What does an Embedded Software Engineer do?
Embedded software engineers develop and implement the software of embedded devices and systems including smart watches, digital TVs, and electronic control units in a car. They may also be responsible for the analysis and monitoring of the efficiency and stability of a system. They develop and implement embedded devices and systems and support software quality assurance while optimizing I/O performance. They provide post-production support when necessary.
Embedded software engineers develop, code, test, and troubleshoot system software, and they analyze, monitor, and improve system efficiency and stability. They will interface with hardware design and development. They are the designers of the first layer of code that runs on a device and need a full understanding of its hardware. Embedded software engineers know the schematics of hardware and have chip data sheets related to the codes written for them. Embedded software engineers need a bachelor's degree in computer science or management information systems.
- Coordinate and participate in architecture, requirements, design, code, and test case reviews.
- Develop new embedded architectures to support our growing product development plans.
- Involvement begins at system requirement definition and continues through system verification and test.
- Reverse engineering of hardware, decompiling/disassembly of embedded code, and protocol analysis.
- Participate in the development of software processes and best practices.
- The software will typically implement complex data analysis, data routing, and/or control systems algorithms.
- Work with external development partners to drive project progress and results.
- Be a key contributor in defining the software architecture and designing for efficiency and reuse.
- Interpret and report testing results, and be a vocal proponent for quality in every phase of the development process.
- Work will also include develop prototype, demonstrations and proposals.
- Review product user interface for conformity to design guidelines.
- Responsible for software build and release of select projects.
- Assignments may involve leading small development teams and mentoring junior engineers.
- Candidate will also provide technical leadership and mentorship for more junior team members.
- Strong ability to integrate various components from different vendors into a fully functional and coherent system.
- Participate as a presenter or reviewer in technical and program reviews.
- Present teams' progress, technical trade-off, strategies for current and future product roadmaps.
- Responsible for training and career development of direct reports and responsible for the teams' morale and productivity.
- Assist in the design of the vehicle system architecture.
- Responsible for technical activity and completion of activity on time and budget.
- Create supporting documents for targeted design related activities/objectives and present to customer and internal groups for successful results.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in computer science, engineering or computer engineering.
- Experience with C, C#, Linux, JAVA, Python, Agile, CMMI, GIT, HDMI, and FPGA software and systems.
- Experience with embedded Linux and Embedded C.
- Fluent in operating systems, unit testing, algorithm design, and computing.
- Comfortable scripting and debugging.
- Is a dedicated problem solver.
How much does an Embedded Software Engineer make?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$131,222
/ yrEmbedded Software Engineer Career Path
Learn how to become an Embedded Software Engineer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Embedded Software Engineer Insights
Softeq Development“Relatively many people on the bench Internal development tools (libraries) are not well documented English courses are not as good as in another big 4”
“If you are keep for embedded devices then this is the best place to work.”
IBM“Working at IBM is good from career and works perspectives but it's actually not that great from an employers perspective.”
“Salary scale might be an issue but if you are looking for startup of your career then go for it!!!”
Panasonic Automotive“Salary was good and equilvlient to work overload”
ST Engineering“Good nice and good job”
Prudent Communication Systems“here there is no any disadvantages but one thing is salary is not that much of hike will not be there... here”
PureSoftware“> Project was amazing and was a great career booster.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of embedded software engineers
Embedded software engineers spend their workday designing, developing, and maintaining optimized code for specific hardware platforms. Knowledge of the entire embedded system is required, and the roles and responsibilities vary by organization. While some embedded software engineers work solely with embedded software, others are more involved with the entire system.
Yes, embedded software engineering is a good career which offers a high salary. Being an embedded software engineer can be a rewarding experience, as they are working on projects with a significant business impact. Working hours are often flexible, allowing for an excellent work life balance. Individuals who are great at problem solving and enjoy continuously learning new things are suited to become an embedded software engineer.
Yes, embedded software engineers get paid well. The average base salary for an embedded software engineer in the United States is $131,222 per year. This salary can vary based on years of experience, level of education, and the specific job requirements and responsibilities of the hiring organization.
Working as an embedded software engineer can be demanding at times, as the role requires a deep understanding of the schematics of hardware and how chip datasheets relate to code. To succeed in this job, you need an analytical mind, a passion for technology, and the ability to work collaboratively on an engineering team.