OPT Embedded Jobs
Embedded engineering roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. Most positions require hands-on experience with C, RTOS, or hardware interfaces. Standard OPT gives you 12 months; STEM OPT extension adds 24 more for qualifying employers.
See All OPT Embedded JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 554+ Embedded jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 554+ Embedded Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Embedded roles.
Get Access To All JobsCompany:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
Qualcomm is seeking a Staff Embedded NPU Software Engineer to lead the design and development of embedded platform software for CPU, DSP, and NPU processors and AI engines across our Snapdragon SoC portfolio. You will architect and optimize software frameworks that enable high-performance, low-power multimedia and machine learning workloads across mobile, automotive, compute, and XR platforms.
As part of the NPU Platform Software Team, you will work across all levels of the stack — from low-level drivers to high-level frameworks — and collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to deliver scalable, production-grade solutions. You’ll be expected to drive technical decisions, mentor engineers, and contribute to the evolution of Qualcomm’s NPU software architecture.
We’re looking for engineers with deep technical expertise, a track record of system-level ownership, and the ability to lead complex development efforts across cross-functional teams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
2+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
Responsibilities
Architect and design NPU software frameworks, runtime libraries, and system drivers for compute and AI acceleration.
Lead development of complex NPU features and ensure system-level integration across CPU/DSP/NPU subsystems.
Optimize software using advanced NPU architecture techniques (SIMD, multi-threading, memory hierarchy, etc.).
Collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to align software design with platform goals and roadmap.
Mentor engineers, conduct design/code reviews, and contribute to technical strategy and long-term planning.
Drive debugging and profiling efforts across the NPU stack to meet performance, power, and reliability targets.
* Offsite and occasional onsite work with OEMs and Independent Software Vendors may be required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
8+ years of experience in embedded software development.
Deep expertise in NPU programming, computer architecture, and real-time operating systems.
Proven experience leading technical projects or owning system-level software components.
Strong proficiency in C/C++ and debugging tools (Trace32, JTAG, etc.).
Experience with Qualcomm Hexagon DSP and SDK frameworks.
Familiarity with multimedia frameworks (Android, Linux, Windows) and AI acceleration pipelines.
Exposure to machine learning, computer vision, or signal processing workloads.
Strong understanding of inter-processor communication and concurrency management.
Ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction across teams.
Versatile attitude to learn new architectures and operating systems.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able to participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$134,800.00 - $202,200.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
Qualcomm is seeking a Staff Embedded NPU Software Engineer to lead the design and development of embedded platform software for CPU, DSP, and NPU processors and AI engines across our Snapdragon SoC portfolio. You will architect and optimize software frameworks that enable high-performance, low-power multimedia and machine learning workloads across mobile, automotive, compute, and XR platforms.
As part of the NPU Platform Software Team, you will work across all levels of the stack — from low-level drivers to high-level frameworks — and collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to deliver scalable, production-grade solutions. You’ll be expected to drive technical decisions, mentor engineers, and contribute to the evolution of Qualcomm’s NPU software architecture.
We’re looking for engineers with deep technical expertise, a track record of system-level ownership, and the ability to lead complex development efforts across cross-functional teams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
2+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
Responsibilities
Architect and design NPU software frameworks, runtime libraries, and system drivers for compute and AI acceleration.
Lead development of complex NPU features and ensure system-level integration across CPU/DSP/NPU subsystems.
Optimize software using advanced NPU architecture techniques (SIMD, multi-threading, memory hierarchy, etc.).
Collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to align software design with platform goals and roadmap.
Mentor engineers, conduct design/code reviews, and contribute to technical strategy and long-term planning.
Drive debugging and profiling efforts across the NPU stack to meet performance, power, and reliability targets.
* Offsite and occasional onsite work with OEMs and Independent Software Vendors may be required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
8+ years of experience in embedded software development.
Deep expertise in NPU programming, computer architecture, and real-time operating systems.
Proven experience leading technical projects or owning system-level software components.
Strong proficiency in C/C++ and debugging tools (Trace32, JTAG, etc.).
Experience with Qualcomm Hexagon DSP and SDK frameworks.
Familiarity with multimedia frameworks (Android, Linux, Windows) and AI acceleration pipelines.
Exposure to machine learning, computer vision, or signal processing workloads.
Strong understanding of inter-processor communication and concurrency management.
Ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction across teams.
Versatile attitude to learn new architectures and operating systems.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able to participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$134,800.00 - $202,200.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
See all 554+ OPT Embedded Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Embedded Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Embedded
Lead with your hardware-software stack
Embedded hiring managers care more about your specific tools than your GPA. List your microcontroller families, RTOS experience, communication protocols, and debugging tools prominently. A concrete stack signals readiness faster than any degree title.
Target defense and aerospace contractors carefully
Many defense contractors require security clearances that exclude non-citizens. Focus on commercial embedded employers in automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial automation, where OPT authorization is straightforwardly accepted and STEM OPT extensions are common.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with recruiters
Embedded roles often have long onboarding timelines. Tell recruiters your OPT start date, end date, and STEM extension eligibility early. Employers need time to assess whether your authorization window fits their project needs and hiring process.
Highlight STEM-designated degree fields
Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science are STEM-designated fields, making you eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. Confirming this eligibility in your resume summary reassures employers that your work authorization extends well beyond the initial 12 months.
Showcase project-level ownership, not just coursework
Embedded teams want engineers who have owned a full development cycle. Capstone projects, open-source firmware contributions, or personal PCB designs all count. Frame each project around the constraint you solved, not just the technology you used.
Ask specifically about OPT sponsorship, not just visa sponsorship
Many employers confuse OPT authorization with H-1B visa sponsorship. Clarify that OPT requires no petition or employer cost during the work authorization period. Framing it correctly removes a common objection before it becomes a reason to move on.
Embedded OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do embedded engineering employers commonly hire F-1 OPT students?
Yes, particularly in automotive, semiconductor, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. These industries have chronic shortages of qualified embedded engineers, which makes employers more willing to work with OPT students. Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers who have hired on OPT, so you can focus your applications on realistic targets.
Does an embedded engineering role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, provided your degree is in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science, and your employer is E-Verify enrolled. The role itself also needs to be directly related to your degree field. A job description focused on firmware development, hardware-software integration, or signal processing will typically satisfy the USCIS relationship requirement.
Can I work on embedded projects that involve government contracts while on OPT?
It depends on the contract. Many government-adjacent embedded roles in areas like industrial controls or telecommunications do not require security clearances and are fully open to OPT students. Roles explicitly requiring a security clearance are generally off-limits because clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Confirm clearance requirements before applying.
What happens if my embedded job offer is delayed past my OPT start date?
Your OPT authorization period begins on the start date listed on your EAD card, regardless of when you start working. Unemployment on OPT is limited to 90 days for standard OPT. If your offer is delayed, notify your DSO immediately and document the situation. A delayed start counts against your unemployment limit, so active job searching matters.
How do I find embedded roles where employers are already comfortable with OPT?
The most reliable signal is whether an employer has sponsored OPT or H-1B workers before. Searching through Migrate Mate surfaces embedded roles from employers with a verified track record of hiring international students, saving you from applying to companies that will reject you at the offer stage over authorization concerns.