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Junior Firmware Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Participate in design and code reviews and provide informal mentorship to junior engineers. * Assist in maintaining and improving firmware build, test, and release processes. * Support integration ...

Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$97K - $110K/yr

Guiding and mentoring junior engineers, as needed Qualifications: * BS in EE, CS, or CE is required. MS in EE, CS, or CE is a plus. * Minimum 1+ years of firmware development experience is preferred.

Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $135K/yr

... junior engineers, as needed Qualifications: • BS in EE, CS, or CE is required. MS in EE, CS, or CE is a plus. • Minimum 2+ years of firmware development experience is preferred. • Minimum 2+ ...

Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $135K/yr

Guiding and mentoring junior engineers, as needed Qualifications: * BS in EE, CS, or CE is required. MS in EE, CS, or CE is a plus. * Minimum 2+ years of firmware development experience is preferred.

Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$97K - $110K/yr

... junior engineers, as needed Qualifications: • BS in EE, CS, or CE is required. MS in EE, CS, or CE is a plus. • Minimum 1+ years of firmware development experience is preferred. • Minimum 1+ ...

Job Title: Staff Firmware Engineering Location: San Francisco, CA (94103)- Hybrid (three days ... Mentor junior engineers through design discussions, code reviews, and day-to-day technical guidance.

Mentor junior engineers and support EE/Systems engineers working in firmware Requirements * BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related field * 7+ years of ...

Senior Firmware Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA

$128K - $169K/yr

Provide mentorship to junior engineers and level-up the overall capability of the TRS Firmware team. * Work cross-functionally with Electrical, Software, and Product Design teams to ensure program ...

Firmware Engineer II

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$126K - $189K/yr

As a junior-to-mid-level engineer, you will work on diverse projects, driving firmware / embedded software for highly integrated medical devices. You will work cross-functionally with electrical ...

Mentor junior engineers and support EE/Systems engineers working in firmware Requirements * BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related field * 7+ years of ...

Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, promoting best practices in firmware development. * System Integration: Collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure seamless integration of ...

Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, promoting best practices in firmware development. * System Integration: Collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure seamless integration of ...

Senior Firmware Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

Provide mentorship to junior engineers and level-up the overall capability of the TRS Firmware team. * Work cross-functionally with Electrical, Software, and Product Design teams to ensure program ...

Firmware Engineer 4

San Diego, CA · Hybrid

$175K - $225K/yr

Provide firmware subject matter expertise in architectural development and multi-disciplinary ... Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers. Requirements Please Note this ...

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Showing results 1-20

Junior Firmware Engineer information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$70.9K

$108.1K

How much do junior firmware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior firmware engineer in California is $70,859.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,900.00 and $79,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a junior firmware engineer?

Junior Firmware Engineers are entry-level professionals who help design, develop, test, and maintain the low-level software (firmware) that controls electronic devices and hardware. They typically work under the supervision of more experienced engineers, assisting with coding, debugging, and troubleshooting firmware issues. Junior Firmware Engineers often collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure that the firmware interacts correctly with the device's physical components. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those new to the field who are looking to build experience in embedded systems and firmware development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior firmware engineer?

A Junior Firmware Engineer typically needs a solid foundation in embedded systems programming, knowledge of C/C++ languages, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with tools such as debuggers, oscilloscopes, integrated development environments (IDEs), and version control systems like Git is important, while certifications in embedded systems can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork abilities help individuals excel in this role. These skills ensure reliable firmware development, efficient troubleshooting, and seamless collaboration within engineering teams, all critical for delivering robust embedded products.

What are some common challenges a junior firmware engineer may face when starting in this role, and how can they overcome them?

Junior Firmware Engineers often encounter challenges such as understanding legacy codebases, debugging hardware-software interactions, and adapting to rapid development cycles. It's helpful to proactively seek guidance from senior engineers, regularly review documentation, and utilize debugging tools specific to embedded systems. Participating in code reviews and collaborating closely with hardware teams can also accelerate learning and help overcome initial hurdles.

What is the difference between Junior Firmware Engineer vs Firmware Developer?

AspectJunior Firmware EngineerFirmware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; some certificationsBachelor's or higher in a related field; certifications are common
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team-based projects, hardware and embedded systemsMid-level to senior projects, embedded systems, software-focused
Industry UsageConsumer electronics, automotive, IoT devicesEmbedded systems, IoT, industrial automation
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles, career progressionClarifying job responsibilities, skill requirements

The main difference between a Junior Firmware Engineer and a Firmware Developer lies in experience and responsibility level. Junior Firmware Engineers are typically entry-level, focusing on learning and supporting firmware development, while Firmware Developers are more experienced, handling complex projects independently. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and industry usage, but the Firmware Developer role generally involves more advanced tasks and autonomy.

What are the most commonly searched types of Firmware Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Firmware Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Junior Firmware Engineer jobs in California?

For Junior Firmware Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Junior Firmware Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Junior Firmware Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Junior Firmware Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Junior Firmware Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Junior Firmware Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $70,859 per year, or $34.1 per hour.

Senior Firmware Engineer, Connected Warfare

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA

$128K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,770 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

About the Team

Connected Warfare builds the systems that give warfighters a decisive edge in real time - command and control platforms like the Menace Family-of-Systems that fuse sensor data, communications, and autonomy into deployable hardware that works in contested environments. The firmware team is where the product meets reality. We write the code that runs closest to the hardware - the drivers, the protocols, the real-time control loops that make these systems work when it matters. If a new board comes in, we bring it to life. If something breaks at the hardware-software boundary, we find it and fix it. We move fast, ship often, and work directly alongside Electrical Engineering on some of the most complex autonomous systems being built anywhere.

About the Role

We're looking for a senior firmware engineer who can own the full embedded stack for Connected Warfare systems - from first power-on to field deployment. You'll architect firmware for new platforms, make hard technical calls about drivers, protocols, and real-time behavior, and be the person the team turns to when a problem spans schematics, firmware, and software. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with Electrical Engineering, mentor junior firmware engineers, and shape how the codebase scales as the product line grows. This is a role for someone who's done this before and wants to do it on hardware that matters.

What You'll Do

  • Own end-to-end firmware for Connected Warfare systems - from board bring-up and driver development through system integration and field testing
  • Architect firmware solutions that are reusable, maintainable, and scalable across a growing product line
  • Develop low-level drivers for sensors, peripherals, and communication interfaces
  • Debug and resolve the hardest cross-boundary problems between hardware, firmware, and software
  • Review schematics with Electrical Engineering and influence hardware design decisions from a firmware perspective
  • Mentor and elevate other firmware engineers on the team
  • Drive firmware architecture decisions and coding standards

Required Qualifications

  • BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent industry experience
  • 4+ years of professional firmware or embedded software development
  • Strong C coding ability for embedded systems - this is your primary language, not a secondary skill
  • Deep experience developing firmware in bare-metal and RTOS environments
  • Hands-on experience with board bring-up, schematic review, and hardware-firmware integration
  • Proficiency with bus protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, Ethernet, USB, RS232, or RS485)
  • Experience debugging with JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
  • Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience across multiple microcontroller cores (ARM, AVR, MSP430, PIC, RISC-V, etc.)
  • Experience integrating microcontrollers with analog and digital sensors
  • Track record of building firmware that shipped to production on real hardware
  • Experience mentoring or technically leading other firmware engineers
  • Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash) for test automation or tooling
  • Interest in defense technology and a bias for action - you see a problem, you fix it

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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