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.
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Embedded Firmware and Software Engineer
Description -
This role is responsible for driving design, development, and debugging of embedded software/firmware for hardware, ensuring efficient and reliable operation. The role collaborates with hardware engineers to integrate software and firmware with hardware components, ensuring seamless communication and functionality. The role works closely with software developers, hardware engineers, quality assurance, and product managers to deliver high-quality products.
Responsibilities
- Owns the preparation and creation of instructional technical manuscripts for firmware operation.
- Allocates resources to complete programming projects, and designing detailed plans to ensure firmware is functioning properly.
- Designs enhancements, updates, and programming changes for portions and subsystems of firmware, including DSP, embedded code, EFI drivers, EFI applications and BIOS/UEFI.
- Analyzes design and determines coding, programming, and integration activities required based on general objectives and knowledge of overall architecture of product or solution.
- Writes and executes complete testing plans, protocols, and documentation for assigned portion of application; creates solutions for issues with code and integrates into application architecture.
- Leads a project team of other software firmware engineers and internal and outsourced development partners to develop reliable, cost effective and high quality solutions for assigned systems portion or subsystem.
- Collaborates and communicates with management, internal, and outsourced development partners regarding firmware design status, project progress, and issue resolution.
- Represents the software firmware engineering team for all phases of larger and more-complex development projects, from microarchitecture design through firmware architecture and development.
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams including architects, hardware engineers, software developers, and product managers to ensure that firmware requirements and specifications are clearly defined.
- Stays up-to-date with industry trends and advancements in firmware technologies, and provide recommendations for improvement.
Education & Experience Recommended
- Four-year or Graduate Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, or any other related discipline or commensurate work experience or demonstrated competence.
- 4-6 years of work experience, preferably in firmware development, or a related field or an advanced degree with 3-5 years of work experience.
Knowledge & Skills
- Agile Methodology
- Algorithms
- C (Programming Language)
- C++ (Programming Language)
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Debugging
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Software
- Embedded Systems
- Firmware
- Firmware Development
- Git (Version Control System)
- Linux
- New Product Development
- Operating Systems
- Python (Programming Language)
- Real-Time Operating Systems
- Software Development
- Software Engineering
Cross-Org Skills
- Effective Communication
- Results Orientation
- Learning Agility
- Digital Fluency
- Customer Centricity
Impact & Scope
- Impacts multiple teams and may act as a team or project leader providing direction to team activities and facilitates information validation and team decision making process.
Complexity
- Responds to moderately complex issues within established guidelines.
Disclaimer
- This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. These may be subject to change and additional functions may be assigned as needed by management.
The pay range for this role is $105,050 to $161,800 USD annually with additional opportunities for pay in the form of bonus and/or equity (applies to United States of America candidates only). Pay varies by work location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Benefits:
HP offers a comprehensive benefits package for this position, including:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Long term/short term disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Life insurance
- Generous time off policies, including;
- 4-12 weeks fully paid parental leave based on tenure
- 11 paid holidays
- Additional flexible paid vacation and sick leave (US benefits overview)
The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Job -
Software
Schedule -
Full time
Shift -
No shift premium (United States of America)
Travel -
Relocation -
Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) -
HP, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prospective employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, uniformed service status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable national, federal, state, and local law(s).
Please be assured that you will not be subject to any adverse treatment if you choose to disclose the information requested. This information is provided voluntarily. The information obtained will be kept in strict confidence.
For more information, review HP’s EEO Policy or read about your rights as an applicant under the law here: “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal"
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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.