Employers

Embedded systems engineers work in many industries, including automotives, aviation/aerospace communications systems, entertainment, robotics, utilities, alternative energy, consumer goods, security, transportation, and medical equipment manufacturing.

Major employers include Microchip Technology, NXP Semiconductors, Toyota, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Tesla Motors, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Intel Corporation, Bosch, GE, Honeywell, Texas Instruments, U.S. government agencies, and the military. Engineers with advanced degrees can work as professors and researchers at colleges and universities.

Starting Out

Many engineers land their first jobs after participating in college internships at companies that develop embedded systems. An internship not only provides a good introduction to the job, it can help you build your professional network and give you a chance to impress your boss (which may lead to an offer for full-time employment). Some engineers break into the field after first working as embedded systems technicians or technologists. Other common job-search strategies include attending career fairs, using the resources of your school’s career services office, working with recruiters, accessing job listings at association and industry job sites, and being active on LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

Engineering associations also provide job-search resources. For example, the National Society of Professional Engineers provides webinars for its student members. Recent webinars included How to Get Your First Job, Career Success in Engineering: A Guide for Students and New Professionals, Marketing You: Building a Personal Brand, and Engineering Your Career with a High-Quality Social Network. Associations also frequently provide job listings at their Web sites.

A skilled and experienced engineer can move up to the position of lead project engineer, who is responsible for the successful completion of a particular project and the management of less-experienced engineers. The next steps would be to department manager, production manager, and company executive. Some engineers start their own consulting firms, while others become college teachers.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/embedded-system-engineer-jobs
• http://www.indeed.com/q-Embedded-Systems-Engineer-jobs.html
• https://jobs.ieee.org/jobs/search
• http://jobs.acm.org
• https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/career-watch

Attend the Embedded Systems Conference and other industry events to network, participate in continuing education opportunities, and to interview for jobs.

Be willing to relocate; it may increase your chances of landing a job.