How to hire an embedded software developer

How to hire an embedded software developer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step embedded software developer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an embedded software developer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new embedded software developer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an embedded software developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an embedded software developer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An embedded software developer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, embedded software developers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of embedded software developer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Embedded Software Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   Embedded Software Developer	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show more	$32-56
   Java Programmer	Java programmers design and develop programs with the goal of not taking up too much data and less to almost no latency that can be useful to their users every day. They aim to write testable, well designed, and efficient computer codes... Show more	$29-49
   Applications Developer	An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs... Show more	$32-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Software Development
   • Linux
   • C
   • C++
   • GIT
   • Java
   • Firmware
   • Debugging
   • Embedded Systems
   • Windows
   • OS
   • Unix
   • Software Components

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
   • Work with hardware architectures (FPGA and DSPs) and interfaces (USB, SPI, I2C, and UART).
   • Work on network, USB, SPI and I2c device drivers.
   • Develop driver, OS abstraction layer and application software in QNX RTOS.
   • WEB server is developed over USB using TCP/IP stack and USB as a network class device stack.
   • Implement I2C communication interface between microcontrollers.

   More embedded software developer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your embedded software developer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An embedded software developer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an embedded software developer in Mississippi may be lower than in California, and an entry-level embedded software developer usually earns less than a senior-level embedded software developer. Additionally, an embedded software developer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average embedded software developer salary

   $89,506yearly

   $43.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level embedded software developer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average embedded software developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$125,141	$60
   2	Washington	$109,265	$53
   3	Massachusetts	$94,950	$46
   4	Texas	$92,864	$45
   5	North Carolina	$86,484	$42
   6	Maryland	$86,349	$42
   7	Florida	$82,962	$40
   8	Pennsylvania	$81,918	$39
   9	South Carolina	$81,618	$39
   10	Michigan	$81,249	$39
   11	Iowa	$80,420	$39
   12	Wisconsin	$80,394	$39
   13	Ohio	$77,762	$37
   14	Georgia	$76,730	$37
   15	Indiana	$76,411	$37

   Average embedded software developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$139,597	$67.11	374
   2	Infinera	$134,593	$64.71
   3	Amazon	$127,191	$61.15	779
   4	Texas Instruments	$121,760	$58.54	11
   5	Parsons	$121,218	$58.28	39
   6	Wind River	$110,709	$53.23	5
   7	Fortinet	$108,387	$52.11	49
   8	General Motors	$107,120	$51.50	591
   9	Ford Motor	$103,652	$49.83	506
   10	MathWorks	$103,466	$49.74
   11	Booz Allen Hamilton	$103,299	$49.66	117
   12	ICONMA	$102,391	$49.23	3
   13	Nuance Communications	$100,822	$48.47
   14	NIO	$100,401	$48.27	4
   15	The-Panther-Group	$99,129	$47.66	5
   16	Dana Incorporated	$99,113	$47.65
   17	Apollo Professional Solutions	$98,951	$47.57	7
   18	Intel	$98,876	$47.54	13
   19	Goodwin Recruiting	$97,369	$46.81
   20	Compass SLS and ILS	$97,051	$46.66	4

4. Writing an embedded software developer job description

   A job description for an embedded software developer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an embedded software developer job description:

   Embedded software developer job description example

   Engineers at Star Lab are driven by a desire to protect mission-critical and safety-critical systems. They pride themselves on being innovative and customer-focused. The work is challenging and highly technical, but it is also rewarding, enjoyable, and often leads to new learning experiences. This position is within Star Lab's Professional Services team. This team provides high-touch integration support to customers and assists in the development of security architectures.
   About the Position
   Contribute to porting, testing, and deployment of a Linux kernel and hypervisor tool suite that protects mission-critical and safety-critical systems from cyber and reverse engineering threats Leverage knowledge of embedded security, operating systems, virtualization technology, anti-tamper, or other areas of expertise to evaluate customer requirements, devise solutions / approaches, and meet challenging delivery deadlines. Enthusiastically collaborate and teach customers about Star Lab products, support product evaluations, train users, participate in design engagements, etc. Ensure efficient and streamlined version control and workflow, supporting the team in a fast-paced Agile/Scrum environment
   Necessary Skills
   Strong C, BASH, and Python development skills are musts. Rust experience is a plus. Building, testing, debugging, and porting Linux kernel code. Must be comfortable building and configuring the Linux kernel across different versions and operating system variants Comfortable communicating technical topics with external entities over email, phone, video, and in-person Some knowledge/experience with ARM Some knowledge/experience with x86 assembly and Yocto Experience troubleshooting firmware, boot loaders, and low-level operating system code on various hardware to include embedded processing boards, rack servers, and chassis subsystems Experience working with Xen-based virtualization as well as using and testing on Linux systems is a plus Understanding of information security practices (cryptography, privilege separation, etc.) Experience with Git and familiarity with Github Flow Familiarity with Continuous Integration tools (with GitLab CI experience a plus) Strong technical writing skills
   Due to security requirements, US Citizenship is required .
   
   Special Clearance Requirements
   
   This position will perform work that the U.S. government has specified can only be performed by a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and therefore any offer will be contingent upon verification of both of these requirements.
   
   #LI-AS1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find embedded software developers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your embedded software developer job on Zippia to find and recruit embedded software developer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit embedded software developers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview embedded software developer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new embedded software developer

   Once you've selected the best embedded software developer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an embedded software developer?