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Staff Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in California

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$130K - $261K/yr

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures.

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA

$130K - $261K/yr

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures.

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$130K - $261K/yr

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures.

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA

$130K - $261K/yr

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures.

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Alameda, CA

$130K - $261K/yr

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures.

Cyngn

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$205K - $220K/yr

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will be driving the design, development, and validation of all firmware running on our vehicle drive & Safety controllers. This is a technical leadership ...

Cyngn

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$205K - $220K/yr

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will be driving the design, development, and validation of all firmware running on our vehicle drive & Safety controllers. This is a technical leadership ...

Cyngn

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA

$205K - $220K/yr

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will be driving the design, development, and validation of all firmware running on our vehicle drive & Safety controllers. This is a technical leadership ...

Saildrone

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$215K - $260K/yr

THE POSITION Saildrone is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer to join our Firmware team. Reporting to the Director of Firmware Engineering, you'll be leading the definition, design, and ...

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Alameda, CA

$149K - $196K/yr

This Staff Embedded Software Engineer works independently on the design, development, and maintenance of embedded firmware for an innovative and exciting new venture investigating and commercializing ...

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All JobsStaff Embedded Software Engineer JobsStaff Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in California

Staff Embedded Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$69.1K

$151.4K

$171.7K

How much do staff embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff embedded software engineer in California is $151,375.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,800.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Staff Embedded Software Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during product development?

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will regularly work alongside hardware engineers, firmware developers, quality assurance testers, and product managers to ensure seamless integration of software and hardware components. This collaboration often involves participating in design reviews, troubleshooting system-level issues, and aligning software development with hardware constraints and product requirements. Strong communication skills are essential for bridging technical gaps and ensuring project timelines are met. You'll also mentor junior engineers and contribute to architectural decisions, making cross-functional teamwork a key part of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you need expertise in embedded systems programming (C/C++), a strong grasp of hardware-software integration, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS), version control systems (like Git), and debugging tools is typically required, along with experience in industry standards and certifications such as ISO 26262 or MISRA. Excellent problem-solving skills, effective communication, and leadership abilities help you collaborate across teams and mentor junior engineers. These skills ensure the delivery of reliable, efficient embedded solutions and drive innovation in complex product environments.

What is the difference between Staff Embedded Software Engineer vs Embedded Software Engineer?

AspectStaff Embedded Software EngineerEmbedded Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; experience in embedded systemsBachelor's degree in similar fields; entry to mid-level experience in embedded systems
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and testing embedded software for complex systems in industries like automotive, aerospace, or consumer electronicsDeveloping embedded software for various devices, often in manufacturing or product development settings
Industry UsageCommonly used in large tech, automotive, aerospace, and industrial companiesWidely used across startups, mid-sized, and large companies in electronics and device manufacturing

The main difference between a Staff Embedded Software Engineer and an Embedded Software Engineer lies in experience level, scope of responsibilities, and project complexity. Staff engineers typically lead projects, mentor teams, and handle more complex systems, while embedded software engineers focus on developing and testing embedded code within their teams.

What does a Staff Embedded Software Engineer do?

A Staff Embedded Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software that runs on embedded systems—specialized computing devices found in products such as cars, medical devices, and industrial machines. They are responsible for writing code that interacts directly with hardware, optimizing performance, and ensuring reliability. In addition to hands-on development, staff-level engineers often mentor junior engineers, contribute to system architecture, and help set technical direction for projects. Their work is crucial in ensuring that embedded systems function safely and efficiently in their intended environments.
What are popular job titles related to Staff Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California? For Staff Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Staff Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Staff Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California are:
Staff Embedded Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Staff Embedded Software Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,375 per year, or $72.8 per hour.
Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Abbott

Alameda, CA • On-site

$130K - $261K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

Abbott rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 136 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

158th of 535 rated manufacturers

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Opportunity:

The Staff Embedded Software Engineer located in Alameda or Milpitas, California leads the development, verification, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to FDA-compliant design control procedures. They provide technical leadership, mentoring, and strategic advice, working independently to identify new technologies and implement process improvements. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, they ensure high-quality software delivery and contribute to the full development life cycle from specification to support.

What you will do:

  • Lead software development, verification, and validation for embedded bio wearable products, ensuring on-time delivery within budget.
  • Implement FDA-compliant design control procedures.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentoring for embedded software projects.
  • Ensure high-quality software delivery within schedule constraints.
  • Own technical aspects of C-based software products.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams and consultants on product development.
  • Interact with QA engineers to ensure software quality.
  • Utilize appropriate tools and techniques for productivity and code quality.
  • Research technical issues and propose solutions.
  • Participate in full development life cycle from specification to support.
  • Resolve significant technical issues and provide strategic advice.
  • Lead technical teams and develop cross-functional networks.
  • Adjust priorities and collaborate within team environments to meet project objectives.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering Mathematics, or related field with at least 10 + years of experience or Master's degree with at least 7+ years of experience.
  • Experience with software development of embedded systems for safety-critical products required
  • Strong debugging techniques and experience on using debugger in an embedded environment is required
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills
  • Knowledgeable of device driver and low-level device interface design and development is required
  • Experience in model-based design (UML or SysML), is highly desirable
  • Detailed experience with medical device development processes and FDA 510K and PMA regulatory requirement
  • Good knowledge of and experience in RF and WiFi software design, device driver configuration, and test is preferred
  • Preferred team leadership experience and demonstrated mentorship capabilities
  • Experience with Source Control Management is highly preferred
  • Experience with testing embedded devices is a strong plus

The base pay for this position is

$130,700.00 - $261,300.00

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY:Product DevelopmentDIVISION:ADC Diabetes CareLOCATION:United States > Alameda : 1360-1380 South Loop RoadADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:United States > Milpitas : 1820 McCarthy BlvdWORK SHIFT:StandardTRAVEL:Yes, 5 % of the TimeMEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:Not ApplicableSIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day)Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdfEEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

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