Firmware Engineer Jobs in California
Firmware Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in consumer electronics, defense systems, semiconductor design, and automotive technology across entry-level through principal engineer roles. The heaviest hiring happens in San Jose, San Diego, and the greater Los Angeles area, where companies like Qualcomm, Apple, and Broadcom maintain deep embedded systems teams. The most in-demand specialties are real-time operating systems, wireless connectivity protocols, and hardware-software integration for edge devices. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 178+ Firmware Engineer jobs
- Research, evaluate, and prototype emerging wireless and embedded technologies for next-generation connected access products
- Design, develop, and architect embedded systems and firmware solutions for smart locks and access control devices from initial bring-up through production readiness
- Design and implement new embedded firmware features including sensor integration, proximity-based functionality, and low-power device operation
- Integrate Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and other wireless communication protocols within embedded firmware to enable secure device connectivity with mobile applications and cloud services
- Design and develop embedded interfaces using wired communication protocols to interface with sensors, motors, actuators, and control components
- Design and evolve embedded firmware architectures using real-time operating systems and bare-metal implementations to ensure reliable, scalable device operation
- Develop and optimize power-management strategies to achieve long battery life in resource-constrained devices
- Collaborate with intellectual property teams to identify, document, and contribute to patentable firmware and system-level innovations
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or equivalent
- 5 years of related experience
- 5 years of experience designing and developing embedded wireless connectivity firmware enabling secure device communication with mobile applications and cloud services
- 4 years of experience developing embedded firmware using Embedded C for battery-powered real-time devices with hardware peripheral integration
- 4 years of experience designing and developing real-time embedded applications using RTOS for reliable device operation and performance
- 5 years of experience designing embedded systems architecture integrating firmware, wireless communication protocols, and hardware interfaces
- 5 years of experience designing and developing embedded communication interfaces using wired protocols with low-level driver development and protocol debugging
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access.
- Research, evaluate, and prototype emerging wireless and embedded technologies for next-generation connected access products
- Design, develop, and architect embedded systems and firmware solutions for smart locks and access control devices from initial bring-up through production readiness
- Design and implement new embedded firmware features including sensor integration, proximity-based functionality, and low-power device operation
- Integrate Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and other wireless communication protocols within embedded firmware to enable secure device connectivity with mobile applications and cloud services
- Design and develop embedded interfaces using wired communication protocols to interface with sensors, motors, actuators, and control components
- Design and evolve embedded firmware architectures using real-time operating systems and bare-metal implementations to ensure reliable, scalable device operation
- Develop and optimize power-management strategies to achieve long battery life in resource-constrained devices
- Collaborate with intellectual property teams to identify, document, and contribute to patentable firmware and system-level innovations
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or equivalent
- 5 years of related experience
- 5 years of experience designing and developing embedded wireless connectivity firmware enabling secure device communication with mobile applications and cloud services
- 4 years of experience developing embedded firmware using Embedded C for battery-powered real-time devices with hardware peripheral integration
- 4 years of experience designing and developing real-time embedded applications using RTOS for reliable device operation and performance
- 5 years of experience designing embedded systems architecture integrating firmware, wireless communication protocols, and hardware interfaces
- 5 years of experience designing and developing embedded communication interfaces using wired protocols with low-level driver development and protocol debugging
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access.
See All 178+ Firmware Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Firmware Engineer JobsFirmware Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Firmware Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple23
- Anduril9
- Tesla8
- NVIDIA7
- Qualcomm6
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware31
- Technology & Software18
- Manufacturing8
- Science & Research7
- Consulting & Professional Services6
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in firmware engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
- Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded and low-level systems development
- Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS or VxWorks
- Hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG interfaces
- Familiarity with communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN
- Experience with version control systems and embedded software development lifecycles
Firmware Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a firmware engineer in California?
Most firmware engineers in California enter the field with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science from a California university or college. California does not require a state-issued license to work as a firmware engineer. Employers typically expect hands-on experience with embedded systems through coursework, senior design projects, or internships, and many California hiring managers place significant weight on a demonstrable project portfolio alongside your degree.
Which companies hire firmware engineers in California?
Employers hiring firmware engineers in California right now include Apple, Anduril, and Tesla, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor, defense, and consumer electronics headquarters means demand is particularly consistent across the San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles corridors.
Which California cities have the most firmware engineer jobs?
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Palo Alto have the most firmware engineer openings in California. San Jose sits at the center of semiconductor and consumer electronics activity, while San Diego is driven by its large defense contractor and wireless technology base, and Los Angeles draws demand from aerospace firms and the growing hardware startup ecosystem in the region.
Are there remote firmware engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Firmware engineering is a hands-on discipline that typically requires access to physical hardware, lab equipment, and test benches, which limits full-time remote work. About 34% of firmware engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those roles tend to concentrate in architecture review, code review, and documentation-heavy positions rather than active bring-up or debugging work.
How can I get hired as a firmware engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate or associate firmware engineer role at a California company with structured onboarding, where you work alongside senior engineers on defined subsystems. Companies like Qualcomm, Broadcom, and several San Diego defense contractors run university-hire and early-career programs that target candidates from California engineering programs. Building a portfolio of embedded projects using development boards, contributing to open-source firmware, or completing a capstone project with real hardware gives you a concrete edge when competing against other entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to firmware engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to firmware engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across the state's major hiring metros and industries. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 178+ Firmware Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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