Embedded Systems Engineer Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: Embedded Systems Engineer [Mid-Level / Senior] Department: Engineering / Firmware Location: [City, State] / Hybrid (lab access required periodically) Reports To: Engineering Manager / VP Hardware Employment Type: Full-Time About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [stage/sector] company building [product description — IoT device, medical device, automotive ECU, consumer electronics]. Our firmware powers [X] deployed units in [markets/applications]. We operate at the intersection of hardware and software, where constraints in memory, power, and real-time response define every engineering decision. About the Role We're looking for an Embedded Systems Engineer to develop, optimize, and maintain firmware for our [product platform] based on [MCU family — STM32, ESP32, nRF52, custom SoC]. You will own firmware development from bare-metal bring-up to RTOS integration, hardware driver development, and over-the-air update systems. Your code will run on millions of deployed devices with strict reliability, power, and latency requirements. Key Responsibilities • Develop, test, and maintain firmware in C/C++ for [target MCU family] using [FreeRTOS / Zephyr / bare-metal / Linux] • Implement hardware abstraction layers and peripheral drivers: GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, PWM, USB, CAN • Design and implement communication protocols: [BLE 5.x, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, MQTT — specify applicable] • Debug hardware-software integration issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD debuggers • Optimize firmware for memory footprint (RAM/Flash), power consumption, and real-time latency • Implement and maintain OTA firmware update mechanisms with integrity checks and rollback capability • Collaborate with hardware engineers during schematic review, PCB bring-up, and DVT/EVT validation • Write unit tests and integration tests for firmware components; establish CI pipelines for embedded targets • Contribute to technical documentation: firmware architecture specs, register maps, and integration guides • Support certification processes: [FCC/CE/UL, ISO 26262, IEC 62304, or applicable standards] Required Qualifications • [4]+ years of professional embedded firmware development in C/C++ • Strong understanding of microcontroller architectures (ARM Cortex-M preferred) and memory-mapped I/O • Experience with at least one RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX) in production • Hands-on experience with hardware debugging tools (JTAG/SWD, oscilloscope, logic analyzer) • Familiarity with standard embedded communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, USB) • Understanding of power management techniques: sleep modes, duty cycling, voltage scaling • Experience with version control (Git) and embedded-specific build systems (CMake, Make, West) Nice to Have • Experience with wireless protocols (BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, LTE-M) • Safety-critical development experience (IEC 62304, ISO 26262, AUTOSAR) • Rust for embedded systems experience • Linux kernel module development or Yocto/Buildroot experience What We Offer • Competitive salary: $[low]–$[high]/year (see benchmarks below) • Equity: [X]% stock options / RSUs • Health, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer-paid for employee) • Flexible PTO + [X] company-wide holidays • Hardware lab and development equipment provided • Learning & development budget: $[X]/year • [Additional perk — conference attendance (Embedded World), wellness stipend, etc.] Salary Range: $90,000–$165,000/year (US, 2026 benchmark; exact offer commensurate with experience) [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.