NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
NOVO Engineering (4.4/5) edges ahead of Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) overall. NOVO Engineering is the better choice for multi-disciplinary product programs spanning mechanical, electrical, and firmware. Emcraft Systems is the stronger option for system-on-module hardware paired with a maintained Linux or RTOS board support package. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | NOVO Engineering | Emcraft Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2003 |
| HQ | Vista, CA, USA | Carlsbad, CA, USA |
| Team size | 48–60 | Not published |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines | Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them |
| Pricing model | Fixed-scope product engineering engagements | Hardware module sales plus BSP support and custom engineering |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Embedded Systems Programming | Embedded Linux, RTOS Board Support Packages, ARM Cortex-M |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Biotech, Printing technology, Commercial products | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement |
NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems: 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.
Emcraft Systems
Emcraft Systems is headquartered in Carlsbad, California and builds production-ready system-on-modules around ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers and Cortex-A microprocessors, alongside the Linux and RTOS board support packages that run on them. The company maintains its own BSPs rather than relying solely on a chip vendor's reference package, which gives it long-term update responsibility for the firmware layer under a client's application code. It holds STMicroelectronics partner status, and its board-plus-BSP model suits companies that want a hardware module and a maintained firmware base together instead of sourcing them separately.
Services and capabilities: NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems
| Capability | NOVO Engineering | Emcraft Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Emcraft Systems
| Framework / platform | NOVO Engineering | Emcraft Systems |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | 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 Emcraft Systems
| Criterion | NOVO Engineering | Emcraft Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed-scope product engineering, Pre-production manufacturing support | Module sales with BSP support, Custom BSP engineering |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems
| Dimension | NOVO Engineering | Emcraft Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Biotech, Printing technology | Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement |
| Best use cases | Firmware development as part of a full mechanical, electrical, and software product program, Biotech instrumentation requiring firmware alongside custom automation software | Industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP, RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware |
| Typical project type | Fixed-scope product engineering | Module sales with BSP support |
NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems: 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 |
| Emcraft Systems | |
|---|---|
| + | Self-maintained BSPs give long-term update ownership rather than depending on a chip vendor's reference package alone |
| + | STMicroelectronics partner status backs its ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-A module line with direct chip-vendor support |
| + | Combining hardware modules with firmware support removes a sourcing step for companies that would otherwise need two vendors |
| + | Focus on both Linux and RTOS BSPs covers a wider range of real-time requirements than a Linux-only board vendor |
| - | Public founding year and team size figures are thin, and the company's own materials don't publish a founding date directly |
| - | Its business model centers on selling its own hardware modules, which is a narrower fit for a client who has already committed to different silicon |
| - | 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 Emcraft Systems?
A typical fit: industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP.
Self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Networking, Test & measurement.
Decision matrix: NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems
| 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 Emcraft Systems (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 | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems
| Use case | NOVO Engineering fit | Emcraft Systems fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware development as part of a full mechanical, electrical, and software product program | Strong | Limited | NOVO Engineering |
| Biotech instrumentation requiring firmware alongside custom automation software | Strong | Limited | NOVO Engineering |
| Industrial product needing an ARM system-on-module with a maintained Linux BSP | Limited | Strong | Emcraft Systems |
| RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware | Limited | Strong | Emcraft Systems |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems
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.
Emcraft Systems (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need RTOS board support package bring-up on Emcraft's own Cortex-M or Cortex-A hardware. If your situation matches that, Emcraft Systems is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
NOVO Engineering vs Emcraft Systems FAQ
Is NOVO Engineering better than Emcraft Systems?
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. Emcraft Systems's strongest advantage: self-maintained BSPs give long-term update ownership rather than depending on a chip vendor's reference package alone.
How do NOVO Engineering and Emcraft Systems differ in pricing?
NOVO Engineering uses fixed-scope product engineering engagements pricing. Emcraft Systems uses hardware module sales plus bsp support and custom engineering 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 Emcraft Systems?
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 Emcraft Systems?
NOVO Engineering's primary differentiator is: systems-engineering team averaging 16 years of experience per engineer across medical, biotech, and industrial product lines. Emcraft Systems's primary differentiator is: self-maintained Linux and RTOS board support packages sold together with the ARM hardware modules that run them. They also differ in team size (48–60 vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Biotech vs Industrial, Networking).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.