Timesys
Pittsburgh embedded Linux and device-security specialist, part of Lynx Software since 2023
What is Timesys?
Timesys came out of Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, with founders tied to Carnegie Mellon University, and shipped one of the first real-time embedded Linux distributions. Its business now combines engineering services for open-source embedded software with Vigiles, a tool that tracks vulnerabilities in device software bills of materials. Lynx Software Technologies acquired Timesys in December 2023 and said all Timesys products would remain supported. The firm suits Linux-based devices that have to meet the security and SBOM rules arriving in the US and EU.
Timesys works primarily with clients in Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence sectors. Its primary differentiator is: Embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking.
Timesys tech stack and services
| Service area |
|---|
| Embedded Linux & BSP |
| Secure Boot & OTA |
| Firmware Development |
| Firmware Consulting |
Timesys pricing
Short answer: Timesys uses a fixed project, time & materials, software subscription pricing approach. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed; a discovery call is required.
| Engagement model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
| Fixed project | From not disclosed | Well-defined scope |
| Time & materials | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
Timesys pros and cons
| Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|
| +Vigiles gives continuous CVE monitoring for the Linux image after launch | -Acquired by Lynx Software in 2023; product focus may shift toward Lynx's hypervisor and RTOS line |
| +Long history with Yocto, Buildroot and secure boot on common application processors | -Little bare-metal MCU firmware work |
| +Practical help with SBOM requirements under US and EU cybersecurity rules | -No hardware design services |
Timesys vs alternatives
How Timesys compares to the other top Firmware Development service providers.
| Company | Best for | Key difference | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemberg Solutions | Connected devices needing firmware and electronics together. | Electrical engineering, firmware, cloud and an in-house hardware lab under one contract, with NXP, Microchip and ST partner status | 4.8 | Full comparison |
| Dojo Five | Product teams wanting firmware with CI and test... | Firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded DevOps product, EmbedOps | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Witekio | Linux-class devices needing BSPs and long-term maintenance. | Two decades of BSP and Yocto work, now backed by Avnet's silicon relationships | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| Promwad | Hardware startups heading for volume production. | Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Byte Lab | EU buyers wanting firmware plus low-volume boards. | ST and Nordic design partner that also offers low-volume manufacturing in-house | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Bluefruit Software | Regulated devices where test evidence matters. | Test-driven embedded development with documented quality practices for medical and industrial products | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| ByteSnap Design | UK companies needing electronics and firmware from one... | Small UK team covering PCB design, Linux and Android bring-up, and MCU firmware | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Punch Through | Bluetooth LE products with companion mobile apps. | Bluetooth LE firmware and mobile apps built by the same team, with deep radio-level debugging experience | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Integra Sources | Budget-conscious startups needing low-level drivers. | Kernel, driver and MCU firmware work from a small team with low hourly rates | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Sirin Software | US buyers wanting Ukrainian embedded Linux rates. | US contracting entity with a Ukrainian embedded Linux and firmware team | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Cardinal Peak | US consumer and media devices needing onshore engineers. | US-based device engineering with audio and video depth, now backed by FPT | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Embien Technologies | Automotive and semiconductor firmware at Indian rates. | Renesas partner with its own reusable protocol stack libraries (RAPIDSEA) | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| Softeq | Storage and memory firmware, US-contracted IoT builds. | Deep NAND, SSD and storage-controller firmware experience alongside full IoT product teams | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| Mistral Solutions | Defence and aerospace embedded programmes in India. | Board design, BSPs and rugged systems for defence and aerospace, with TI partnership | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| MistyWest | Deep-tech startups at proof-of-concept stage. | Electrical, mechanical and firmware design for early hardware, aimed at manufacturability | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Developex | Peripheral makers needing firmware plus configuration apps. | Firmware combined with drivers and companion desktop or mobile apps for consumer hardware | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Indeema Software | IoT products needing device-to-cloud development. | Hardware, firmware, cloud and app teams under one IoT-focused vendor | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| eInfochips | Large device programmes needing many engineers. | Thousands of embedded engineers and broad chip-vendor partnerships, backed by Arrow | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Tata Elxsi | Automotive and medical OEMs needing compliance at volume. | Large, process-heavy embedded practices for automotive and medical compliance | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Ignitarium | Chip makers and edge AI device builders. | Firmware and drivers tied closely to semiconductor design and edge AI | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| rinf.tech | EU buyers wanting nearshore embedded capacity. | EU-based embedded and automotive engineering with multicore and NPU firmware experience | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| L&T Technology Services | Global OEMs outsourcing whole embedded programmes. | Very large engineering services capacity with embedded, VLSI and testing under one contract | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Intellias | Automotive OEMs needing in-vehicle software teams. | Large automotive and navigation software practice with HERE and TomTom experience | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Spyrosoft | EU automotive and EV-charging embedded teams. | Polish delivery for embedded HMI, EV charging and embedded security testing | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| GlobalLogic | Enterprises bundling embedded into larger programmes. | Global delivery capacity with embedded work attached to large digital programmes | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Luxoft | Automotive cockpit and ADAS software programmes. | Automotive embedded and cockpit software practice inside DXC | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Beningo Embedded Group | In-house teams needing architecture and process coaching. | Founder-led firmware architecture reviews and training from a widely published author | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Very | US companies building a first connected product. | Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Elinext | Firmware bundled with app and web development. | Generalist developer that can add firmware to a broader software project | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| ScienceSoft | Healthcare IoT platforms with light firmware needs. | Healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house | 3.7 | Full comparison |
Timesys FAQ
What is Timesys?
Pittsburgh embedded Linux and device-security specialist, part of Lynx Software since 2023
How much does Timesys charge?
Timesys uses fixed project, time & materials, software subscription pricing. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. A discovery call is required to get project-specific quotes.
What tech stack does Timesys use?
Timesys works with Embedded Linux, Yocto, Buildroot, U-Boot, Vigiles, NXP i.MX, TI Sitara, Microchip SAMA5. Primary industries served include Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence.
Is Timesys right for enterprise?
Linux devices facing SBOM and security compliance. 51–200 team size. Key consideration: Acquired by Lynx Software in 2023; product focus may shift toward Lynx's hypervisor and RTOS line.
What are the best Timesys alternatives?
The best alternatives to Timesys depend on your use case. Top options are:
- Lemberg Solutions: electrical engineering, firmware, cloud and an in-house hardware lab under one contract, with nxp, microchip and st partner status
- Dojo Five: firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded devops product, embedops
- Witekio: two decades of bsp and yocto work, now backed by avnet's silicon relationships
Compare Timesys with other Firmware Development service providers
Verify all details directly with Timesys before making a decision.