Guide To Hiring Great Freelance Embedded Software Engineers
Consumers and businesses demand embedded computing in their everyday products as a way to gain a greater level of efficiency and performance. Delivering these systems quickly and cost-effectively requires working with top-tier embedded software engineers.
In particular, the growth of embedded systems is apparent in the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) on the consumer side. On the commercial landscape, industrial, transportation, and agricultural processes have advanced by leaps and bounds because of increased equipment automation. The entire market looks to reach $173 billion by 2032.
An example of embedding that can benefit most industries involves finance. Companies can easily add payment plans, product insurance, and saved payment types to apps and websites without creating an entire financial infrastructure. These conveniences can quickly boost revenues because they eliminate obstacles to sales. Hiring embedded software engineers to develop such features allowed Shopify to triple its revenue .
However, their niche prowess in specific industries makes finding the right candidate challenging. Recent projections also indicate that these types of tech jobs will grow at twice the rate of other occupations, pointing to stiff competition in hiring.
How can you attract top talent and bring qualified embedded engineers on board? This guide provides key information about how to hire embedded software developers and what they can do for your company.
Hiring a Freelance Embedded Software Engineer
Many world-class software developers prefer the freedom and flexibility of working as independent contractors. Often, these professionals have advanced skills in agile methodologies and prioritize efficiency.
Restricting your search to hiring full-time or part-time employees could cause you to miss out on these experts. Deciding to hire a freelance embedded software engineer opens the door to the savings and simplicity of working with a remote team to streamline your operations.
What Does an Embedded Software Engineer Do?
Embedded software engineers are responsible for any product that is not a traditional computer but has a processor and computing power inside. Vehicles, wearables, medical equipment, and smart appliances require embedded engineering.
What does an embedded software engineer do in the creation of such products? For starters, these developers create the code that will run on the item.
While the applications on embedded devices are not as robust as programs on dedicated computers, they are quickly becoming more complex as people expect their devices to perform more functions. Additionally, the growth of cloud computing means that people expect greater interactivity and functionality between devices.
Even more important are the safety concerns that come with allowing automated control of powerful equipment, such as a vehicle or industrial machine. Lawrence Lo, an engineering expert at the University of Washington, states: “When you deal with hardware, it’s difficult to change it. That means the software design has to be well thought-out . If you don’t do it right, you might hurt someone.”
Of course, these computers inside of products need to be compact to eliminate bulk. As a result, a core responsibility of an embedded software engineer is to incorporate efficient code that only requires processing components with the fewest drivers. To achieve this, embedded software engineers for hire must also work closely with design, development, and electrical engineering teams.
Any time you want to create, maintain, enhance, or repair the computing power of a device with embedded software, you need to hire dedicated software embedded software engineers to get the job done correctly.
“When you deal with hardware, it’s difficult to change it. That means the software design has to be well thought-out . If you don’t do it right, you might hurt someone.”
Why Hire Embedded Software Engineers?
Embedded software engineers ensure successful deliverables for embedded systems projects. Bring on these professionals to:
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Design, code, test, debug, and optimize embedded software
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Discover ways to enhance device and software efficiency
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Maintain and document programs
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Offer post-production support and software updates
If you produce items that involve IoT or computers integrated into nontechnical items, you have many reasons to hire embedded software engineers.
What Can an Embedded Software Engineer Do for Your Business?
Embedded software engineers can bring the following skill sets to a project.
Firmware Development
Experts in embedded software engineering design and implement firmware into embedded devices and systems. They optimize this code for the specific hardware. Such know-how is crucial to maximize microcontrollers and microprocessors with memory and processing limitations.
Real-Time Systems Design
Devices and equipment with embedded software need to behave predictably, especially regarding their timing. Embedded systems specialists refer to this as deterministic behavior, and it can be a matter of life and death. For instance, how a robot arm responds during surgery or how a high-speed vehicle processes inputs are prime safety concerns. Your team needs to hire embedded software engineers who can ensure a device meets expected critical time constraints.
Hardware-Software Integration
Embedded software specialists have to bridge the gap between the physical and the digital. Their solutions must seamlessly fit into compact hardware, fluidly sending and receiving instructions and data. The integration process requires the developers to find novel ways to exploit hardware capabilities while adapting to limitations.
Communication Protocol Implementation
The expertise of your embedded software engineers ensures reliable and secure data exchange. This is another area where industry knowledge is critical to meet regulatory requirements. Their work commonly includes configuring hardware peripherals and developing error-handling mechanisms to ensure system reliability in various operating conditions.
Power Optimization
Energy efficiency can make or break the user experience. That is why you need to hire embedded software engineers who can uncover ways to minimize power consumption without compromising performance. Strategies include writing efficient code and programming devices to utilize sleep and low-power modes to keep IoT and battery-operated devices power-efficient.
