What Does a Firmware Engineer Do?
Firmware Engineers are computer science professionals who work on and create specialized software for computer subsystems.
Firmware and software both fall under the umbrella of coding and digital science. However, while software programs such as Instagram and Photoshop are constantly updated and worked on, firmware is the embedded code that makes physical hardware like keyboards and computer screens function. Firmware is the link between hardware and software. Firmware can be open-source or proprietary, and it is often not changed or updated the way that software is.
You can consider firmware solid, stable, or “firm.” It’s the intermediary between digital and analog interfaces and, thus, must be secure.
Firmware engineers work to create these subsystems that serve as the basis for most computing and mechanical operations. Like software engineering, this role involves programming, testing, and debugging firmware to ensure it works at peak efficacy. However, unlike software coding, firmware engineers consider the hardware’s design, dependency, and complexity when making the firmware that will operate it. The firmware they design must be intuitive, accessible, and secure—all while considering all the scenarios and use cases for a general user.
To learn more about firmware engineering and what a day in the life of a firmware engineer at a top company looks like, watch our free presentation “A Day in the Life of a Firmware Engineer,” featuring James Mingqi Zhang, an Embedded Firmware Engineer at Schneider Electric—brought to you by the LIL Speaker Series.
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