96 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
§ 01Compensation by level
[ MID ]
$140K
[ SENIOR ]
$185K
[ STAFF ]
$230K
[ PRINCIPAL ]
$290K
§ 02Top-paid open roles
- 01
Technical Director, Embedded Vehicle SoftwareWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$348K–$458K - 02Principal Embedded Security EngineerWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$296K–$375K
- 03Embedded Software Test Engineer, Onboard Test AutomationWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$210K–$311K
- 04Engineering Manager, Embedded Automotive PlatformWayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$280K–$305K
- 05Staff Embedded Linux EngineerAurora Innovation·Mountain View, California$189K–$303K
- 061Embedded Firmware Engineer - NEO1X Technologies·San Carlos, CA$200K–$300K
- 07Application Software Engineer - Embedded Software C++Wayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$210K–$298K
- 08Application Software Engineer - Embedded Software C++Wayve·Sunnyvale, California USA$210K–$298K
- 09Engineering Manager, App SW - EmbeddedWayve·Detroit, Michigan USA$253K–$298K
- 10Engineering Manager, App SW - EmbeddedWayve·Detroit, Michigan USA$253K–$298K
§ 03Top employers hiring embedded sw engineers
| Employer | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Anduril Industries | 33 | $200K |
| Rockwell Automation | 12 | $163K |
| Wayve | 9 | $275K |
| Zoox | 7 | $183K |
| Shield AI | 5 | $155K |
| Skydio | 5 | — |
| Reliable Robotics | 4 | $245K |
| Apptronik | 3 | — |
§ 04Top cities hiring embedded sw engineers
| Metro | Open roles | Median comp |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa | 26 | $219K |
| Singapore | 6 | — |
| Sunnyvale | 6 | $277K |
| Seattle | 4 | $245K |
| San Diego | 4 | $178K |
| San Mateo | 4 | — |
| Dallas | 3 | $205K |
| Foster City | 3 | $183K |
§ 05FAQ
- 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 (33 open roles), Rockwell Automation (12 open roles), and Wayve (9 open roles) lead by open-role volume. Browse all 96 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, Singapore, and Sunnyvale. 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.
§ 06See all open roles
Browse every embedded sw engineer role