Firmware Jobs in California
Firmware jobs in California are in high demand across the state's dominant defense electronics, semiconductor, and consumer technology sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level embedded systems engineers to senior firmware architects. The heaviest hiring concentrates in the San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Qualcomm, Apple, and Broadcom maintain major engineering operations. The most sought-after specialties include embedded C/C++ development, real-time operating systems, and hardware-software integration for wireless and IoT products. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 261+ Firmware jobs
Whether you’re designing next-gen processors, enabling AI breakthroughs, or bringing leading edge products to market, every role at AMD contributes to something bigger — technology that moves the world forward. Join us and, together, we’ll advance your career.
THE ROLE:
AMD is looking for a Principal Member of Technical Staff (PMTS) to lead system and solution testing for our growing firmware team. As a key contributor, you will be part of a leading team that drives and enhances AMD's ability to deliver the highest-quality, industry-leading technologies to market.
THE PERSON:
The ideal candidate has an innovative, problem-solving mindset and a keen eye for software engineering, and is diligent and passionate about technology. A successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of computer technologies, technical leadership skills and software engineering expertise, as well as a strong ability to compete effectively in a fast-paced environment while working with different teams of engineers and collaborators. As a technical leader, you will set the quality bar for the team, influence development teams and partners, and mentor the engineers around you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Define the system validation strategy, test architecture and release quality gates for firmware across AMD products.
- Validate new firmware and software features for AMD products at a system level before they are released to customers.
- Architect scalable automation frameworks and lab infrastructure for multi-node, cluster-scale testing.
- Leverage AI tools to accelerate the software validation cycle.
- Contribute actively to the day-to-day activities of the system test team in an Agile environment.
- Write test plans, review them with all stakeholders to cover the scenarios comprehensively, and execute them efficiently.
- Build maintainable, high-quality and effective automated test scripts.
- Review and triage test failures, and verify fixes.
- Help address customer-reported issues by reproducing them locally and working with peer teams for faster resolution.
- Stay informed of software and hardware trends and innovations, especially in firmware, CPUs, GPUs and accelerators.
- Debug complex technical issues and collaborate with peer teams.
- Develop technical relationships with peers and partners.
- Report quality status, risks and release readiness to program leadership.
- Mentor senior and junior engineers, and set the team's test engineering standards.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Seasoned years of experience in system testing, validation or test automation, including years as a test architect or technical lead.
- Strong experience in firmware test and automation roles.
- Solid understanding of AI tools and how to leverage them in a large-scale distributed environment.
- Proficiency in writing automation scripts in Python, and experience with test and performance-testing tools.
- Solid understanding of automation frameworks, and fluency in Python.
- Prior experience with cloud, security and data center technologies is an added advantage.
- Strong troubleshooting skills.
- Knowledge of operating systems, kernel-mode programming, device drivers, and related technologies and architectures.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to write high-quality automation code with keen attention to detail.
- Good understanding of the Linux operating system and hypervisors (VMware ESX, KVM).
- Experience with software development processes and tools such as debuggers, source code control systems (GitHub) and profilers is a plus.
- Track record of defining test strategy and release quality gates, and of building automation frameworks used across teams.
- Experience leading customer escalations and influencing development teams and leadership.
- Experience testing firmware on CPU, GPU or SoC platforms at scale, including AI workloads on multi-node clusters, is a strong plus.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
#LI-CT1
AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Whether you’re designing next-gen processors, enabling AI breakthroughs, or bringing leading edge products to market, every role at AMD contributes to something bigger — technology that moves the world forward. Join us and, together, we’ll advance your career.
THE ROLE:
AMD is looking for a Principal Member of Technical Staff (PMTS) to lead system and solution testing for our growing firmware team. As a key contributor, you will be part of a leading team that drives and enhances AMD's ability to deliver the highest-quality, industry-leading technologies to market.
THE PERSON:
The ideal candidate has an innovative, problem-solving mindset and a keen eye for software engineering, and is diligent and passionate about technology. A successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of computer technologies, technical leadership skills and software engineering expertise, as well as a strong ability to compete effectively in a fast-paced environment while working with different teams of engineers and collaborators. As a technical leader, you will set the quality bar for the team, influence development teams and partners, and mentor the engineers around you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Define the system validation strategy, test architecture and release quality gates for firmware across AMD products.
