JobsMotorola Solutions

Embedded Software Engineer

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Aug 11, 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

Walk me through a project where you had to work with hardware directly, debugging something that wasn't purely a software problem.

whether the candidate genuinely has hands-on embedded experience versus purely simulation or application-level work

Tell me about a time you had to learn a new domain fast, maybe something like RF or wireless protocols, to finish a project.

curiosity and adaptability, since the posting explicitly values people with diverse interests who can ramp quickly

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical problem to someone outside your discipline, like an RF or hardware engineer, so they could act on it.

cross-discipline communication, which the posting flags as essential given the multidisciplinary team

Tell me about a time your team followed a formal software process, like a document-heavy or regulated development cycle, and how you felt about that discipline.

willingness to conform to a rigorous quality process rather than resisting structure

Technical

Describe a real-time embedded system you've built or worked on. What were the timing constraints and how did you make sure you met them?

actual depth of real-time embedded design knowledge, not just familiarity with the term

What's the difference in how you'd approach memory management in C versus C++ on a resource-constrained embedded target?

concrete language-level fluency rather than surface familiarity

Have you used Python for anything beyond scripting, like data analysis, model evaluation, or automation? Walk me through an example.

whether Python skills extend to the kind of model training and evaluation work mentioned in the job duties

What do you know about cellular or wireless communications standards, and have you worked with any software-defined radio concepts?

actual exposure to the specific technical domain the department specializes in

Situational

If you had a piece of C or C++ code running on embedded Linux that was intermittently crashing only in the field, not in the lab, how would you go about tracking it down?

practical debugging methodology for hard-to-reproduce embedded failures

Suppose you're handed a proof-of-concept project with vague requirements and a tight timeline, and you're mostly working alone. How do you decide what to build first?

ability to self-direct and prioritize with minimal supervision, since the role explicitly varies project to project

If a hardware engineer tells you a signal looks fine on the scope but your software is reading garbage data, how do you figure out where the problem actually is?

systematic thinking across the hardware-software boundary, a core daily reality of embedded work

Describe a situation where you disagreed with a design decision made by someone on the hardware or FPGA side. What did you do?

how the person handles friction and negotiates across engineering disciplines without derailing the project

This role requires being able to get a security clearance and work on government contracts. Have you gone through anything like that before, and is there anything in your background you'd want to flag now rather than later?

eligibility and honesty around clearance requirements before investing further in the process

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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, 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 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 multidisciplinary 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. • 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. • 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. Target Base Salary Range: $75,000 - $130,000 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.   #LI-JM2 #LI-ONSITE #AppliedTech Basic Requirements • Bachelor's (BS) or Master's (MS) degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or related technical field. • Experience programming in C, C++, and/or Python • Must be a U.S. citizen with the 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 Experienced 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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