Embedded Security Solutions
Cybercriminals have discovered that embedded devices can often be an unguarded entry point into a network. Embedded security solutions from skilled developers incorporate multiple layers of protection and prevent unauthorized code execution. Tools for secure boot, encryption, authentication, and intrusion detection preserve the integrity of a system and signal potential breaches in real time.
How To Hire Embedded Software Engineers
Before you look at a single candidate, establish the project scope. Set your budget and timeline by considering past projects or industry data. If you have trouble defining the scope, you may need to hire an embedded software engineer as a consultant first.
If you already have an IT department in place, solicit suggestions from that team about essential core competencies. Also, clarify what kinds of working styles flourish in your team. With these points in hand, you can create job descriptions that draw in the right candidates.
You should also decide precisely how to hire embedded software engineers. Will you do most of the vetting yourself or rely on a hiring platform? By using our list of the top 15 sites, you could have a quality developer on your team by the end of the week without much work on your end.
Otherwise, you should be comfortable assessing developer skills. For example, do you know the difference between junior, middle, and senior developers?
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Junior programmers have less than two years of experience and can only do rudimentary tasks alone. They work better in a team under the direction of a more experienced developer.
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Middle developers have their degrees and two to five years in the field. They write manageable code, are proficient with tools, and can work independently, but they need more experience before serving as consultants or overseeing complex projects.
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Senior software engineers can handle any aspect of software, including coming up with creative debugging solutions and leading programming teams. They also tend to be industry experts who specialize in a specific domain.
Because of the demanding requirements of embedded systems, you typically want to start any project with a senior embedded software engineer.
What Skills To Look for When Hiring an Embedded Software Engineer
Strong technical skills for developers are non-negotiable. Experts in the field mention the following embedded software engineer skills as essentials:
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Advanced understanding of C and C++ programming
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Hardware design
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Understanding of analog circuits
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Computer and network security, including cryptography
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Full-stack software development
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Autonomous robotics
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Data analytics
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Machine learning for signal processing
In fact, these skills and nearly 150 others are prerequisites and corequisites for a course in Embedded System Software Engineering at Carnegie Mellon.
Other embedded software engineer skills deal with emotional intelligence, work ethic, and communication. For example, the high-pressure environment of creating innovative devices can be a breeding ground for conflicts and disputes among team members. Developers with solid people skills can resolve conflicts constructively. They also manage their own stress and maintain motivation to complete tasks.
Remote freelancers must also be open communicators to keep stakeholders up-to-date on project progress. Free-flowing communication also aids collaboration in bringing the best product to market.
Additionally, a top embedded software engineer will be a good planner who manages time well. These skills ensure you get your projects on time and under budget.
How Much It Costs To Hire Embedded Software Engineers
The average annual salary to hire an embedded software engineer in the U.S. is $153,383. That equals about $74 per hour. A small number earn closer to $84/hour. The newest and least experienced professionals in the field can bring in as low as $33/hour.
Tips for Writing an Embedded Software Engineer Job Description
Your embedded software engineer job description can follow a basic outline:
| SECTION | CONTENTS |
|---|---|
| Company Introduction | A catchy paragraph that describes company culture, compensation, and details that make your brand and the job stand out from others |
| Job Description | A few sentences that sum up what the role will accomplish, who the developer will be working with, and the most important traits of an ideal candidate |
| Responsibilities | A bulleted list of all relevant tasks in the job |
| Skills | A bulleted list of essential competencies, technologies, certificates, education, years of experience |
In general, the whole document should aim for 700 words or less .
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Want To Hire an Embedded Software Engineer
Embedded software engineering is always niche-specific, meaning answers to technical interview questions depend on your industry. Get an idea of how a candidate resolves challenges with questions like these:
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How do you optimize your software for memory and power?
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How do you ensure code safety and reliability in mission-critical systems?
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What are your preferred debugging tools?
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How have you recently overcome a challenge in debugging software?
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What is your process for handling software updates?
Question-and-answer sessions can only give you a low-level look into a person’s programming skills. A full technical assessment is preferable if you know how to interpret the results.
However, the cost of such assessments can start to add up if you have to interview multiple candidates. Likewise, you may need to do personality evaluations to figure out how a person might fit on your team. Keep in mind that highly-rated technical hiring platforms perform these tests on all talent to save you the hassle.
How To Find Freelance Embedded Software Engineers for Hire
Where should you find embedded software engineers for hire? Review your budget, timeline, and workload to determine which strategy can help you find elite talent quickly and cost-effectively.
If you are unsure of where to start, check out our list of the best sites to hire embedded software engineers. The leading entries simplify the process and leave practically no work on your end. For example, Toptal only accepts the top 3% of applicants. All talent goes through rigorous testing and vetting so you can count on hiring world-class talent.
If you are in IoT or produce embedded systems, finding the top developers is always a priority. Consider the landscape of the job market and devise an approach for attracting compatible talent. With a well-planned strategy, you can hire embedded software engineers who deliver successful projects.