OPT Embedded Software Engineer Jobs
Embedded Software Engineer roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech: the work is highly specialized, degree-specific, and employers routinely sponsor H-1B visas for engineers who prove their value during the OPT period. Most roles require a background in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.
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Get Access To All JobsEmbedded 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"
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"
See all 114+ OPT Embedded Software Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Embedded Software Engineer
Target hardware-software companies, not pure software shops
Embedded roles exist at automotive, aerospace, medical device, and semiconductor companies. These industries have long product cycles and strong incentives to retain engineers long-term, making H-1B sponsorship a standard part of hiring, not an exception.
Highlight real-time operating systems experience prominently
Employers screening OPT candidates look for hands-on RTOS experience, FreeRTOS and VxWorks specifically. If your coursework or projects included bare-metal programming or interrupt handling, make that visible early in your resume and technical screen.
Show your OPT timeline and STEM extension eligibility upfront
Embedded engineering is a STEM-designated field, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Mentioning this proactively in recruiter conversations removes a common objection before it becomes a reason to screen you out.
Build a GitHub portfolio with hardware-interfacing projects
Hiring managers for embedded roles want proof you can write firmware, not just software. A repository showing peripheral drivers, communication protocol implementations, or an FPGA project signals genuine embedded experience and separates you from general software applicants.
Pursue roles at mid-size companies with established immigration programs
Large enterprises often have slow hiring pipelines that conflict with OPT deadlines. Mid-size companies with prior H-1B filings, which you can verify through public DOL disclosure data, tend to move faster and sponsor more consistently.
Address OPT authorization clearly on your resume
List your work authorization status as 'F-1 OPT, STEM Extension Eligible' rather than leaving it blank or vague. Embedded engineering recruiters who understand visa sponsorship will appreciate the clarity and waste less time on both sides.
Embedded Software Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Embedded Software Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Embedded Software Engineering consistently falls under STEM-designated degree categories including computer engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. If your degree matches one of these fields, you're eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12-month OPT period, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization.
How do I find Embedded Software Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for roles where employers have a track record of visa sponsorship. Embedded engineering positions are well represented because the specialty occupation requirement is easy to satisfy, meaning employers face fewer hurdles sponsoring candidates in this field compared to more generalist roles.
Does Embedded Software Engineering qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Embedded Software Engineering requires at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field, which meets the USCIS definition of a specialty occupation. This makes H-1B sponsorship straightforward for most embedded roles. Employers in automotive, semiconductor, and defense sectors file H-1B petitions for embedded engineers at high rates relative to other engineering disciplines.
What should I do if my OPT expires before my employer files my H-1B?
If your STEM OPT extension is still active on April 1 when USCIS begins accepting H-1B petitions, you can use cap-gap protection to remain authorized through September 30 of that year if selected in the lottery. The critical step is ensuring your employer files your H-1B petition while your OPT EAD is still valid. Plan the timeline with your DSO well in advance.
Are there specific embedded engineering industries where OPT students have better sponsorship outcomes?
Automotive, medical devices, aerospace, and semiconductor companies tend to sponsor embedded engineers more reliably than startups or consumer electronics firms. These industries have long product development cycles, specialized hiring needs, and established immigration programs. Defense contractors are a notable exception as many require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for security clearance reasons, which would limit your options on OPT.