Software Design Engineer Jobs

Software Design Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, and enterprise software, from new-grad to principal and staff levels, with specializations in embedded systems, FPGA design, and hardware-software integration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

Find Software Design Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles95
Top stateTexas
Top employerGeneral Motors (GM)
Top cityAustin, TX
Work type57% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 95+ Software Design Engineer jobs

Reframe Systems
Software Engineer, Design Automation (Senior / Staff+)
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Reframe Systems
New 20h ago
Software Engineer, Design Automation (Senior / Staff+)
Reframe Systems
Andover, Massachusetts
Cloud & DevOps
Data Engineering
Data Science
$160k - $210k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

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Stellantis
Propulsion Software Design and Release Engineer
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Stellantis
Added 1d ago
Propulsion Software Design and Release Engineer
Stellantis
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Embedded Systems Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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John Deere
PE Software Design Engineer
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John Deere
Added 2d ago
PE Software Design Engineer
John Deere
Fargo, North Dakota
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
$75k - $112k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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JPMorganChase
Software Engineering III -React, TypeScript, JavaScript, Design focused Frontend
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JPMorganChase
Added 4d ago
Software Engineering III -React, TypeScript, JavaScript, Design focused Frontend
JPMorganChase
New York, New York
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$133k - $185k/yr
10,000+

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NVIDIA
Senior Software Engineer, SOC Design Methodology
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NVIDIA
Added 5d ago
Senior Software Engineer, SOC Design Methodology
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$136k - $265k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Top Cities Hiring Software Design Engineers

Explore software design engineer openings in the cities hiring most right now.

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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Software Design Engineer Job Market

Who's Hiring

General Motors (GM)
General Motors (GM)5 open roles
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman4 open roles
Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Medical Devices
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in software design engineer jobs.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science
  • Proficiency in C or C++ for embedded or systems-level development
  • Experience with hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog for FPGA roles
  • Familiarity with real-time operating systems and low-level firmware development
  • Ability to read and interpret schematics, datasheets, and hardware interface specifications
  • Experience using version control systems and design documentation tools such as Git and Confluence

Tips for Your Software Design Engineer Job Search

Tailor your resume to the domain

Software design engineers work across embedded, FPGA, and application layers, and hiring managers scan for domain fit first. Clearly label each project with its domain, the hardware or software stack involved, and your specific contribution to the design.

Show design artifacts, not just outcomes

Most candidates list results, but software design roles expect evidence of the design process itself. Include block diagrams, architecture decision records, or design review documents in your portfolio to demonstrate how you think through system constraints.

Filter openings by stack, not just title

The same job title covers very different work depending on whether a team uses VHDL, C on bare metal, or a RTOS. Read every job description for the specific stack before applying so your cover letter references the tools the team actually uses.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists software design engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Prepare for design-review style interviews

Many software design engineer panels ask you to walk through a past design under critique, not just solve whiteboard problems. Practice narrating your design decisions out loud, including trade-offs you rejected, so you can hold a technical discussion at the whiteboard.

Negotiate around IP and project scope

Compensation for software design roles often includes assignment-of-invention clauses that affect side projects and prior work. Before you sign, confirm which pre-existing projects are explicitly excluded so there are no disputes after you start.

Software Design Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most software design engineers?

The companies hiring the most software design engineers right now include General Motors (GM), Northrop Grumman, and Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences, with the largest share of openings in Texas, California, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Demand is concentrated at companies building embedded systems, semiconductor products, and complex consumer hardware.

How many software design engineer jobs are remote?

About 43% of software design engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is lower than in pure software roles because much of the work involves interacting with physical hardware prototypes and lab equipment. Application-layer and firmware simulation roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility within this title.

How do you become a software design engineer?

Most software design engineers start with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science, building hands-on skills in C, C++, or hardware description languages through coursework and personal projects. From there, entry-level roles in embedded firmware, FPGA development, or systems software provide the design-cycle experience needed to advance. Building a portfolio of design artifacts, contributing to open-source hardware projects, and seeking roles that expose you to full design reviews accelerates the path to senior levels.

How do you get hired as a software design engineer with little experience?

Employers hiring junior software design engineers look for evidence you can work close to hardware, so personal projects involving microcontrollers, single-board computers, or custom PCBs carry real weight even without professional experience. Internships at companies with hardware products, contributions to open-source firmware repositories, and coursework in digital logic or operating systems all help close the gap. Applying to roles explicitly labeled associate or junior gives you a realistic entry point while you build your domain knowledge.

What does the software design engineer interview process look like?

The process typically starts with a recruiter screen focused on your background and domain experience, followed by a technical phone or video round covering coding, systems concepts, or hardware fundamentals depending on the role. On-site or virtual final rounds usually include a design exercise where you architect a system or component under time pressure, a deep-dive into a past project you designed, and a behavioral round. Some companies add a written design document review or ask you to critique an existing architecture before the final decision.

Where can I find and apply to software design engineer jobs?

You can find and apply to software design engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your domain, stack, and seniority level, then apply directly to each opening that fits.

See All 95 Software Design Engineer Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Software Design Engineer Jobs