ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Firmware Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Principal Firmware Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are looking for a highly motivated Principal Firmware Engineer with a background in Silicon design, firmware development, validation, and debug to work on lighting up the various features and ...

Lunar Energy

Principal Firmware Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$230K - $260K/yr

Principal Embedded firmware engineer As an Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer, you'll play a central role in shaping the intelligence inside our hardware, writing the code that makes our devices ...

Lunar Energy

Principal Firmware Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$230K - $260K/yr

Principal Embedded firmware engineer As an Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer, you'll play a central role in shaping the intelligence inside our hardware, writing the code that makes our devices ...

Logitech

Principal Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

$231K/yr

As a Principal Firmware Engineer, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining firmware for our electronic devices. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ...

Logitech

Principal Firmware Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$231K/yr

As a Principal Firmware Engineer, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining firmware for our electronic devices. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ...

Phizenix

Senior Principal Firmware Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

What You Can Expect We are looking for a Senior Principal Firmware Engineer to join Client's Optical Connectivity firmware team in Santa Clara. This is a highly technical individual contributor role ...

Oracle

Principal Firmware Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

Seeking a senior staff-level engineer with expertise in datacenter platform firmware. This role requires working across product, infrastructure, security and platform teams both within and external ...

Oracle

Principal Firmware Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

Seeking a senior staff-level engineer with expertise in datacenter platform firmware. This role requires working across product, infrastructure, security and platform teams both within and external ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal Firmware Engineer Jobs

Principal Firmware Engineer information

See salary details

$75K

$167.4K

$205K

How much do principal firmware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal firmware engineer 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 Principal Firmware Engineer vs Firmware Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Firmware EngineerFirmware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science; extensive experienceBachelor's in related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesigning complex firmware, leading projects, mentoringDeveloping and testing firmware, implementing features
Industry UsageUsed in advanced product development, embedded systemsCommon in consumer electronics, IoT, embedded devices

The Principal Firmware Engineer typically has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and oversees complex projects, while Firmware Engineers focus on developing and testing firmware at an individual contributor level. Both roles require similar technical skills but differ in scope and seniority.

How does a principal firmware engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during product development?

As a Principal Firmware Engineer, you will frequently work alongside hardware engineers, software developers, and product managers to ensure seamless integration of firmware with hardware components. You'll be expected to lead technical discussions, provide architectural guidance, and review code or design documents from junior engineers. Collaboration often involves participating in design reviews, troubleshooting system-level issues, and translating product requirements into robust firmware solutions. This cross-functional teamwork is essential to delivering reliable, high-quality products on schedule.

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

To thrive as a Principal Firmware Engineer, you need deep expertise in embedded systems, strong programming skills in C/C++, and a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with hardware debugging tools, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and experience with version control systems like Git are typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are crucial soft skills for collaborating across engineering teams and guiding technical direction. These skills ensure the successful development, integration, and optimization of complex firmware solutions within multidisciplinary projects.

What is a principal firmware engineer?

Principal Firmware Engineers are senior technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing the software that directly controls hardware devices. They play a key role in architecting embedded systems, setting technical direction, and mentoring other engineers on firmware best practices. In addition to coding, they collaborate with cross-functional teams, troubleshoot complex hardware-software integration issues, and ensure firmware reliability and performance. Their expertise is vital to the successful development and launch of electronic products.
More about Principal Firmware Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Firmware Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Firmware Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Principal Firmware Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Firmware Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Principal Firmware Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Firmware Engineer jobs are:
Principal Firmware Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Firmware Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,438 per year, or $80.5 per hour.

Principal Firmware Engineer

Gateway Recruiting

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Position Overview
We are seeking a skilled Principal Firmware Engineer with specialized experience in developing firmware for active implantable medical devices. This role involves designing, developing, testing, and optimizing embedded software to ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of cutting-edge medical technologies. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and regulatory compliance for medical devices.
Key Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and test firmware for active implantable medical devices, ensuring high reliability and performance under strict power and size constraints.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers, software developers, and regulatory specialists, to integrate firmware with device hardware and external systems.
  • Implement and validate communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy, proprietary RF) for secure data transmission between active implantable devices and external interfaces.
  • Ensure compliance with medical device standards, such as ISO 13485, IEC 62304, and FDA regulations, throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Optimize firmware for low-power operation to extend the lifespan of active implantable devices.
  • Conduct risk analysis, debugging, and verification to ensure firmware meets safety and efficacy requirements.
  • Document all development processes, including design specifications, test plans, and validation reports, in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • Support clinical trials and post-market surveillance by analyzing device performance and implementing firmware updates as needed.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience:

  • 7+ years of experience developing firmware for embedded systems, with at least 5 years focused on active implantable medical devices required.
  • Proven expertise in programming in C/C++ for resource-constrained environments required.
  • Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and bare-metal programming.
  • Familiarity with medical device regulations (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485, IEC 62304).
  • Hands-on experience with low-power wireless communication protocols (e.g., BLE, Zigbee).
  • Experience using software development tools such as GitHub and Jira.
  • Experience conducting static analysis and unit testing using tools such as PC-Lint and GTest.

Skills:

  • Strong understanding of embedded systems architecture and hardware-software integration required.
  • Proficiency in debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
  • Knowledge of cybersecurity principles for medical devices, including encryption and secure data transfer.
  • Ability to work in a highly regulated environment with a focus on safety and quality.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Preferred:

  • Knowledge of battery management systems for implantable devices.
  • Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.