STEM OPT Firmware Jobs
Firmware roles in embedded systems, real-time OS development, and hardware-software integration qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension when your degree aligns with an approved CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll work under a structured I-983 training plan tied to your engineering or computer science credentials.
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INTRODUCTION
Eaton’s Advanced Technology team is hiring a Senior Firmware Engineer for its Protection, Control, and Solutions business. We are seeking an innovative, problem-solver to drive firmware development for embedded electronics used in next-generation, solid-state circuit protection devices. The focus of this role includes creating firmware functionality related to hardware drivers, protection, metering, communication, and user interface. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new category of power protection technology from the ground up – working shoulder-to-shoulder with a cross-functional engineering team to turn cutting-edge semiconductor and protection technology into a product line that redefines how electrical systems are protected.
This role will be located in Moon Township, PA. A hybrid work model is available. We are able to offer sponsorship assistance for qualified candidates.
The expected annual salary range for this role is $86000 - $126000 a year.
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop embedded firmware for both bare metal and RTOS based embedded systems.
- Develop control and electrical fault management algorithm and firmware.
- Plan work in detail at individual level, creating a robust and trackable plan, coordinated with the larger development team, including requirement definition and issue tracking.
- Leverage central firmware repository (Github) for firmware development collaboration.
- Leverage Jira for task management, team coordination and bug tracking.
- Leverage AI related firmware development tools to increase throughput and efficiency.
- Document development efforts in both specifications and code comments.
- Review own work as well as others work in formal design and quality reviews.
- Test own work or work of others, meeting quality and reliability goals.
- Perform and contribute to technical research and investigations.
- Collaborate with teams from ERL, Electrical Sector Center of Excellence, and external technology resources (National Labs and Universities) for technology and product innovation.
- Generate value added intellectual property.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required (Basic) Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering field (Electrical, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science) from an accredited institution.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience developing embedded firmware for electronic controls. No relocation benefit is offered for this position. Only candidates within a 50-mile radius of Moon Township, PA will be considered. Active Duty Military Service member candidates are exempt from the geographical area limitation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2 years of experience working with Real-time Operating systems.
- 2 years of experience working with embedded firmware in 8 bit through 32 bit microcontrollers (e.g. ARM Cortex, PIC).
- 2 years of experience in implementing wired communication protocols.
- 2 years of experience in developing device drivers and hardware bring up.
Skills:
- Proficient in C.
- Experience with C++.
- Knowledge and experience related to real time embedded systems.
- Experience in using defect tracking systems and code repository.
- Ability to read schematics.
- Enjoys hands on work and has experience with lab equipment and safety.
- Experienced in code sharing tools and multi-person development.
- Knowledge of and experience with project tracking tools such as Jira and JAMA.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
LI-HA1
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.
We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.
You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.
We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Firmware
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code from your DSO and cross-reference it against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and embedded systems degrees almost always qualify, but closely related fields like mechatronics need explicit confirmation before you commit to a role.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Firmware teams at smaller embedded hardware companies and defense contractors often aren't E-Verify enrolled by default. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name before your final interview round so you're not negotiating an offer from a company that legally can't employ you on STEM OPT.
Build an I-983 training plan around measurable firmware deliverables
Generic training plans get rejected. Map each I-983 learning objective to a concrete firmware milestone: bootloader development, RTOS porting, or hardware bring-up. Your DSO signs off only when the plan demonstrates direct connection between the work and your STEM degree field.
Search Migrate Mate to filter employers with STEM OPT history
Firmware openings are scattered across defense, automotive, IoT, and semiconductor sectors. Migrate Mate filters roles by employers who have verifiable STEM OPT and E-Verify compliance history, so you spend less time vetting and more time applying to positions that are actually accessible to you.
Target companies filing LCAs for embedded or firmware roles
Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications under SOC codes for electrical engineers or software developers. Firms with active LCA filings are already inside the DOL compliance infrastructure, which makes transitioning you from STEM OPT to H-1B visa sponsorship significantly smoother.
Time your H-1B registration to cover your OPT end date
If your STEM OPT expires before October 1 of the H-1B fiscal year, cap-gap protection under USCIS rules extends your work authorization automatically while the petition is pending. Align your STEM OPT extension start date with your employer's fiscal year calendar so your authorization never lapses between filing and approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension in a firmware role?
Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List under an approved CIP code. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science degrees consistently qualify. Mechanical engineering degrees with embedded systems coursework may qualify depending on your school's CIP assignment. Confirm your exact CIP code with your DSO before accepting any firmware position, since the extension authorization is tied to the degree field, not the job title.
Does a firmware employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. USCIS requires that all STEM OPT employers be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension is approved. This applies to every employer in the chain, including staffing agencies if you're placed through one. Smaller firmware shops and hardware startups frequently overlook this requirement. Verify enrollment directly through the E-Verify employer search before signing an offer letter.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a firmware engineering position?
Your I-983 must document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just a job description. For firmware roles, list concrete technical goals: bare-metal driver development, real-time operating system integration, hardware bring-up procedures, or debugging embedded communication protocols. USCIS requires that each objective connects directly to your degree field, and your employer must sign off confirming the work meets those goals. Vague plans citing general 'engineering experience' are routinely rejected.
How does cap-gap work if my STEM OPT expires before my H-1B starts?
Cap-gap protection under USCIS regulations automatically extends your work authorization if your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT end date and you're selected in the lottery. The extension runs through September 30 of the H-1B fiscal year. You can continue working in your firmware role during this window without interruption. If the petition is denied or withdrawn, cap-gap protection ends and you must stop working immediately.
Where can I find firmware jobs open to STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists firmware roles filtered by employers with E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT compatibility, so you're not sifting through postings from companies that can't legally hire you on an OPT extension. Firmware openings span defense, automotive, semiconductor, and consumer electronics sectors. Narrowing by employer compliance history up front saves significant time during a job search where your authorization window is limited.