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Staff Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in California

CSG

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$175K - $270K/yr

Staff Embedded Software Engineer - Linux and Hardware Systems Location: Greater Los Angeles Area, California (Hybrid) Position overview Our client is an engineering-led technology company developing ...

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.

Abbott

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Milpitas, 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

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 · 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

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.

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 ...

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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 Aug 14, 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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,375 per year, or $72.8 per hour.

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Terran Orbital Corporation

Irvine, CA

$141K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Staff Embedded Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Embedded Software & FPGA Manager, the Staff Embedded Software Engineer will play a key role in developing highreliability software for satellite systems and payloads.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of junior software engineers, providing guidance and tasking.
  • Develop and maintain embedded software for satellite modules.
  • Collaborate with crossfunctional engineering teams to define and refine software requirements.
  • Architect, design, develop, and maintain reliable, faulttolerant embedded software.
  • Serve as the technical lead for multiple satellite programs.
  • Create and maintain unit tests using Test Driven Development methodologies.
  • Develop and automate systemlevel tests.
  • Build software for specialized payloads, including imagers, image processors, communication devices, and astronomical science instruments.
  • Integrate and test software in simulation, flightreplica, flightvehicle, and hardwareintheloop environments.
  • Represent Terran Orbital in technical working groups and customer interactions.
  • Support occasional travel (up to 10%) to customer or vendor sites for design reviews and collaborative technical work.

Required Qualifications and Skills

  • 8+ years of experience developing C/C++ applications for embedded, highperformance, or missioncritical systems.
  • Experience with baremetal and/or RTOSbased designs (FreeRTOS, internal schedulers, embedded Linux, etc.).
  • Experience with electronic test equipment and embedded debug tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, hardware debuggers).
  • Deep understanding of microcontroller architectures, peripheral subsystems, and lowlevel interface design across multiple MCU families.
  • Experience with serial communication protocols (CAN, RS232/422/485, I2C, SPI, PCI).
  • Highly motivated, selfstarting, responsible, thorough, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • U.S. Person or lawful permanent resident to comply with U.S. government space technology export regulations.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Experience with ARM and Texas Instruments embedded platforms.
  • Experience using test equipment such as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers.
  • Familiarity with Linux and GNU toolchains (make, GCC, GDB).
  • Experience with scripting languages such as Bash and Python.
  • Knowledge of build pipelines, deployment processes, and ontarget testing.
  • Familiarity with SOLID software design principles.

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