- Validate new firmware and software features for AMD products at a system level before they are released to customers.
- Architect scalable automation frameworks and lab infrastructure for multi-node, cluster-scale testing.
- Leverage AI tools to accelerate the software validation cycle.
- Contribute actively to the day-to-day activities of the system test team in an Agile environment.
- Write test plans, review them with all stakeholders to cover the scenarios comprehensively, and execute them efficiently.
- Build maintainable, high-quality and effective automated test scripts.
- Review and triage test failures, and verify fixes.
- Help address customer-reported issues by reproducing them locally and working with peer teams for faster resolution.
- Stay informed of software and hardware trends and innovations, especially in firmware, CPUs, GPUs and accelerators.
- Debug complex technical issues and collaborate with peer teams.
- Develop technical relationships with peers and partners.
- Report quality status, risks and release readiness to program leadership.
- Mentor senior and junior engineers, and set the team's test engineering standards.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Seasoned years of experience in system testing, validation or test automation, including years as a test architect or technical lead.
- Strong experience in firmware test and automation roles.
- Solid understanding of AI tools and how to leverage them in a large-scale distributed environment.
- Proficiency in writing automation scripts in Python, and experience with test and performance-testing tools.
- Solid understanding of automation frameworks, and fluency in Python.
- Prior experience with cloud, security and data center technologies is an added advantage.
- Strong troubleshooting skills.
- Knowledge of operating systems, kernel-mode programming, device drivers, and related technologies and architectures.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to write high-quality automation code with keen attention to detail.
- Good understanding of the Linux operating system and hypervisors (VMware ESX, KVM).
- Experience with software development processes and tools such as debuggers, source code control systems (GitHub) and profilers is a plus.
- Track record of defining test strategy and release quality gates, and of building automation frameworks used across teams.
- Experience leading customer escalations and influencing development teams and leadership.
- Experience testing firmware on CPU, GPU or SoC platforms at scale, including AI workloads on multi-node clusters, is a strong plus.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
#LI-CT1
AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
See All 261+ Firmware Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Firmware JobsFirmware Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Firmware Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Tesla19
- Apple17
- NVIDIA13
- Anduril12
- AMD10
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software19
- Electronics & Hardware15
- Science & Research8
- Telecommunications4
- Artificial Intelligence4
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in firmware jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
- Proficiency in embedded C or C++ for bare-metal and RTOS environments
- Experience with hardware debugging tools such as JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
- Familiarity with communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN
- Ability to read and interpret schematics and hardware design documentation
- Experience with version control systems such as Git in a collaborative engineering environment
Firmware Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a firmware engineer in California?
Most firmware roles in California require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field, and no state-issued license applies to this occupation. California employers typically prioritize hands-on experience with embedded systems, so building a portfolio through personal projects, open-source contributions, or university lab work strengthens your candidacy considerably. Many candidates also complete internships at Bay Area or San Diego hardware companies before transitioning into full-time roles.
Which companies hire firmware engineers in California?
Employers hiring firmware engineers in California right now include Tesla, Apple, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of semiconductor designers, defense contractors, and consumer electronics manufacturers means the employer base is unusually broad compared with most other states.
Which California cities have the most firmware jobs?
Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Jose have the most firmware openings in California right now. The Bay Area leads because of its dense cluster of semiconductor and consumer electronics headquarters, while San Diego draws heavily from defense electronics and wireless chip companies, and Los Angeles generates demand through its growing aerospace and connected-device manufacturing base.
Are there remote firmware jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Firmware work is inherently hands-on, requiring access to physical hardware, test equipment, and lab environments, so most roles in California are on-site or at most hybrid. About 35% of firmware openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically cover tasks like code review, documentation, or simulation work that does not require bench access.
How can I get hired as a firmware engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an internship or new-graduate program at a California hardware company, where employers like Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Applied Micro run structured rotations specifically for candidates without professional experience. Targeting associate embedded software engineer or hardware bring-up technician roles at mid-size San Diego or Bay Area companies is also effective, since those positions accept candidates who demonstrate strong university project work or open-source embedded contributions in lieu of industry experience.
Where can I find and apply to firmware jobs in California?
You can find and apply to firmware jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across embedded systems, RTOS, and hardware-software integration roles. Search the listings for positions that match your experience level and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 261+ Firmware Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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