95 OPEN
SALARIES · EMBEDDED SW ENGINEER
Embedded SW Engineer [YoY +8%]
Median total compensation for embedded sw engineer roles in robotics, AI, and autonomy. Open roles by salary, direct from each employer.
[ SENIOR COMPENSATION · ANNUAL · BASE ]
$185,000 – $230,000USD
§ 01
Compensation by level
[ MID ]
$140K
[ SENIOR ]
$185K
[ STAFF ]
$230K
[ PRINCIPAL ]
$290K
§ 02
Top-paid open roles
- 01
Principal Engineer, Embedded Vehicle SoftwareWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$348K–$458K - 02Senior Software Engineer, Embedded Platform Middleware — Automotive and RoboticsNVIDIA·US, CA, Santa Clara$184K–$357K
- 03Senior/Staff Software Engineer - Embedded Linux Operating SystemsZoox·Foster City, CA$237K–$322K
- 04Staff Embedded Security EngineerWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$276K–$311K
- 05Engineering Manager, Embedded Automotive PlatformWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$280K–$305K
- 061Staff Embedded Firmware Engineer - NEO1X Technologies·San Carlos, CA$200K–$300K
- 07
Embedded Software Engineer, Anti-TamperAnduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$166K–$292K - 08Staff Firmware EngineerAnduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States$220K–$292K
- 09Senior Embedded Linux EngineerAnduril Industries·Costa Mesa, California, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States$220K–$292K
- 10Senior Engineer, Software Embedded Applications (Hiring Multiple Levels)Shield AI·Dallas, Texas$150K–$290K
§ 03
Top employers hiring embedded sw engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Anduril Industries | 35 | $222K |
| Zoox | 14 | $194K |
| Rockwell Automation | 10 | $132K |
| Wayve | 6 | $293K |
| Waabi | 4 | $204K |
| Reliable Robotics | 3 | $215K |
| Skydio | 3 | — |
| Shield AI | 2 | $213K |
§ 04
Top cities hiring embedded sw engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa | 30 | $222K |
| Foster City | 9 | $178K |
| San Diego | 5 | $194K |
| Sunnyvale | 4 | $293K |
| Pittsburgh | 4 | — |
| Katowice | 3 | — |
| Mayfield Heights | 3 | — |
| Henderson | 2 | $153K |
§ 05
FAQ
- How much do embedded sw engineers make in the robotics industry?
- Senior embedded sw engineers in the robotics industry typically earn $185K base salary at top employers. Staff-level roles run $230K and principal-level reach $290K. Numbers are median base salary across 168 data points; total compensation including equity is typically 15-30% higher at private robotics employers.
- Who is hiring the most embedded sw engineers right now?
- Anduril Industries (35 open roles), Zoox (14 open roles), and Rockwell Automation (10 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 95 open embedded sw engineer roles sorted by recency.
- Where are most embedded sw engineer jobs located?
- The top robotics industry hubs for embedded sw engineer roles right now are Costa Mesa, Foster City, and San Diego. Defense robotics tends to concentrate in DC/Northern Virginia and Colorado Springs (clearance-required roles), while commercial launch is heaviest in LA basin and Florida's Space Coast.
- Do embedded sw engineer roles in robotics, AI, and autonomy require security clearance?
- Many do. Defense robotics programs at Anduril, Shield AI, Saronic, and defense primes require Secret or TS/SCI clearance. Commercial robotics roles at Boston Dynamics, Apptronik, 1X, Skydio, and Wayve generally do not. ITAR registration is more common than clearance — many sensor, autonomy, and unmanned-systems roles require it.
§ 06
Browse every embedded sw engineer role