J-1 Visa Firmware Jobs
Firmware roles in the United States are accessible to exchange visitors through the J-1 Trainee or Intern program categories, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsors issue your DS-2019 once a host employer is confirmed. Finding a host willing to support J-1 sponsorship is the critical first step.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. The goal of the company is to ship humanoid robots with human level intelligence. Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA.
We are looking for an Firmware Engineer Intern for Summer 2026 to support the implementation and test of key aspects of our Humanoid software.
Responsibilities
- Deliver high quality C/C++ code in a real-time embedded environment.
- Bring up, debug, and validate firmware on the Humanoid hardware platform, such as actuators, sensors, power distribution system.
- Optimize performance of firmware to meet product requirements.
- Develop test scripts in Python to support test automation or robot calibration.
- Work cross functionally with System Integration, Software Test, and Embedded Software teams to successfully and autonomously ship new features.
- Contribute to the integration of projects into the Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) infrastructure.
- Support hardware/software integration in the lab.
REQUIREMENTS
- Graduate student, senior student, or recent graduate in Computer Engineering or related field.
- Minimum 10 weeks internship, 1 to 2 terms preferred.
- Ability to showcase extra-academic activities working on hardware/software projects.
- Fluent with C/C++ and Python.
- Good knowledge of computer architecture and real-time operating systems.
- Familiar with communication buses and protocols like CAN, SPI, I2C, UART etc.
- Comfortable using lab instruments (Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers…) and debugging tools.
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with low level communication protocol driver development, Ethernet and CAN preferred.
- Demonstrated taking features or products from cradle to grave with high levels of ownership.
- Experience with motor control systems.
- Experience with the Bazel build system.
- Experience with Docker containers.
INTRODUCTION
Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. The goal of the company is to ship humanoid robots with human level intelligence. Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA.
We are looking for an Firmware Engineer Intern for Summer 2026 to support the implementation and test of key aspects of our Humanoid software.
Responsibilities
- Deliver high quality C/C++ code in a real-time embedded environment.
- Bring up, debug, and validate firmware on the Humanoid hardware platform, such as actuators, sensors, power distribution system.
- Optimize performance of firmware to meet product requirements.
- Develop test scripts in Python to support test automation or robot calibration.
- Work cross functionally with System Integration, Software Test, and Embedded Software teams to successfully and autonomously ship new features.
- Contribute to the integration of projects into the Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) infrastructure.
- Support hardware/software integration in the lab.
REQUIREMENTS
- Graduate student, senior student, or recent graduate in Computer Engineering or related field.
- Minimum 10 weeks internship, 1 to 2 terms preferred.
- Ability to showcase extra-academic activities working on hardware/software projects.
- Fluent with C/C++ and Python.
- Good knowledge of computer architecture and real-time operating systems.
- Familiar with communication buses and protocols like CAN, SPI, I2C, UART etc.
- Comfortable using lab instruments (Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers…) and debugging tools.
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with low level communication protocol driver development, Ethernet and CAN preferred.
- Demonstrated taking features or products from cradle to grave with high levels of ownership.
- Experience with motor control systems.
- Experience with the Bazel build system.
- Experience with Docker containers.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Firmware
Align your training plan to firmware workflows
Your DS-2019 requires a detailed training plan tied to specific learning objectives. Map your plan to firmware-specific tasks like RTOS integration, hardware bring-up, or driver development so the designated sponsor can validate it accurately.
Distinguish Intern from Trainee eligibility early
The J-1 Intern category requires current enrollment in a degree program. If you've graduated, you qualify under Trainee instead. Confusing the two delays DS-2019 issuance, so confirm your category with your designated sponsor before approaching host employers.
Target embedded systems teams at hardware companies
Firmware engineering sits at the intersection of software and hardware, so host employers are often found in semiconductor, IoT, and defense electronics sectors. Search for teams hiring for microcontroller, FPGA, or bootloader work, where hands-on training plans are easiest to justify.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-compatible firmware roles
Not every firmware posting reflects a host employer open to exchange visitor arrangements. Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. firmware roles where J-1 sponsorship alignment is already indicated, saving time you'd otherwise spend screening individual postings.
Verify the host employer meets DOL wage requirements
Your designated sponsor must confirm the host's offered compensation meets prevailing wage standards before issuing a DS-2019. Check the OFLC Wage Search for the relevant firmware or electrical engineering SOC code in your target location before accepting an offer.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement upfront
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home country return requirement, which affects future H-1B or green card eligibility. Confirm your home country's status on the Exchange Visitor Skills List with your designated sponsor before signing a training agreement.
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Find Firmware JobsFirmware J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a firmware engineering role?
It depends on where you are in your career. Current students completing a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field typically qualify under the J-1 Intern category. Recent graduates or early-career professionals with relevant work experience use the J-1 Trainee category instead. Both categories require a structured training plan tied to specific firmware competencies.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a firmware position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the hiring employer. Organizations like CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT issue your DS-2019 and monitor your program compliance. The firmware company you work for is the host employer. You need both a willing host and a designated sponsor before any visa paperwork can proceed.
How do I find firmware host employers open to J-1 arrangements?
Most firmware job postings don't explicitly flag J-1 compatibility, which makes screening time-consuming. Migrate Mate surfaces U.S. firmware roles where J-1 sponsorship alignment is already indicated, so you can focus on applying rather than qualifying each posting individually. Target embedded systems, semiconductor, and IoT teams, where project-based training plans are straightforward to document.
What does a firmware training plan need to include for J-1 approval?
Your designated sponsor requires a formal training plan that outlines specific learning objectives, supervision arrangements, and a timeline. For firmware roles, this means detailing competencies like real-time operating system configuration, hardware debugging protocols, or peripheral driver development. Generic plans citing only job duties are routinely rejected, so work with your host employer to document firmware-specific milestones.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect firmware engineers?
It can. J-1 participants whose home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or whose program was government-funded, must return home for two years before switching to H-1B or applying for a green card. Firmware engineering talent is in demand, so some participants pursue a waiver through a U.S. government agency interested in retaining their skills, but that process is separate and not guaranteed.
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