What to know before hiring Embedded Developers

Embedded systems are at the core of countless modern devices, from smartphones and medical equipment to automotive control systems and IoT devices. Embedded Developers specialize in designing, developing, and maintaining the software that runs on these systems. Hiring a skilled Embedded Developer is essential for creating reliable, efficient, and secure embedded software solutions.

Here’s what you need to know to hire Embedded Developers for your team.

What does an Embedded Developer do?

An Embedded Developer designs and implements software that runs on embedded systems, which are specialized computing devices designed to perform dedicated tasks. Their core responsibilities include:

• Firmware development: Embedded Developers write firmware, the low-level software that directly interacts with hardware components, using languages like C and C++.
• Real-time operating system (RTOS) development: They develop and integrate software with real-time operating systems (e.g., FreeRTOS, VxWorks) that manage hardware resources and meet time-sensitive requirements.
• Hardware-software integration: Embedded Developers work closely with hardware engineers to integrate software with microcontrollers, sensors, and other hardware components.
• Driver development: They write device drivers to allow the operating system or software applications to communicate with hardware peripherals such as sensors, displays, or communication modules.
• Optimizing resource usage: Since embedded systems often have limited memory, processing power, and storage, developers optimize code for efficiency and minimal resource consumption.
• Debugging and testing: Embedded Developers perform rigorous testing using tools like logic analyzers and debuggers to identify and fix bugs in both the hardware and software.
• Security and safety: They implement safety features and encryption protocols to protect embedded systems from cyber threats, especially in critical applications like medical devices or automotive systems.

How to hire Embedded Developers: a quick guide

Define your requirements

Before hiring an Embedded Developer, clearly defining your project’s scope and technical requirements is essential. This helps ensure that you hire the right developer with the relevant expertise. Key considerations include:

• Type of embedded system: Are you working on an IoT device, automotive control system, wearable technology, or medical equipment? Different applications may require specialized knowledge of specific microcontrollers or processors.
• Programming languages: Do you need expertise in low-level programming languages like C, C++, or Assembly? For higher-level functionality or real-time systems, developers might also need knowledge of Python or Java.
• Real-time operating systems (RTOS): If your embedded system requires real-time performance, the developer should have experience with RTOS platforms like FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or QNX.
• Hardware platforms: What microcontrollers, processors, or SoCs (System-on-Chips) are you using? The developer should be familiar with platforms like ARM Cortex, PIC, AVR, or Raspberry Pi.
• Power efficiency: Does your project have strict power consumption requirements? The developer should be skilled in writing energy-efficient code for battery-powered or resource-constrained systems.
• Security requirements: If your embedded system handles sensitive data or is connected to the internet (e.g., IoT), the developer should have experience with encryption, secure boot processes, and data protection protocols.
• Debugging and testing tools: Will the developer need to use specific testing tools or simulation environments? Make sure they have experience with tools like JTAG, GDB, or logic analyzers for hardware-software debugging.
• Compliance and certification: Does your system need to comply with industry standards like ISO 26262 (automotive), IEC 60601 (medical devices), or DO-178C (aerospace)? The developer should understand the certification processes for these industries.

Where to find Embedded Developers

There are several platforms where you can hire top-tier Embedded Developers. Job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobshark, and Glassdoor are excellent starting points. Additionally, platforms like Toptal, Jobshark, Upwork, and Fiverr offer access to freelance Embedded Developers. 

Engaging with embedded system communities on forums like Stack Overflow, Reddit’s embedded systems subreddit, or GitHub can help you connect with developers who actively work in the embedded space. Attending industry events like Embedded World, DesignCon, or local meetups can provide opportunities to network with Embedded Developers and learn about the latest trends in embedded technology.

For quicker hiring, partnering with tech sourcing companies, like Jobshark, can help streamline the process.

