Firmware Jobs in San Diego, CA
Firmware jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines, and the Kearny Mesa defense corridor, across defense electronics, wireless communications, and medical devices. Employers 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 18+ Firmware 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 18 Firmware Jobs in San Diego
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Find Firmware JobsFirmware Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Telecommunications
- Electronics & Hardware
- Science & Research
Firmware Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a firmware job in San Diego?
Focus on San Diego's three deepest hiring pools: defense contractors in the Kearny Mesa and Miramar corridors, wireless and semiconductor companies clustered in Sorrento Valley, and medical device firms around Torrey Pines. Candidates who know real-time operating systems, embedded C, and hardware bring-up stand out here. Targeting companies with active government contracts or FDA-regulated product lines gives you the clearest path in.
Which companies hire firmwares in San Diego?
Employers hiring firmwares in San Diego right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and Zoox, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's hiring mix skews heavily toward defense primes, wireless chipset developers, and medical device manufacturers, all of which maintain substantial embedded engineering teams locally.
Are there remote firmware jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though firmware work is largely hands-on and lab-dependent, which limits full remote availability compared to purely software roles. About 25% of firmware openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid schedules most common in validation, test automation, and driver development rather than board bring-up or hardware debugging.
How can I get a firmware job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through defense subcontractors and mid-size medical device companies, which hire junior embedded engineers more consistently than large primes. Roles like firmware test technician, embedded software associate, or hardware validation engineer open the door. Building portfolio projects on platforms like STM32 or Raspberry Pi and connecting with engineers at San Diego tech meetups gives early-career candidates a concrete edge.
Which industries hire the most firmwares in San Diego?
San Diego firmware roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Telecommunications, and Electronics & Hardware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's large naval and defense presence, combined with its leadership in wireless semiconductor development and a mature medtech cluster, makes it one of the most firmware-intensive metro areas on the West Coast.
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