Firmware Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Firmware Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in the defense corridor along Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley, the biotech and medical device cluster in Torrey Pines, and the wireless and semiconductor firms scattered through Rancho Bernardo. Employers actively hiring right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and Zoox. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 216+ Firmware Engineer jobs
About Zoox
Zoox is transforming mobility with fully autonomous, electric vehicles designed from the ground up for a driverless future. Our mission is to make transportation safer, more sustainable, and accessible to everyone. At Zoox, innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision for the future drive everything we do.
About Our Part Time Student Worker Program
Zoox’s program offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry’s brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek part time student workers who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox’s mission.
Project Overview
Zoox is seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer student worker to join our team, focusing on diagnostic infrastructure for the Core Firmware System Services team. This is an opportunity to own highly-visible, foundational projects where you will extend our existing diagnostic infrastructure. You will work on the full development cycle of robot firmware development.
In this role, you will:
- Work on the development of UDS, DoIP, and XCP clients and servers for current and next generation platforms
- Develop and test embedded software for reporting diagnostic and configuration
- Contribute to all phases of the software development cycle including prototyping, requirements capture, design, implementation, and validation
- Collaborate with system, software, hardware, and test engineers to define, implement, and validate diagnostic requirements
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or equivalent experience
- Proficiency in modern C++ for software development
- Experience with Python programming
- Experience with application development targeting a unix-like environment
Bonus Qualifications:
- Familiarity with C++ unit testing principles and framework such as gtest
- Experience with real-time operating systems
- Network introspection and debugging at and above the transport layer
- Industrial or automotive fieldbuses and diagnostics standards (e.g., CAN, J1939, EtherCAT, UDS, SOVD)
- One or more inter-process communication mechanisms
- Event- or message-driven software systems
Program Requirements:
- Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S., in a relevant engineering field
- Available for a 6 month project
- Able to commit to at least 20 hours per week
- Ability to commute on-site to one of our offices
- Student Worker may not use proprietary Zoox information in university theses, publications, or share it outside
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
About Zoox
Zoox is transforming mobility with fully autonomous, electric vehicles designed from the ground up for a driverless future. Our mission is to make transportation safer, more sustainable, and accessible to everyone. At Zoox, innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision for the future drive everything we do.
About Our Part Time Student Worker Program
Zoox’s program offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry’s brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek part time student workers who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox’s mission.
Project Overview
Zoox is seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer student worker to join our team, focusing on diagnostic infrastructure for the Core Firmware System Services team. This is an opportunity to own highly-visible, foundational projects where you will extend our existing diagnostic infrastructure. You will work on the full development cycle of robot firmware development.
In this role, you will:
- Work on the development of UDS, DoIP, and XCP clients and servers for current and next generation platforms
- Develop and test embedded software for reporting diagnostic and configuration
- Contribute to all phases of the software development cycle including prototyping, requirements capture, design, implementation, and validation
- Collaborate with system, software, hardware, and test engineers to define, implement, and validate diagnostic requirements
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or equivalent experience
- Proficiency in modern C++ for software development
- Experience with Python programming
- Experience with application development targeting a unix-like environment
Bonus Qualifications:
- Familiarity with C++ unit testing principles and framework such as gtest
- Experience with real-time operating systems
- Network introspection and debugging at and above the transport layer
- Industrial or automotive fieldbuses and diagnostics standards (e.g., CAN, J1939, EtherCAT, UDS, SOVD)
- One or more inter-process communication mechanisms
- Event- or message-driven software systems
Program Requirements:
- Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S., in a relevant engineering field
- Available for a 6 month project
- Able to commit to at least 20 hours per week
- Ability to commute on-site to one of our offices
- Student Worker may not use proprietary Zoox information in university theses, publications, or share it outside
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
See All 216+ Firmware Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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Find Firmware Engineer JobsFirmware Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm96
- Apple72
- Zoox12
- L3Harris12
- Brain12
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software36
- Telecommunications24
- Electronics & Hardware24
- Science & Research12
Firmware Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a firmware engineer job in San Diego?
Focus your search on San Diego's three dominant hiring sectors: defense and aerospace contractors clustered around Kearny Mesa, medical device and biotech companies in the Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley corridor, and wireless and semiconductor firms in Rancho Bernardo. Hands-on experience with embedded C, RTOS, and hardware bring-up is valued here. Candidates who can demonstrate work on RF systems, imaging hardware, or power electronics stand out in this market.
Which companies hire firmware engineers in San Diego?
Companies currently hiring firmware engineers in San Diego include Qualcomm, Apple, and Zoox, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's employer mix leans heavily toward defense primes, medical device manufacturers, and wireless technology firms, so demand tends to stay consistent across economic cycles.
Are there remote firmware engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, but firmware engineering is largely hands-on, so fully remote roles are less common than in purely software-focused fields. About 25% of firmware engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common in software-adjacent areas like firmware validation, test automation, and documentation roles.
How can I get a firmware engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through a junior embedded software or hardware test role at a defense subcontractor or medical device startup in the Sorrento Valley area. Many of these employers hire recent graduates with a background in electrical engineering or computer engineering. Building personal projects around microcontrollers, contributing to open-source embedded repositories, or completing an internship with a local defense or medtech firm all strengthen a first application significantly.
Which industries hire the most firmware engineers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most firmware engineers in San Diego are Technology & Software, Telecommunications, and Electronics & Hardware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's long history as a hub for military technology, telecommunications, and life sciences means these industries sustain deep, ongoing demand for embedded systems expertise.
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