Assess technical skills

When hiring an Embedded Developer, assessing their technical skills is essential to ensure they can handle the complexity of embedded systems. Some technical skills to evaluate include:

• Proficiency in low-level programming languages: Embedded Developers should be proficient in languages like C, C++, and Assembly, which are commonly used for embedded systems programming.
• Experience with RTOS: If your system requires real-time performance, the developer should have experience working with real-time operating systems like FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or Micrium.
• Hardware-software integration: The developer should have experience interfacing software with hardware components, including sensors, motors, displays, and communication modules (e.g., I2C, SPI, UART).
• Microcontroller platforms: Look for expertise with specific microcontrollers or SoCs relevant to your project, such as ARM Cortex, ESP32, STM32, AVR, or Raspberry Pi.
• Knowledge of communication protocols: Ensure the developer is familiar with common communication protocols used in embedded systems, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, CAN bus, I2C, SPI, and Ethernet.
• Power management: The developer should have experience with power-efficient design, especially if your embedded system is battery-operated or needs to meet low-power requirements.
• Testing and debugging: Experience with debugging tools like JTAG, GDB, and logic analyzers is crucial for testing and troubleshooting hardware-software interactions in embedded systems.
• Safety-critical development: If your project involves safety-critical systems (e.g., automotive or medical devices), the developer should understand functional safety standards and the necessary testing and verification procedures.
• Version control: The developer should be experienced with version control systems like Git for managing code changes, especially in collaborative environments.

You can assess these technical skills through coding challenges, reviewing past projects, or conducting technical interviews focused on embedded systems development.

Evaluate soft skills and cultural fit

Some soft skills to evaluate when hiring an Embedded Developer include:

• Communication: Embedded Developers often need to explain complex technical issues related to hardware-software interactions. Clear communication is crucial for working effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Problem-solving ability: Embedded Developers frequently face challenges like debugging hardware-software issues, optimizing code for performance, and integrating new technologies. Strong problem-solving skills are critical for overcoming these challenges.
• Collaboration: Embedded Developers work closely with hardware engineers, electrical engineers, and sometimes front-end or application developers. Look for candidates who can collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Attention to detail: Embedded systems often have strict performance and safety requirements. A good developer will pay attention to detail, ensuring that the system is robust, secure, and free of critical bugs.
• Adaptability: The embedded technology landscape is constantly evolving, with new microcontrollers, communication protocols, and standards emerging regularly. A great Embedded Developer should be open to learning new technologies and adapting to changes in project scope.

Evaluating these soft skills through interviews and practical scenarios will help ensure the developer integrates well with your team and project goals.

Benefits of hiring a skilled Embedded Developer

Hiring a skilled Embedded Developer offers several key benefits for businesses developing embedded systems:

• Optimized performance: Embedded Developers write efficient, low-level code optimized for limited hardware resources like memory, processing power, and battery life.
• Seamless hardware-software integration: Embedded Developers ensure that software works seamlessly with hardware components, enabling reliable and secure communication between devices and systems.
• Customization and flexibility: Embedded Developers can design custom firmware and software tailored to your specific hardware, giving you more control over system functionality.
• Scalability for IoT devices: With expertise in wireless communication protocols and microcontrollers, Embedded Developers can build scalable IoT solutions that integrate with cloud platforms or other devices.
• Security and reliability: Embedded Developers ensure your system is secure and meets industry standards, especially for applications like medical devices, automotive systems, or consumer electronics.

A brief overview of embedded development tools and technologies

Embedded Developers rely on a wide range of tools and technologies to design, program, and debug embedded systems. Some of the most used tools include:

• C and C++: The primary programming languages used for embedded software development due to their efficiency and control over hardware.
• Real-time operating systems (RTOS): Platforms like FreeRTOS, VxWorks, and Micrium are used to manage time-critical tasks in embedded systems.
• Microcontroller IDEs: Integrated development environments like Keil, MPLAB, STM32CubeIDE, and Arduino IDE are widely used for programming microcontrollers.
• Communication protocols: Familiarity with protocols like I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and Bluetooth is essential for hardware-software communication.
• Debugging tools: Tools like JTAG debuggers, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes are used for testing and debugging embedded systems in real time.
• Version control: Git and SVN are common version control systems used to manage codebases and collaborate with other developers.
• Embedded Linux: For more complex systems, developers might use Linux-based platforms like Yocto or Buildroot for managing embedded Linux distributions.