USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
USA Firmware (4.2/5) edges ahead of Oxalis Design (4.1/5) overall. USA Firmware is the better choice for small to mid-size programs wanting one accountable firmware and FPGA partner. Oxalis Design is the stronger option for small connected-device programs needing direct access to senior engineers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | USA Firmware | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2019 |
| HQ | Brecksville, OH, USA | Bristol, UK |
| Team size | 17 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process | Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached |
| Pricing model | Managed design service engagements | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, FPGA Design | C, C++, RF Design |
| Industries served | Industrial products, Commercial electronics | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design: overview
USA Firmware
USA Firmware was founded in 2011 by Bob Scaccia and operates from Brecksville, Ohio with a small team of around 17 people. Its managed design services combine electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA design, embedded software, and Linux expertise into a single discovery-through-production-enablement process, aimed at clients who want one accountable partner rather than coordinating separate electrical, firmware, and FPGA vendors. Leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience, concentrated in a small team rather than spread across a large organization.
Oxalis Design
Oxalis Design is a Bristol, UK electronics and embedded systems consultancy founded by Alex Turner and Alex Thornicroft, both experienced electronics and software engineers. The firm's stated scope covers electronics hardware and RF design, embedded software development, and connected-device development for medical, consumer, and industrial clients, from early concept through pilot builds and the transfer to production. As a small, cohesive team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware rather than a broader product-design or general IT practice, it suits clients who want senior engineers directly on their project rather than layers of account management.
Services and capabilities: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Capability | USA Firmware | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Framework / platform | USA Firmware | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Criterion | USA Firmware | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Managed design services | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Dimension | USA Firmware | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial products, Commercial electronics | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
| Best use cases | Combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product, Firmware and Linux development requiring senior-level engineering attention on a smaller program | RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device, Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build |
| Typical project type | Managed design services | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design: pros and cons
| USA Firmware | |
|---|---|
| + | Leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience concentrated in a small, senior team |
| + | Combines electrical engineering, firmware, and FPGA design under one managed process rather than three separate vendors |
| + | Discovery-through-production-enablement scope covers the full program, not just firmware coding |
| + | 14 years of operating history under its founder, Bob Scaccia |
| - | 17 employees is among the smallest teams on this list, limiting concurrent capacity for large programs |
| - | Public case study detail is limited, so verifying past client work requires direct outreach |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT or general software practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist vendor |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build and transfer to production |
| - | A team of 2 to 10 people limits capacity to a small number of concurrent client programs at any time |
| - | Publicly verifiable founding date and detailed case study history are limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose USA Firmware?
A typical fit: combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product.
Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial products, Commercial electronics.
Who should choose Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device.
Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
Decision matrix: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: USA Firmware (Not published) vs Oxalis Design (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Oxalis Design |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | USA Firmware |
Use case fit: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
| Use case | USA Firmware fit | Oxalis Design fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product | Strong | Limited | USA Firmware |
| Firmware and Linux development requiring senior-level engineering attention on a smaller program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design
USA Firmware (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process.
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build. If your situation matches that, Oxalis Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
USA Firmware vs Oxalis Design FAQ
Is USA Firmware better than Oxalis Design?
USA Firmware (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. USA Firmware's strongest advantage: leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience concentrated in a small, senior team. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement.
How do USA Firmware and Oxalis Design differ in pricing?
USA Firmware uses managed design service engagements pricing. Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: USA Firmware or Oxalis Design?
Oxalis Design 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 USA Firmware and Oxalis Design?
USA Firmware's primary differentiator is: managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process. Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. They also differ in team size (17 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial products, Commercial electronics vs Medical devices, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.