What does a principal firmware engineer do?
Principal firmware engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principal firmware engineer resumes:
- Provide consultation to the ISO team in achieving certification, and enable company to win many more deals as a result.
- Add DMA functionality to UART driver on THREADX RTOS.
- Develop I2C bus data driver (write/read) for FPGA through parallel port (LPT1).
- Optimize cache management on the base of ThreadX RTOS and ARMCC.
- Create a full automate test suite using python to automatically test equipment.
- Provide customer products support to WCDMA L1 issue analysis, debugging and fixing.
- Implement debugging and logging framework to capture real-time data to analyze and process offline.
- Fix bugs in USB 2.0 and SD 3.0 drivers that come from external customers.
- Develop firmware/board-support-package (BSP) for an NIOS processor embed in an FPGA in MicroC-OS.
- Collaborate with the ASIC design team to ensure accurate operation of HW subsystem IP blocks.
- Design DSP crash dump utility to analyze report crashes; evaluate DSP compiler and report issues to vendor.
- Work on H.264 encode reference c model, provide test cases, test vectors, simulation supports for ASIC engineers.
- Assist in design and implementation of the interface between the data transfer application subsystem and the PPP over Bluetooth protocol stack.
- Develop Linux driver for force-sensitive touch panel.
- Work on Linux environment hybrid firmware development simulation and testing.
Principal firmware engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Principal Firmware Engineers are proficient in Python, Debugging, and SSD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Principal Firmware Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 11%
Design and implement scripts for system automation and management utilizing Visual Basic, Python and other proprietary languages.
- Debugging, 6%
Provided customer products support to WCDMA L1 issue analysis, debugging and fixing.
- SSD, 5%
Documented and worked with HW team to create the interface between FW and HW in next generation SSD SOC.
- Linux, 5%
Worked on Linux environment hybrid firmware development simulation and testing.
- Software Development, 4%
Managed the Dallas facility software development and system administration groups with authority over multiple concurrent projects exceeding a $3M budget.
- Bluetooth, 4%
Assisted in design and implementation of the interface between the data transfer application subsystem and the PPP over Bluetooth protocol stack.
"python," "debugging," and "ssd" are among the most common skills that principal firmware engineers use at work. You can find even more principal firmware engineer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a principal firmware engineer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what principal firmware engineers do because "developers must analyze users’ needs and then design software to meet those needs." Additionally, a principal firmware engineer resume shows how principal firmware engineers use analytical skills: "lead the purchase and use of vmetro pci bus analyzer. "
Communication skills. Many principal firmware engineer duties rely on communication skills. "developers must be able to give clear instructions to others working on a project," so a principal firmware engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways principal firmware engineer responsibilities rely on communication skills: "developed firmware for sections of large network communication system-on-chip (soc) including intelligent peripherals. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for principal firmware engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how principal firmware engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "developers often work on many parts of an application or system at the same time and must therefore be able to concentrate and pay attention to detail." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a principal firmware engineer: "export the trace to pc for detailed decoding. ".
Interpersonal skills. For certain principal firmware engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a principal firmware engineer rely on this skill, as "software developers must be able to work well with others who contribute to designing, developing, and programming successful software." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what principal firmware engineers do: "recognized for excellent interpersonal and communication skills as recipient of multiple presidents club awards. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a principal firmware engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what principal firmware engineers relies on this skill, since "developers are the creative minds behind new computer software." How this skill relates to principal firmware engineer duties can be seen in an example from a principal firmware engineer resume snippet: "used microsoft's ribbon component along with the power of wpf layouts and data binding to produce creative ui applications. "
Problem-solving skills. While "problem-solving skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to principal firmware engineer responsibilities. Much of what a principal firmware engineer does relies on this skill, seeing as "because developers are in charge of software from beginning to end, they must be able to solve problems that arise throughout the design process." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of principal firmware engineers: "facilitated continuous improvement in the product development process through proposing many new approaches and techniques and developing solutions to complex problems. "
The three companies that hire the most principal firmware engineers are:
- Raytheon Technologies20 principal firmware engineers jobs
- Microsoft18 principal firmware engineers jobs
- Western Digital18 principal firmware engineers jobs
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Compare different principal firmware engineers
Principal firmware engineer vs. Senior system designer
An 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. They also develop test structures to find and improve weaknesses, troubleshoot issues, monitor systems, and perform regular maintenance checks. Most embedded software developers work in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a principal firmware engineer are more likely to require skills like "c #," "python," "ssd," and "linux." On the other hand, a job as a senior system designer requires skills like "sketch," "cad," "control systems," and "sr." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Senior system designers really shine in the transportation industry with an average salary of $112,015. Comparatively, principal firmware engineers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $135,831.senior system designers tend to reach lower levels of education than principal firmware engineers. In fact, senior system designers are 7.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Principal firmware engineer vs. Systems software specialist
In 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. There are also instances when an intern must process documentation, disseminate letters, manage schedules and inventory, attend meetings, and participate in creating new updates and systems for a company. Furthermore, should there be any problems, an intern must report to the supervising officer.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real principal firmware engineer resumes. While principal firmware engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "c #," "debugging," "ssd," and "software development," systems software specialists use skills like "system software," "computer system," "windows server," and "css."
Systems software specialists earn a lower average salary than principal firmware engineers. But systems software specialists earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $117,283. Additionally, principal firmware engineers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $135,831 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Systems software specialists tend to reach lower levels of education than principal firmware engineers. In fact, they're 5.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal firmware engineer vs. Embedded software developer
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from principal firmware engineer resumes include skills like "ssd," "sata," "fw," and "soc," whereas an embedded software developer is more likely to list skills in "c," "c++," "git," and "firmware. "
Embedded software developers earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $103,971. Principal firmware engineers earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $135,831.embedded software developers typically earn higher educational levels compared to principal firmware engineers. Specifically, they're 8.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal firmware engineer vs. Systems engineering internship
Even though a few skill sets overlap between principal firmware engineers and systems engineering interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a principal firmware engineer might have more use for skills like "ssd," "software development," "sata," and "spi." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of systems engineering interns require skills like "c++," "data analysis," "system design," and "simulink. "
Systems engineering interns reach similar levels of education compared to principal firmware engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 4.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of principal firmware engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
