Hire a Firmware Developer who makes your hardware do its job.
Turn boards into working products. A pre-vetted developer writes drivers, application code and updates for your microcontrollers, in your repo and toolchain.
- C and C++
- STM32CubeIDE
- Keil MDK
- IAR Embedded Workbench
- FreeRTOS
- Zephyr RTOS
Overview
What does a Firmware Developer do?
The hardware is back from assembly and it powers up. Now someone has to bring up the clocks, talk to every sensor over I2C and SPI, fit the application into the flash and RAM you have, keep the battery alive for months, and make sure a failed update in the field doesn't turn a product into a brick. That is firmware, and it's often the longest pole in a hardware schedule.
A firmware developer writes the code that runs on the device. They work in C and C++ on microcontrollers such as STM32, Nordic nRF and ESP32, write peripheral drivers, build on FreeRTOS or Zephyr, implement communication protocols and power management, and debug with JTAG probes, logic analysers and oscilloscope captures.
AssistHubPro matches you with a developer who has shipped firmware on real products, on the chip families you use. Your hardware team keeps moving on the next revision. Your developer gets this one doing what it was designed to do.
- Board bring-up
- Peripheral drivers
- RTOS application code
- Connectivity stacks
- Power management
Skills and stack
From first power-up to field updates, coded and tested.
The day-to-day work your developer owns, in the tools your team already uses.
- Board bring-upGets new hardware running: clocks, pins, debug output and a first check of every peripheral.
- Peripheral driversWrites and tests drivers for sensors, displays, memory and radios over I2C, SPI, UART and CAN.
- RTOS application codeStructures firmware into tasks, queues and timers on FreeRTOS or Zephyr, or tight bare-metal loops.
- Connectivity stacksImplements BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRa, cellular or USB communication with your app or cloud backend.
- Power managementTunes sleep modes, wake sources and duty cycles to meet your battery-life targets.
- Bootloaders and OTA updatesBuilds secure bootloaders and over-the-air update flows with rollback if an update fails.
- Hardware debuggingTracks down faults with JTAG and SWD probes, logic analysers and scope captures on your bench or theirs.
- Unit tests and CIAdds host-side unit tests, static analysis and build pipelines so firmware quality doesn't depend on luck.
Tools they already know
- C and C++
- STM32CubeIDE
- Keil MDK
- IAR Embedded Workbench
- FreeRTOS
- Zephyr RTOS
- SEGGER J-Link
- Git
Your developer works in your repositories and toolchain with only the access the project needs. You own all code and accounts, and access is removed the day a placement ends.
Human vs AI
Why a Firmware Developer beats AI on its own.
AI tools are quick at first drafts. A dedicated developer turns them into finished work you can trust, inside your business.
| Topic | AI aloneAI tools on their own | Your developerYour Firmware Developer |
|---|---|---|
| Knows your business | ||
| Knows your business | Starts from zero each timeStarts from a blank prompt every time you ask. | Remembers your clients and preferencesLearns your clients, preferences and way of working, and remembers them. |
| Judgment calls | ||
| Judgment calls | Can be confidently wrongFollows patterns and can sound certain when it is wrong. | Checks facts and asks before actingSpots the exception, checks the facts and asks you before acting. |
| Follow-through | ||
| Follow-through | Waits for the next promptAnswers when asked, then waits for the next prompt. | Owns each task until it is doneOwns the task from start to finish and follows up until it is done. |
| Relationships | ||
| Relationships | Can't build trustCan't build trust with the people you work with. | Part of your team to clientsTalks to your clients, vendors and team like part of your company. |
| Works in your tools | ||
| Works in your tools | Output needs copying overNeeds someone to copy its output into your systems. | Works inside your accountsWorks inside your accounts, with access you control. |
| Accountability | ||
| Accountability | Nobody stands behind itNobody stands behind the result. | Reports to you, with a free rematchYour developer reports to you, backed by an Account Manager and a free rematch. |
The best of both. Your developer can use AI tools to draft, research and summarize faster, then checks every result before it reaches you or your clients.
How hiring works
From first call to first commit.
Every developer is checked before you meet them, so your interviews are only with strong candidates.
Step 1
Free consultation
30 minutes on your your hardware, chips and toolchain.
Step 2
Matched shortlist
Pre-vetted developers who fit your stack, hours and budget.
Step 3
Vetted for you
Embedded C skills test · Debugging scenario · Chip family experience · Reading datasheets and schematics
Step 4
Start working
A kick-off call sets up access and routines, and work starts.
Cost
What a Firmware Developer could cost you.
No pricing grid to squeeze into. We scope the role, hours and experience with you, then quote exactly that.
- Part-timeA few focused hours a day.
- Full-timeOne developer, dedicated to you.
- TeamSeveral roles, managed together.
Example yearly cost, full-time
$115,000 salary + 30% benefits and overhead
$35/hr × 40 hrs × 52 weeks
Illustrative figures only. Your quote depends on experience and hours. Try the savings calculator.
Projects
Bigger projects you can hand over.
With core firmware stable, your developer can take on security, performance and new capabilities.
Secure boot and device security
Adds signed images, secure key storage and debug lockdown to protect devices and your code.
Embedded Linux
Works on Yocto or Buildroot images, device trees and kernel drivers for application-processor products.
Motor control and DSP
Implements control loops and signal processing for motors, sensors and audio.
Edge AI on microcontrollers
Deploys compact ML models with TensorFlow Lite Micro or vendor toolkits on constrained hardware.
- Pre-vettedInterview and skills test first.
- Account ManagerOne named person, always.
- Free rematchNo questions asked.
- Your firmware, your IPSource code, binaries, keys and documentation created for you belong to your company.
FAQ
Hiring a Firmware Developer: your questions.
How does a remote firmware developer work with physical hardware?
Usually with development boards or prototypes shipped to them, plus a debug probe and basic bench equipment. Some teams add remote access to a lab bench. We discuss the right setup for your product on the free consultation.
Which microcontrollers and tools do they know?
Common families include STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32, NXP and Microchip, with toolchains like STM32CubeIDE, Keil, IAR and GCC, and RTOSes such as FreeRTOS and Zephyr. We match on your chips and toolchain.
How do they work with our hardware engineers?
They join your design reviews, give early feedback on pin assignments and peripherals, and report hardware issues they find at bring-up with clear evidence, all through your repository and tracker.
Can they work our hours?
Yes. Your developer works the hours you agree, with overlap for bring-up sessions and reviews with your hardware team.
How fast can they start?
Most clients meet pre-vetted candidates within days of the free consultation. Onboarding covers repository access, toolchain setup and getting hardware to their bench.
How is our code and design data protected?
Your developer works under an NDA with least-privilege repository access. Signing keys and production credentials can stay with your team. You own all code and access is removed when the placement ends.
Can we grow the firmware team?
Yes. Tell your Account Manager to add hours, another firmware developer, or an embedded test engineer as your product line grows.
What if the developer isn't the right fit?
Tell your Account Manager and we'll find a replacement at no cost, no questions asked.
Hire a Firmware Developer with AssistHubPro.
A free 30-minute consultation and a real reply within 24 hours. No obligation.
- 1We reply within 24 hoursA real person reads every request and replies with a clear next step.
- 2Free 30-minute consultationWe scope the role, the hours and the tools you use.
- 3Meet your matchesInterview pre-vetted developers and choose who joins.
- Pre-vetted
- Free rematch
- Account Manager