA

San Diego, CA • On-site, Remote

$135K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you'll collaborate on some of the world's toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Role Overview

This is a fully REMOTE role

You will be a key contributor to a safety-critical embedded systems engineering team, responsible for the design, implementation, and verification of preliminary FPGA logic for overspeed protection and ARINC 429 communication systems. Working from defined system requirements and architecture provided by the systems engineering team, you will develop and simulate firmware in a structured, DO-254-aligned development environment using Microchip's Libero toolchain.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and verify preliminary FPGA logic for overspeed protection functions, implementing requirements in firmware based on system engineer-supplied architecture and specifications
  • Design and verify preliminary FPGA logic for ARINC 429 communication, leveraging existing design where applicable and extending functionality per updated requirements
  • Develop and execute simulation-based verification plans to validate functional correctness of all FPGA logic prior to hardware integration
  • Validate all digital inputs and outputs with particular attention to the microprocessor interface on both overspeed and communication FPGAs
  • Provide complete pin allocation documentation for both FPGA designs in support of hardware team integration
  • Collaborate with systems engineers to interpret preliminary requirements and translate them into implementable firmware logic
  • Participate in design reviews, verification reviews, and technical documentation as required by the program schedule
  • Support FPGA family and device sizing selection in coordination with the systems and hardware teams

Development Environment

  • EDA Tool: Libero SoC (Microchip Technology)
  • HDL: VHDL or Verilog
  • Simulation: ModelSim (Microsemi edition) integrated within Libero
  • FPGA Platform: Microchip (family and device size to be determined)
  • Workstation: Provided on-site

Required Qualifications

  • 4+ years of experience in FPGA firmware design and verification for embedded or avionics applications
  • Proficiency in VHDL or Verilog and RTL design methodology
  • Experience with Microchip/Microsemi Libero SoC toolchain, or demonstrated experience with equivalent FPGA EDA tools (Vivado, Quartus) with ability to transition
  • Familiarity with ARINC 429 protocol including transmit/receive channel architecture, word structure, and timing requirements
  • Understanding of digital I/O interfacing, microprocessor bus interfaces, and pin allocation methodology
  • Experience developing and executing simulation-based verification using ModelSim or equivalent
  • Ability to work from system-level requirements and architecture documents to implement firmware logic independently

Nice to Have

  • Experience with DO-254 design assurance processes for airborne electronic hardware
  • Familiarity with overspeed protection logic or other safety-critical FPGA functions in aerospace or defense applications
  • Experience with existing ARINC 429 IP cores and integration into custom FPGA designs
  • Static timing analysis using SmartTime or equivalent tools
  • Background in requirements traceability and configuration management in a regulated development environment
  • Knowledge of Microchip PolarFire or SmartFusion2 device families

Salary Range: $135,000-$140,000/K

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.