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Firmware Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Engineer, Firmware

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Document firmware designs, implementation details, and test results. * Work closely with cross-functional teams including ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams. Qualifications:

Senior Firmware Engineer

Camas, WA ยท On-site +1

$135K - $179K/yr

You will be responsible for analyzing, designing, enhancing, programming, debugging, and optimizing existing or new firmware for microcontroller solutions. Responsible for leading the development and ...

Engineer, Firmware

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Document firmware designs, implementation details, and test results. * Work closely with cross-functional teams including ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams. Qualifications:

Document firmware designs, implementation details, and test results. * Work closely with cross-functional teams including ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams. Qualifications:

Embedded Firmware Software Engineer

Eagan, MN ยท On-site

$105K - $143K/yr

Document firmware designs, interfaces, and testing procedures to support ongoing development and future enhancements. Essential Skills * Proven experience in embedded firmware development for ...

Senior Firmware Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

Participate in design reviews and ensure firmware designs are technically sound, testable, and traceable. * Support hardware-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, automated test frameworks ...

Firmware Engineer - AirPods

Cupertino, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $277K/yr

... designs delivering outstanding performance, optimizing power and memory footprints while meeting latency requirements Enable expansion of our product ecosystem features through creation of ...

Senior Software Engineer - Firmware

Waukesha, WI ยท On-site

$119K - $158K/yr

Experience designing, developing, testing, or debugging embedded, firmware, or closely related software systems * Familiarity with the software development life cycle, from requirements through ...

Experience designing, developing, testing, or debugging embedded, firmware, or closely related software systems * Familiarity with the software development life cycle, from requirements through ...

Collaborate with system, hardware, and architecture teams to translate product requirements into clear firmware designs and well-defined hardware interfaces * Partner with global engineering teams ...

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Showing results 1-20

Firmware Designer information

See salary details

$75K

$167.4K

$205K

How much do firmware designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for firmware designer 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 are Firmware Designers?

Firmware Designers are professionals who develop and implement the low-level software that controls electronic devices and hardware systems. They write code, often in languages like C or C++, that operates directly with hardware components such as microcontrollers, sensors, and communication modules. Their work ensures that devices function reliably and efficiently, bridging the gap between hardware and higher-level software. Firmware Designers often collaborate with hardware engineers and software developers to create integrated, optimized products.

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

To thrive as a Firmware Designer, you need a solid understanding of embedded systems, proficiency in C/C++ programming, and typically a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with microcontroller architectures, debugging tools, version control systems, and occasionally certifications in embedded software development are highly valued. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with hardware and software teams. These abilities ensure reliable, efficient firmware development and successful integration with hardware products.

What are some common challenges Firmware Designers face when integrating hardware and software components?

Firmware Designers often encounter challenges when ensuring seamless communication between hardware and software. These challenges include dealing with hardware constraints such as limited memory or processing power, debugging issues that may arise from timing mismatches, and adapting to evolving hardware specifications. Close collaboration with hardware engineers and thorough testing are essential to identify and resolve integration issues early in the development process. Staying updated with the latest tools and industry standards also helps in overcoming these challenges efficiently.

What is the difference between Firmware Designer vs Firmware Engineer?

AspectFirmware DesignerFirmware Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; certifications are optionalSimilar educational background; certifications like Certified Firmware Engineer are uncommon but beneficial
Work EnvironmentDesign-focused, often in R&D or product development teamsDevelopment and testing, often in engineering teams working on product deployment
Industry UsageUsed across electronics, consumer devices, automotive, and IoT sectorsCommonly found in embedded systems, consumer electronics, and automotive industries
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on designing firmware architecture and initial developmentEmphasizes implementation, testing, and maintaining firmware code

Firmware Designers primarily focus on creating and designing firmware architecture, while Firmware Engineers are more involved in coding, testing, and maintaining firmware. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to embedded systems development, but their day-to-day tasks and focus areas differ slightly.

