JobsMotorola Solutions

Embedded Software Engineer

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Jul 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical problem to someone from a different discipline, like a hardware or RF engineer, who didn't share your background.

ability to communicate clearly across engineering disciplines, which this cross-functional team structure demands

Describe a situation where you had to follow a formal software process or quality standard that felt slower than you wanted. How did you handle that tension?

willingness to conform to rigorous department process on high-reliability products rather than cutting corners

Tell me about a time you picked up a new tool, language, or standard quickly because a project demanded it, even though you'd never used it before.

evidence of the curiosity and continuous learning the posting explicitly asks for

Tell me about a project that didn't go the way you expected, where you had to test and validate something in the real world instead of just in simulation.

experience with the full development lifecycle including real-world testing and validation, not just design work

Technical

Tell me about a project where you had to write software that talked directly to hardware. What was the hardware doing and how did you debug it when something didn't work?

whether they have real hands-on embedded experience versus only theoretical coursework

Walk me through a time you used an oscilloscope or logic analyzer to track down a bug. What did the signal tell you that the code alone couldn't?

actual comfort with lab instruments rather than just claiming familiarity on a resume

What do you know about GSM, LTE, or other wireless standards, and how would you go about learning one you've never touched before if a project required it?

genuine curiosity about wireless communications versus a checkbox answer, and how they approach self-directed learning

Describe a piece of code you wrote in C or C++ that had strict real-time constraints. What made it real-time, and how did you verify it actually met the timing requirements?

depth of understanding of real-time embedded design, not just general programming ability

Have you worked in Linux as a development environment? Tell me about a time you had to debug something at the OS or driver level rather than just in application code.

practical Linux systems knowledge relevant to embedded development

Have you used assembly language or worked directly with microcontroller firmware? Walk me through a specific example.

whether low-level programming experience is real and specific rather than a resume line

Situational

Say you're handed a proof-of-concept project with a vague spec and no prior team history to lean on. How would you start figuring out what to build?

ability to operate independently on ambiguous, low-volume specialty work with minimal supervision

If you were partway through a project and the requirements shifted because a hardware constraint changed, what would you do first?

adaptability when working on hardware-software co-design where physical constraints override plans

This role requires U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a government security clearance. Is there anything in your background that would affect that process, and how do you think about working on projects with limited disclosure?

eligibility and comfort with the confidentiality demands of government-contract work

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The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Our Applied Technology organization puts some of Motorola Solutions' brightest minds on unique, highly challenging projects. Based on decades of experience with our customers, we apply leading-edge technologies to support security and safety throughout the world. We engineer our products from start to finish and manufacture them in-house. We're known for low volume and high capability with focused specialization in areas including software-defined radios, advanced antenna solutions, artificial intelligence and machine learning, reverse engineering, cybersecurity, signals intelligence and more. We can't tell you much more about what we do, but we can tell you it's amazing. Job Description • Candidates for this position are software engineers with strong programming skills who demonstrate curiosity, continuous learning, and an ability to adapt. Ideal candidates have a diverse knowledge and a wide variety of interests, especially in cellular / wireless communications. • Hands-on experience in embedded software development is also beneficial. • Our products are developed to very high standards of quality and reliability and you will be expected to learn and conform to the department’s software process during all development activities. • You will have the opportunity to create proof-of-concept and low-volume specialty communications products for government and private industry. Responsibilities • Develop solutions for real world systems and standalone products to enhance existing Applied Technology offerings. • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary product development teams.  • Perform duties in all areas of development (i.e. requirements analysis, high and low-level design, coding, model training and evaluation, documentation, real world testing, and validation). • Hands-on interaction with product hardware for developing and debugging. Specific Skills/Knowledge • Excellent understanding of real-time embedded software design and be proficient in Linux, C, C++, Python and other software languages and operating systems. • Assembly Language Experience • Practical experience with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and debugging microcontroller software is a plus. • Agile software development and/or Git/JIRA experience is a plus. • Flexible, results-oriented problem-solver who requires minimal supervision. Projects can vary greatly from one to the next, so you must thrive on variety and enjoy taking on new challenges. • Willingness to learn one or more wireless communication standards (GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, Tetra, etc.). • Ability to meaningfully communicate with members of all engineering disciplines (Hardware, RF, Software, FPGA, etc), as well as management. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. #LI-JM2 #LI-ONSITE #AppliedTech Target Base Salary Range: $66,900  - $95,300  USD Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Basic Requirements • Bachelor's (BS) or Master's (MS) degree.. • Experience programming in C, C++, and/or Python • Must be a  U.S. citizen  with ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contract. Some contracts may have higher-level clearance requirements. Travel Requirements None Relocation Provided None Position Type New Grad Referral Payment Plan Yes Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K with Company Match • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

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