H-1B Visa Firmware Jobs

Firmware engineers write the low-level code that runs directly on hardware, a specialty occupation that qualifies for H-1B sponsorship under USCIS guidelines. Employers in consumer electronics, automotive, medical devices, and defense regularly file H-1B petitions for firmware roles requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.

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Overview

Open Jobs508+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type89% On-site
Median Salary$164K
Top LocationSanta Clara, CA
Most JobsQualcomm

Showing 5 of 508+ Firmware jobs

Ceribell, Inc.
Senior Software/Firmware Engineer - QA
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Ceribell, Inc.
New 1m ago
Senior Software/Firmware Engineer - QA
Ceribell, Inc.
Sunnyvale, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Embedded Systems Engineering
Firmware Engineering
Not listed
On-Site

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE
HPC Firmware Senior Engineering Program Manager
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE
New 29m ago
HPC Firmware Senior Engineering Program Manager
Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE
Spring, Texas
Project & Program Management
Technical Product & Program Management
Project Management
Program Management
Technical Program Management
$105,500/yr - $243,000/yr
On-Site
6+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Ceribell, Inc
Senior Software/Firmware Engineer - QA
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Ceribell, Inc
New 38m ago
Senior Software/Firmware Engineer - QA
Ceribell, Inc
Mountain View, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Embedded Systems Engineering
Firmware Engineering
$102,000/yr - $141,000/yr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
51-200

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Juniper Networks
HPC Firmware Senior Engineering Program Manager
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Juniper Networks
New 2h ago
HPC Firmware Senior Engineering Program Manager
Juniper Networks
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Project & Program Management
Technical Product & Program Management
Project Management
Program Management
Technical Program Management
Not listed
On-Site
6+ yrs exp.
Associate's

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Amphenol
Firmware Engineer
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Amphenol
New 3h ago
Firmware Engineer
Amphenol
Nashua, New Hampshire
Software Engineering
Firmware Engineering
Embedded Systems Engineering
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Tips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Firmware

Translate your embedded skills into SOC codes

Firmware roles map to multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes, and the code your employer selects directly affects your prevailing wage tier. Review the O*NET profiles for Software Developers and Electrical Engineers before your offer letter is drafted.

Target employers with dedicated embedded hardware teams

Companies that build their own silicon or run real-time operating systems in-house file H-1B petitions far more consistently than software-only shops. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified H-1B LCA filings in firmware and embedded systems roles.

Verify your degree field matches the petition

USCIS requires your degree to be in a field directly related to firmware development. Computer science degrees sometimes draw Requests for Evidence; electrical engineering or computer engineering degrees align more cleanly with the specialty occupation definition for this role.

Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer

Your employer's LCA must certify a wage meeting DOL's prevailing wage for your specific location and job level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wage data for your target metro area before the offer is finalized.

Ask about ITAR clearance and its effect on sponsorship

Many firmware roles in defense and aerospace are restricted to U.S. persons under ITAR regulations, which excludes H-1B holders. Confirm whether a role carries ITAR restrictions before investing time in the interview process.

File before the April lottery cap with premium processing

USCIS opens H-1B registration in March for the annual cap. Firmware engineers at cap-subject employers should confirm their petition will be filed in that window and request premium processing to get a decision within 15 business days if timeline is critical.

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Firmware H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Do firmware engineer roles qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?

Yes. Firmware engineering qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role typically requires at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. USCIS looks at whether the position normally requires that degree for entry. Roles involving RTOS development, device drivers, or bare-metal programming on proprietary hardware consistently meet that standard, though your employer's petition language needs to reflect those technical requirements clearly.

Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most consistently for firmware engineers?

Consumer electronics, automotive (especially EV and ADAS), medical devices, telecommunications hardware, and semiconductor companies file H-1B petitions for firmware roles regularly. Defense contractors also hire firmware engineers but often limit sponsorship to roles not subject to ITAR restrictions. You can browse employers with active H-1B LCA filing history in these sectors on Migrate Mate.

Can my H-1B petition be denied if my degree is in computer science instead of electrical engineering?

It's possible. USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree field and the firmware role. Computer science degrees are generally accepted for software-focused positions, but for roles centered on hardware interaction, embedded C, or low-level peripheral programming, an electrical or computer engineering degree aligns more cleanly. If your degree is in computer science, your employer's attorney should document the technical overlap carefully to reduce the risk of a Request for Evidence.

What happens to my H-1B status if my firmware project is canceled and my role changes significantly?

If your job duties change materially, your employer must file an amended H-1B petition with USCIS before you begin the new role. A shift from embedded firmware development to general software engineering, for example, may require a new Labor Condition Application reflecting the updated SOC code and prevailing wage. Working in a materially different role without an amended petition puts your status at risk.

Does the 60-day grace period apply if a firmware startup lays me off?

Yes. H-1B holders get a 60-day grace period after involuntary termination to find a new employer, transfer their H-1B, or change status. Your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition, and you can start working once they file, not just after approval. Given how specialized firmware roles are, starting your search immediately through a targeted platform like Migrate Mate gives you the best chance of finding a sponsoring employer within that window.

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