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 visa sponsorship under USCIS guidelines. Employers in consumer electronics, automotive, medical devices, and defense regularly file H-1B visa 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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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We’re a team of professional embedded/firmware engineers dedicated to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about developing hard real-time systems in critical applications.
- Healthy work/life balance
- Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – Employees own 100% of the company
- Focused on delivering high quality, reliable products with free technical support as long as the product remains in service
- Enjoy getting to the root of problems and inventing solutions to meet customer needs
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Manager
- Mentor and help guide engineers to accomplish their career goals.
- Collect and represent team metrics used for planning and executing projects.
- Modeling and teaching company values, principles, and processes to promote world-class engineering practices.
- Managing activities to attract, hire, and supervise engineers.
Technical
- Gather requirements, develop a plan, and execute projects to meet a schedule.
- Lead in the design and documentation of safety critical firmware systems.
- Create and manage a backlog from the design with a breakdown of tasks for the team.
- Collaborate across disciplines and groups to plan and clear blockers for the team.
- Communication with Leadership, Program Managers, and direct reports.
- Follow and apply SEL Values and Principles of Operations
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
- 7+ years of experience in embedded/firmware development
- Knowledge in the following areas:
- Programming languages: C, C++
- Software development including:
- Object oriented design
- Unit testing
- Debugging
- RTOS
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills
- Software development process (Agile)
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment
- Background check results satisfactory to SEL
- Negative drug test result(s)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Software development tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Jenkins, etc)
- Source control tools (Git, Clearcase, etc)
- Software Skills:
- Test automation
- Python
- Industrial controls
- 3-phase electric power systems
- Modern communications protocols
LOCATION:
Pullman, WA - Nestled in Eastern Washington, offering an exceptional quality of life. Embrace the charm of small-town living with spacious surroundings, no traffic hassles, and easy access to outdoor adventures in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests. Plus, benefit from excellent schools and universities in the area.
COMPENSATION
Pay Range Data
Engineering Manager $129,200 - $193,900
We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.
BENEFITS
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
COMMUNICATION WITH APPLICANTS
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
INTRODUCTION
We’re a team of professional embedded/firmware engineers dedicated to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about developing hard real-time systems in critical applications.
- Healthy work/life balance
- Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – Employees own 100% of the company
- Focused on delivering high quality, reliable products with free technical support as long as the product remains in service
- Enjoy getting to the root of problems and inventing solutions to meet customer needs
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Manager
- Mentor and help guide engineers to accomplish their career goals.
- Collect and represent team metrics used for planning and executing projects.
- Modeling and teaching company values, principles, and processes to promote world-class engineering practices.
- Managing activities to attract, hire, and supervise engineers.
Technical
- Gather requirements, develop a plan, and execute projects to meet a schedule.
- Lead in the design and documentation of safety critical firmware systems.
- Create and manage a backlog from the design with a breakdown of tasks for the team.
- Collaborate across disciplines and groups to plan and clear blockers for the team.
- Communication with Leadership, Program Managers, and direct reports.
- Follow and apply SEL Values and Principles of Operations
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
- 7+ years of experience in embedded/firmware development
- Knowledge in the following areas:
- Programming languages: C, C++
- Software development including:
- Object oriented design
- Unit testing
- Debugging
- RTOS
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills
- Software development process (Agile)
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment
- Background check results satisfactory to SEL
- Negative drug test result(s)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Software development tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Jenkins, etc)
- Source control tools (Git, Clearcase, etc)
- Software Skills:
- Test automation
- Python
- Industrial controls
- 3-phase electric power systems
- Modern communications protocols
LOCATION:
Pullman, WA - Nestled in Eastern Washington, offering an exceptional quality of life. Embrace the charm of small-town living with spacious surroundings, no traffic hassles, and easy access to outdoor adventures in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests. Plus, benefit from excellent schools and universities in the area.
COMPENSATION
Pay Range Data
Engineering Manager $129,200 - $193,900
We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.
BENEFITS
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
COMMUNICATION WITH APPLICANTS
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
See all 200+ H-1B Visa Firmware Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Firmware Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips 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.
H-1B Visa Firmware: 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.