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How to hire a firmware engineer

Firmware engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring firmware engineers in the United States:

  • There are a total of 4,440 firmware engineers in the US, and there are currently 99,014 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a firmware engineer is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per firmware engineer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • San Diego, CA, has the highest demand for firmware engineers, with 40 job openings.

How to hire a firmware engineer, step by step

To hire a firmware engineer, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a firmware engineer:

Here's a step-by-step firmware engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a firmware engineer do?

The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.

Learn more about the specifics of what a firmware engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your firmware engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a firmware engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect firmware engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents firmware engineer salaries for various positions.

    Type of Firmware EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Firmware EngineerSoftware 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$35-62
    Embedded Software DeveloperAn embedded software developer designs and develops software embedded into systems and devices. They are primarily in charge of writing codes that implement systems and solutions, ensuring the embedded software adheres to project goals and requirements... Show more$32-56
    Systems Engineering InternshipIn a systems engineering internship, an intern is primarily responsible for following a supervising officer or manager's directives. Most of an intern's tasks revolve around assisting engineers in installing and maintaining systems, troubleshooting, and even providing corrective measures... Show more$12-26
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Python
    • C
    • C++
    • Debugging
    • SPI
    • Embedded Systems
    • I2C
    • Software Development
    • Linux
    • RTOS
    • Bluetooth
    • Firmware Development
    • UART
    • GIT
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Use of python to automate code generation and communicate over Wi-Fi with several printers.
    • Manage firmware of automate bench top devices that utilize a microprocessor.
    • Design and develop Linux device drivers for hardware components: I2C, GPIO, UART/RS-485, Ethernet, and J1708.
    • Develop display tool using ARM7, SPI, UART and PC hyper-terminal program.
    • Allow for efficient core development, providing advance features such as source-level debugging, break points and watch windows.
    • Perform regression testing using Jenkins.
    More firmware engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the firmware engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A firmware engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a firmware engineer in South Carolina may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level firmware engineer. Additionally, a firmware engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average firmware engineer salary

    $97,183yearly

    $46.72 hourly rate

    Entry-level firmware engineer salary
    $73,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average firmware engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$118,301$57
    2Washington$113,925$55
    3New York$95,754$46
    4Oregon$93,973$45
    5Texas$87,488$42
    6Arizona$86,763$42
    7Massachusetts$86,380$42
    8Wisconsin$80,478$39
    9Colorado$79,948$38
    10Minnesota$78,235$38
    11Pennsylvania$77,093$37
    12Georgia$75,155$36
    13North Carolina$74,904$36

    Average firmware engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Meta$165,614$79.622,911
    2Lyft$153,016$73.576
    3Google$152,230$73.19608
    4Apple$147,953$71.13274
    5NVIDIA$147,652$70.99125
    6Microsoft$146,082$70.23339
    7Rivian$138,626$66.6533
    8Zoox$137,655$66.1887
    9Amazon$134,901$64.86333
    10Infinera$134,006$64.43
    11Pure Storage$133,920$64.388
    12Seres$133,007$63.952
    13Oculus$132,963$63.92
    14Netgear$132,339$63.62
    15Quirky$131,778$63.35
    16GoPro$130,219$62.61
    17Varian Medical Systems$129,997$62.50
    18Square$129,137$62.09
    19Carbon$128,600$61.83
    20Logitech$128,009$61.54
  4. Writing a firmware engineer job description

    A good firmware engineer job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a firmware engineer job description:

    Firmware engineer job description example

    • Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Some ability in spoken/written Chinese Mandarin is helpful.
    • Must be able to travel via airplane, domestic and international.
    • Must have a valid driver's license and be able to travel via automobile for up to six hours at a time.
    • Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

    What's in it for you?

    Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 14 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, assistance, and more!

    Notice to Staffing Agencies, Placement Services, and Professional Recruiters:

    Phoenix Contact has an internal Staffing Department. Recruiters are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Phoenix Contact employees directly in an attempt to present candidates. Phoenix Contact will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Phoenix Contact, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Phoenix Contact mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Phoenix Contact employees, or to Phoenix Contact's resume database will be considered Phoenix Contact property. Phoenix Contact will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Phoenix Contact will consider any candidate for whom a Recruiter has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Recruiter free of any charges or fees. Phoenix Contact will not pay a fee to any Recruiter that does not have a signed Phoenix Contact contract in place specific to the position for which the resume was submitted. Recruiting vendor agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Phoenix Contact's Director of Organization Development and Talent Acquisition or his or her designee. No other Phoenix Contact employee is authorized to bind Phoenix Contact to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Recruiters. By submitting a candidate to Phoenix Contact, recruiters agree to be bound and comply with this policy.

    Phoenix Contact is committed to the diversity of our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right firmware engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with firmware engineers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit firmware engineers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your firmware engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit firmware engineer 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

    Recruiting firmware engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a firmware engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

    • 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 firmware engineer

    Once you have selected a candidate for the firmware engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a firmware engineer?

Before you start to hire firmware engineers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire firmware engineers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for firmware engineers is $97,183 in the US. However, the cost of firmware engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a firmware engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $35 and $62 an hour.

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