Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in defense electronics, aerospace systems, cybersecurity platforms, and federal contracting across every level from junior firmware developer through principal systems engineer. The heaviest hiring is in Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads corridor, and the Richmond metro, where established names like Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton maintain large engineering footprints. The most in-demand specialties are real-time operating systems, RTOS firmware, hardware-software integration for defense platforms, and secure embedded communications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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GrammaTech is actively seeking a Senior Embedded Security Software Engineer to join our team in Linthicum, Maryland or Herndon, VA. Our team is composed of intellectual individuals, passionate about embedded software development, firmware reverse engineering, and low-level system testing. The team is growing and looking for someone with an embedded systems and firmware analysis background who has an understanding of how to perform light reverse engineering to map out undocumented targets and facilitate forward development inside an emulation environment.
What you will do:
- Contribute directly to delivering technical tasks focused on the reverse engineering and forward development of complex wireless and embedded systems.
- Support critical government customers by executing routine binary and file system analysis to help our team map out undocumented target architectures.
- Operate under moderate supervision, making decisions based on precedent and established company policies.
- Follow team practices to translate reverse engineering insights into functional software, enabling successful firmware rehosting and expansion within custom emulation environments.
What you will need (basic qualifications):
- Core Development & Scripting: Demonstrated programmatic competency developing low-level software in C/C++ and writing functional Python scripts for automation within Linux command-line environments.
- Reverse Engineering Tooling: Practical experience performing light architectural reverse engineering or control-flow analysis on firmware images using tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, or Binary Ninja.
- Emulation & Rehosting: Hands-on experience configuring or modifying embedded binaries to support successful firmware rehosting within emulation frameworks like QEMU.
Nice to have (preferred):
- Automated Reversing scripts: Experience utilizing the Ghidra API or Binary Ninja API to write basic scripts that automate binary or file system analysis tasks.
- Hardware Interfaces: Foundational knowledge or exposure to hardware debugging tools (such as JTAG or SWD) or interacting with Software Defined Radio (SDR) frameworks.
- Embedded Operating Systems: Prior experience developing software or compiling code for Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or customized embedded Linux environments.
- DevOps & Integration: Familiarity with DevOps best practices, software protection mechanisms, or binary fuzzing infrastructure.
Security Clearance:
- Active Top Secret/SCI Clearance for Herndon VA, Polygraph is required for our Maryland location
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $130,000–$190,000 annually. This range reflects the Company's good-faith estimate at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including the scope and level of the role, relevant experience, technical expertise, education, and other job-related qualifications.
GrammaTech offers a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; life insurance; and a 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions. Employees are also eligible for paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), sick and personal leave, annual merit increases, and performance-based bonus opportunities.
GrammaTech, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. GrammaTech is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants requiring accommodation should contact Human Resources.
See All 30 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia
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Find JobsEmbedded Software Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Software Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in embedded software engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
- Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance strongly preferred for Virginia roles
- Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded and bare-metal development environments
- Experience with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or RTEMS
- Familiarity with hardware debugging tools including JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
- Knowledge of communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, or MIL-STD-1553
Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a embedded software engineer in Virginia?
Embedded software engineering in Virginia does not require a state-issued license, but most roles demand a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science from an accredited program. Because so many Virginia employers are defense contractors, obtaining a DoD security clearance early is the most impactful step a candidate can take. Graduates from Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and the University of Virginia are well recognized by Virginia's large federal and defense employers.
How much do embedded software engineers make in Virginia?
Embedded software engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $136,460 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,350 for the lowest 10% to over $211,930 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire embedded software engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring embedded software engineers in Virginia right now include Northrop Grumman, Arcfield, and Trident Systems, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense and intelligence contractors means a significant share of openings require candidates to hold or be eligible for a federal security clearance.
Which Virginia cities have the most embedded software engineer jobs?
The cities with the most embedded software engineer openings in Virginia are Arlington, Herndon, and Dulles. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of defense primes and federal agencies, while Hampton Roads draws consistent demand from Navy and shipbuilding programs, and Richmond rounds out the market with a growing commercial technology sector alongside state government IT work.
Are there remote embedded software engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Embedded software engineering is inherently hardware-adjacent, requiring lab access, test equipment, and classified facility work that limits remote arrangements. About 58% of embedded software engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with most flexibility found in architecture, code review, and simulation-side work rather than bring-up and integration tasks.
How can I get hired as a embedded software engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an internship or co-op with a Virginia defense contractor or federal systems integrator while completing a relevant engineering degree. Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and SAIC all run structured early-career and new-graduate programs in Virginia specifically. Candidates with coursework in microcontrollers, a GitHub portfolio showing bare-metal projects, or a CompTIA Security+ certification to support clearance eligibility stand out most in a market where adjacent roles like embedded test engineer or hardware verification engineer often serve as the door-opener.
Where can I find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 30 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia
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