NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
NOVO Engineering (4.4/5) edges ahead of ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) overall. NOVO Engineering is the better choice for multi-disciplinary product programs spanning mechanical, electrical, and firmware. ARCH-Embedded is the stronger option for cellular and positioning-technology firmware for connected and micro-mobility devices. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | NOVO Engineering | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2022 |
| HQ | Vista, CA, USA | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 48–60 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines | Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products |
| Pricing model | Fixed-scope product engineering engagements | Project-based embedded consultancy engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Embedded Systems Programming | Nordic nRF, Cellular Connectivity, RTOS |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Biotech, Printing technology, Commercial products | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded: overview
NOVO Engineering
NOVO Engineering was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Vista, California near San Diego, with a second location near Minneapolis and roughly 48 to 60 engineers depending on the source. The firm's services span hardware and software development, systems engineering, custom automation, and pre-production manufacturing support across medical devices, biotech instrumentation, printing technology, and commercial products. Its firmware work sits inside that broader systems-engineering practice rather than standing alone, which suits clients that need a single partner across mechanical, electrical, and firmware disciplines on one program.
ARCH-Embedded
ARCH-Embedded was founded in Amsterdam in 2022 by CEO and co-founder Mark Riemersma and operates with a team of 2 to 10 people. As a Nordic Semiconductor partner, the firm's stated background is specifically in positioning technology and micro-mobility, with prior team experience at companies like TomTom, and it covers the full stack from hardware through embedded software, RTOS, Linux, security, and connected-device architecture and project management. That positioning-technology specialty is narrow but genuinely differentiated, useful specifically for clients building location-aware or cellular-connected hardware rather than general-purpose embedded products.
Services and capabilities: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Capability | NOVO Engineering | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design / board bring-up | ✓ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Framework / platform | NOVO Engineering | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | ✓ |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA | N/A | N/A |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Criterion | NOVO Engineering | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed-scope product engineering, Pre-production manufacturing support | Project-based consultancy, Architecture and project management |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Dimension | NOVO Engineering | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Biotech, Printing technology | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
| Best use cases | Firmware development as part of a full mechanical, electrical, and software product program, Biotech instrumentation requiring firmware alongside custom automation software | Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device, Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development |
| Typical project type | Fixed-scope product engineering | Project-based consultancy |
NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded: pros and cons
| NOVO Engineering | |
|---|---|
| + | Engineering team averages 16 years of experience per engineer, well above the industry norm for a firm of its size |
| + | Systems engineering scope covers mechanical, electrical, and firmware together rather than firmware in isolation |
| + | Two US locations near San Diego and Minneapolis give geographic coverage for onsite client work |
| + | Pre-production manufacturing support extends past firmware delivery into getting a product built |
| - | Firmware is one discipline inside a broader systems-engineering firm, not a standalone firmware specialist brand |
| - | 48 to 60 engineers caps how many large concurrent programs the firm can run at once |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| ARCH-Embedded | |
|---|---|
| + | Nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims |
| + | Team background in positioning technology at companies like TomTom is a specific, differentiated specialty rather than general IoT experience |
| + | Full-stack scope from hardware through RTOS, Linux, and security architecture covers more than firmware coding alone |
| + | Small team size means direct senior engineering involvement on every engagement |
| - | Founded in 2022 with 2 to 10 employees, giving it one of the shortest track records and smallest teams on this list |
| - | Capacity for large or multiple concurrent programs is limited by team size |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose NOVO Engineering?
A typical fit: firmware development as part of a full mechanical, electrical, and software product program.
Systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Biotech, Printing technology, Commercial products.
Who should choose ARCH-Embedded?
A typical fit: cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device.
Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | NOVO Engineering |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: NOVO Engineering (Not published) vs ARCH-Embedded (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | NOVO Engineering |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | ARCH-Embedded |
Use case fit: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
| Use case | NOVO Engineering fit | ARCH-Embedded fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware development as part of a full mechanical, electrical, and software product program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Biotech instrumentation requiring firmware alongside custom automation software | Strong | Limited | NOVO Engineering |
| Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded
NOVO Engineering (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines.
ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development. If your situation matches that, ARCH-Embedded is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
NOVO Engineering vs ARCH-Embedded FAQ
Is NOVO Engineering better than ARCH-Embedded?
NOVO Engineering (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. NOVO Engineering's strongest advantage: engineering team averages 16 years of experience per engineer, well above the industry norm for a firm of its size. ARCH-Embedded's strongest advantage: nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims.
How do NOVO Engineering and ARCH-Embedded differ in pricing?
NOVO Engineering uses fixed-scope product engineering engagements pricing. ARCH-Embedded uses project-based embedded consultancy engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: NOVO Engineering or ARCH-Embedded?
NOVO Engineering is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between NOVO Engineering and ARCH-Embedded?
NOVO Engineering's primary differentiator is: systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines. ARCH-Embedded's primary differentiator is: positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. They also differ in team size (48–60 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Biotech vs Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.