STEM OPT Firmware Engineer Jobs
Firmware Engineer roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, letting you work up to 36 months total on your F-1 authorization, including the 24-month STEM extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field must align with the role.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout us
We’re a team of professional embedded/firmware engineers dedicated to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about developing hard real-time systems in critical applications.
- Healthy work/life balance.
- Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – Employees own 100% of the company.
- Focused on delivering high quality, reliable products with free technical support as long as the product remains in service.
- Enjoy getting to the root of problems and inventing solutions to meet customer needs.
- Long term career development and growth opportunities.
- Hands on training and mentorship.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Participate in the design, implementation, documentation, and testing of safety critical embedded systems.
- Understand hardware and software interactions.
- Collaborate across disciplines with Hardware and Software engineers.
- Develop knowledge of SEL engineering processes.
- Develop knowledge of SEL products and technology.
- Follow and apply SEL Values and Principles of Operations.
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
Required Qualifications
We are open to reviewing candidates with more experience than the minimum skill set listed below.
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge in the following areas:
- Programming languages: C, C++
- Software development including:
- Object oriented design
- Unit testing
- Debugging
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills.
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Embedded systems firmware development.
- Software Skills:
- RTOS
- Test automation
- Python
- Software development process (Agile)
- Software development tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Jenkins, Conan, etc.)
- Source control tools (Git, Clearcase, etc.)
- Industrial controls
- 3-phase electric power systems
- Familiar with network communication protocols
Location
Pullman, WA - SEL’s corporate office is in Eastern Washington where you'll enjoy an unmatched quality of life. Enjoy the smaller town life: country space, freedom from traffic, easy access to recreational activities in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as great schools and universities.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Pay Range Data:
Associate Firmware Engineer $81,300 - $122,000
Firmware Engineer $89,400 - $134,100
We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
About us
We’re a team of professional embedded/firmware engineers dedicated to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about developing hard real-time systems in critical applications.
- Healthy work/life balance.
- Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) – Employees own 100% of the company.
- Focused on delivering high quality, reliable products with free technical support as long as the product remains in service.
- Enjoy getting to the root of problems and inventing solutions to meet customer needs.
- Long term career development and growth opportunities.
- Hands on training and mentorship.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Participate in the design, implementation, documentation, and testing of safety critical embedded systems.
- Understand hardware and software interactions.
- Collaborate across disciplines with Hardware and Software engineers.
- Develop knowledge of SEL engineering processes.
- Develop knowledge of SEL products and technology.
- Follow and apply SEL Values and Principles of Operations.
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
Required Qualifications
We are open to reviewing candidates with more experience than the minimum skill set listed below.
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge in the following areas:
- Programming languages: C, C++
- Software development including:
- Object oriented design
- Unit testing
- Debugging
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills.
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Embedded systems firmware development.
- Software Skills:
- RTOS
- Test automation
- Python
- Software development process (Agile)
- Software development tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket, Jenkins, Conan, etc.)
- Source control tools (Git, Clearcase, etc.)
- Industrial controls
- 3-phase electric power systems
- Familiar with network communication protocols
Location
Pullman, WA - SEL’s corporate office is in Eastern Washington where you'll enjoy an unmatched quality of life. Enjoy the smaller town life: country space, freedom from traffic, easy access to recreational activities in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as great schools and universities.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Pay Range Data:
Associate Firmware Engineer $81,300 - $122,000
Firmware Engineer $89,400 - $134,100
We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
See all 46+ STEM OPT Firmware Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Firmware Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches the role
Pull your official transcript and confirm your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science. A mismatch between your CIP code and the firmware role's SOC code is the most common reason DSOs flag I-983 training plans.
Search for E-Verify enrollment before applying
Ask recruiting contacts whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you spend time on take-home assessments. Hardware and embedded-systems startups frequently lack E-Verify enrollment even when they're eager to hire, which disqualifies them as STEM OPT employers entirely.
Build your portfolio around bare-metal projects
Firmware hiring managers evaluate RTOS experience, peripheral driver code, and bootloader work far more than academic coursework. Push documented embedded projects to a public repository before applications go out so interviewers can assess signal-to-noise work, not just your resume claims.
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified STEM OPT employers
Target companies whose DOL Labor Condition Application filings confirm active sponsorship for engineering roles. Migrate Mate surfaces this filing history by occupation code, so you can focus outreach on employers already familiar with STEM OPT obligations rather than educating every recruiter from scratch.
Submit your I-983 training plan before your start date
Your DSO must file the STEM OPT extension with USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires, and the I-983 must be signed by an authorized company official, not just a recruiter. Confirm your offer letter names a supervisor who can execute that document.
Check prevailing wage before evaluating offers
Run your target job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search to see the DOL wage levels for your SOC code. Employers enrolling you in STEM OPT must attest you're paid at least at the Level I prevailing wage, so offers below that threshold signal compliance gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a firmware engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science and your employer classifies the role under a matching SOC code. USCIS evaluates both your CIP code and the job's occupational classification when reviewing the STEM OPT extension. Your DSO confirms eligibility before filing, so bring both documents to that meeting.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my firmware employer?
Every employer who supervises a STEM OPT student must be enrolled in E-Verify at the hiring site where you'll physically work. If your team is distributed or you're placed at a client site, the E-Verify enrollment must cover that specific location, not just the parent company's headquarters. Confirm enrollment status with HR before signing your offer letter, since a non-enrolled employer cannot legally supervise your STEM OPT period.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a firmware role?
The I-983 requires your employer to document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, the supervision structure, how your performance will be evaluated, and how the training relates to your academic field. For firmware roles, this typically includes goals around embedded systems design, debugging methodologies, or protocol implementation. Both you and an authorized company official must sign it, and you're required to conduct a formal review with your supervisor at the six-month and twelve-month marks.
How does cap-gap protection work if my H-1B is selected while on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You don't need to file separately for cap-gap; USCIS extends it by operation of law once the petition is accepted. You can continue working your firmware role without interruption during this bridging period.
Where can I find firmware engineer jobs at STEM OPT-eligible employers?
Migrate Mate filters firmware and embedded systems roles by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and active DOL Labor Condition Application filing history in engineering occupation codes. That lets you skip the step of manually vetting each company's sponsorship track record and focus your applications on employers already equipped to support STEM OPT students. You can filter by location, role type, and employer filing activity directly on the platform.