How to hire a firmware test engineer

How to hire a firmware test engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step firmware test 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 test engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new firmware test engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a firmware test engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the firmware test engineer you need to hire. Certain firmware test engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect firmware test 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.

   Here's a comparison of firmware test engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Firmware Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Firmware Test Engineer		$29-54
   Quality Assurance	The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries... Show more	$13-44
   Quality Analyst	Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure... Show more	$26-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Firmware
   • Test Automation
   • Test Results
   • Linux
   • Test Scripts
   • RF
   • Test Cases
   • Test Tools
   • Regression
   • C
   • C++
   • Jenkins
   • FW

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage firmware of automate bench top devices that utilize a microprocessor.
   • Validate the FPGA, GPIO, SPI, and I2C.
   • Develop test tools to load new kernels, update file systems, and test RF equipment.
   • Create a robot control by a FPGA.
   • Maintain Linux WiFi device drivers for Qualcomm/Atheros AR9xxx.
   • Develop one-touch bootable Linux environment with a small, custom kernel.

   More firmware test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your firmware test engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A firmware test engineer 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 a firmware test engineer in New Mexico may be lower than in California, and an entry-level firmware test engineer usually earns less than a senior-level firmware test engineer. Additionally, a firmware test engineer 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 firmware test engineer salary

   $84,319yearly

   $40.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level firmware test engineer salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average firmware test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$125,410	$60
   2	Washington	$97,039	$47
   3	New York	$89,132	$43
   4	Illinois	$85,931	$41
   5	Arizona	$85,261	$41
   6	North Carolina	$82,419	$40
   7	Virginia	$80,031	$38
   8	Texas	$79,355	$38
   9	Wisconsin	$78,258	$38
   10	Minnesota	$75,814	$36
   11	Colorado	$73,781	$35
   12	Florida	$72,102	$35
   13	Indiana	$72,093	$35
   14	Ohio	$69,273	$33

   Average firmware test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$159,264	$76.57	25
   2	Synaptics	$123,203	$59.23	1
   3	Populus Group	$114,413	$55.01
   4	Kelly Services	$113,989	$54.80	5
   5	General Motors	$99,639	$47.90	29
   6	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$98,542	$47.38	10
   7	Aerotek	$98,122	$47.17	16
   8	Micron Technology	$97,853	$47.04
   9	Enphase Energy	$96,552	$46.42	2
   10	Seagate Technology	$94,610	$45.49	1
   11	Milwaukee Tool	$94,130	$45.25	5
   12	Latch	$93,324	$44.87
   13	Starkey Hearing Technologies	$92,653	$44.54
   14	Tesla	$91,621	$44.05
   15	Bio-Rad Laboratories	$91,549	$44.01
   16	Qualcomm	$90,959	$43.73	39
   17	Luminar Technologies	$90,780	$43.64
   18	Trilliant	$90,591	$43.55
   19	Techtronic Industries TTI	$89,373	$42.97	4
   20	Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories	$89,213	$42.89	20

4. Writing a firmware test engineer job description

   A firmware test engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a firmware test engineer job description:

   Firmware test engineer job description example

   MKS Instruments is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.
   Embedded Firmware Test Engineer
   
   Are you naturally curious? So are we at MKS. Our products drive technology advancements across applications such as 5G, augmented/virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, clean drinking water and space exploration. We are a team of collaborators who value fresh thinking and believe in mutual respect, constructive candor, diversity and inclusion.
   
   MKS Instruments' Power Solutions products provide plasma generation and control solutions for semiconductor manufacturing processes. We are a key supplier to the world's largest electronics producers and are currently experiencing tremendous growth . As the semiconductor manufacturing industry is continuing to push the envelope in terms of device density, wafer uniformity, and device speed, high speed plasma control becomes a significant technical challenge. These challenges require innovative thinking and inquisitive engineering minds.
   
   The Embedded Firmware Test Engineer 's role is to design, analyze and develop test suites for RF plasma control systems used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. You will work on our embedded development team and closely with our R&D team on advanced plasma control technologies.
   
   Learning Opportunities:
   No prior experience with RF systems, plasma control, or semiconductor manufacturing is necessary. While the main language for our test suites is Python, experience in similar programming languages and/or any test automation environment such as LabVIEW is helpful. Opportunities to learn Embedded C++, FPGA development, Digital Signal Processing algorithms, and Multi-Input Multi-Output Control System algorithms will arise depending on your skills and interests.
   
   You will:
   Work with a team to design, implement, troubleshoot, debug, and support embedded firmware test suites involving test automation software and interfacing to electronic test equipment for RF systems for plasma control. Conduct tests on RF systems for plasma control and analyze resulting test data. Produce design documentation. Interface with internal customers to determine and develop specifications. Participate in test automation design reviews and recommend improvements. Support test automation for new technology development initiatives and other critical projects. Analyze and troubleshoot application issues.
   
   You Bring to the Team:
   Bachelor's Degree (BS/BA) required, computer science or engineering degree preferred 6 months+ of experience with embedded development (school, internships count) - Ability to program test automation systems using programming languages such as python, behave, or similar languages 6 months+ of experience (school, internships count) debugging and troubleshooting embedded systems using electronic test equipment (oscilloscope, voltage meter, etc)
   
   It's also nice if you have:
   Experience with Python or Robot Framework for test automation Ability to interact with computers using the Linux operating system Interest in embedded system testing and test automation
   
   Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, for positions requiring access to export-controlled goods and technical data that are subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR), MKS Instruments. Inc. may have to obtain an export license from the U.S. Government. As such, applicants for these positions, except "U.S. persons" (generally defined as U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (e.g.,, Green Card holders)), and individuals who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), such as refugees and asylees, may be subject to an export license review process. Employment is contingent upon issuance of the license.
   
   MKS Instruments, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find firmware test engineers 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 firmware test engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit firmware test 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

   To successfully recruit firmware test engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview firmware test engineer 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 firmware test engineer

   Once you've selected the best firmware test engineer 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new firmware test engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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