More about Firmware Designer jobs
What job categories do people searching Firmware Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Firmware Designer jobs are:
Engineer, Firmware

Engineer, Firmware

Lumotive

Milpitas, CA โ€ข On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 hours ago


Job description

Lumotive is pioneering the era of programmable opticsโ€”where light is controlled as intelligently and flexibly as software.
ย 
At the heart of this transformation is a once-in-a-generation innovation: a flatย CMOS-basedย โ€œgeneral purpose optic.โ€ Lumotiveโ€™s Light Control Metasurface (LCMโ„ข)ย beam forming chipsย can be programmed to function as aย beam steering mirror, a lens, mirror, a beam splitterโ€”or any optical functionโ€”replacing bulky and mechanical optical components with a fully digital, reconfigurable semiconductor . This breakthrough lays the foundation for a massive shift in multiple technologiesโ€”from 3D sensing and imaging to optical networking, free space optical communication, and beyond. Like the shift from analog to digital in electronics, programmable optics will reshape industries from robotics, self-driving cars, AI, defense, and healthcare.

Lumotiveโ€™s first commercial application is in LiDAR, where its software-defined beam steering chips are already enabling compact, high-performance, solid-state sensors. These sensors are being deployed today in smart infrastructure, robotics, and mobility systems through leading module makers and solution integrators.

With more than 200 patents and growing commercial traction, Lumotive is delivering the worldโ€™s first digital platform for lightโ€”and redefining whatโ€™s possible in the optical age.

Job Description:

Join our firmware team to develop and support embedded software for next-generation Mixed signal ASIC/SoC for Optical circuit switching platform. This role is ideal for recent graduates or engineers with up to one year of experience who want hands-on exposure to embedded systems, firmware development, RTOS environments, and hardware bring-up. You will work closely with experienced engineers across hardware, software, and system teams to develop production-quality firmware and gain practical experience with embedded platforms.

Responsibilities:
  • Develop and maintain embedded firmware modules for processor-based systems and ASIC/SoC platforms.
  • Assist in implementation, integration, and debugging of firmware features under guidance from senior engineers.
  • Support development and validation of drivers and interfaces for embedded peripherals such as IยฒC, SPI, UART, GPIO, DMA, and related hardware modules.
  • Participate in RTOS-based firmware development activities including task creation, scheduling, and debugging.
  • Support board bring-up activities and system-level integration and validation.
  • Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate firmware components into the overall system architecture.
  • Assist in debugging firmware and hardware interaction issues.
  • Write unit tests and participate in system-level testing and validation activities.
  • Use debugging and lab tools such as JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related tools for troubleshooting.
  • Participate in code reviews and follow software development best practices.
  • Document firmware designs, implementation details, and test results.
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams including ASIC, hardware, software, and systems engineering teams.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelorโ€™s, Masterโ€™s, or PhD degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • 0โ€“1 year of experience in embedded systems or firmware development (internships, research work, and academic projects are acceptable).
  • Basic understanding of C/C++ programming for embedded systems.
  • Understanding of computer architecture concepts including memory systems, interrupts, and processor fundamentals.
  • Basic understanding of embedded systems and microcontroller-based design.
  • Familiarity with communication protocols such as IยฒC, SPI, UART, GPIO, Ethernet or similar interfaces.
  • Familiarity with software development tools and version control systems such as Git.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to learn quickly and work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
  • Internship, academic research, or project experience in embedded systems or firmware development.
  • Exposure in IC design, processor design or optical system design.
  • ย Exposure to RTOS environments such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, or similar systems.
  • Basic scripting experience with Python or similar programming languages.
  • Familiarity with Linux-based development environments.
  • Exposure to debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or JTAG-based debugging.
  • Understanding of software testing concepts including unit testing and debugging methodologies.
  • Familiarity with embedded software development workflows and build systems.
Base pay is scaled depending on experience ย + Performance based Quarterly Bonus + Equity.
Benefits include but not limited to:

Health, dental and vision
FSA, HSA
PTO plus 14 paid company holidays
401K with 3% contribution
Stock Options
Life insurance and disability

Lumotive logo

About Lumotive

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

2018

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