Dojo Five vs Timesys: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Dojo Five (4.6/5) edges ahead of Timesys (4.1/5) overall. Dojo Five is the better choice for product teams wanting firmware with CI and test automation. Timesys is the stronger option for linux devices facing SBOM and security compliance. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Dojo Five vs Timesys: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 1996 |
| HQ | Saint Paul, MN, USA | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Team size | 11–50 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded DevOps product, EmbedOps | Embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking |
| Pricing model | Time & materials, fixed project | Fixed project, time & materials, software subscription |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Zephyr | Embedded Linux, Yocto, Buildroot |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence |
Dojo Five vs Timesys: overview
Dojo Five
Where most vendors on this list sell hardware and firmware together, Dojo Five sells only firmware, plus the tooling around it. The Saint Paul, Minnesota company was set up in 2018 and employs a few dozen engineers, most of them working remotely across North America. Alongside contract development it sells EmbedOps, a DevOps product for embedded teams that runs containerized builds, unit tests and static analysis in CI. Dojo Five is a Nordic Semiconductor partner, and its client work leans toward connected medical, consumer and industrial devices built on Cortex-M parts.
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.
Services and capabilities: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Capability | Dojo Five | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-metal & RTOS firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux & BSP | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✗ |
| Wireless & IoT connectivity | ✓ | ✗ |
| Secure boot & OTA | ✗ | ✓ |
| FPGA development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware testing & HIL | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Framework / platform | Dojo Five | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | ✓ | N/A |
| NXP | N/A | ✓ |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Dimension | Dojo Five | Timesys |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence |
| Best use cases | Setting up automated firmware builds, unit tests and static analysis for an in-house team, Writing Zephyr firmware for a Nordic-based Bluetooth LE wearable | Hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM, Setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Consulting |
Dojo Five vs Timesys: pros and cons
| Dojo Five | |
|---|---|
| + | Every engineer works on firmware, so you never get a web developer reassigned to your bootloader |
| + | Clients keep the CI setup, unit-test harness and Docker build images after the engagement ends |
| + | Nordic partner status and heavy Zephyr use suit Bluetooth LE and cellular IoT products |
| + | Remote model makes it easy to embed a Dojo Five engineer inside an existing in-house firmware team |
| - | No in-house PCB or electrical design, so hardware has to come from you or another partner |
| - | A team of a few dozen people limits how many parallel workstreams it can staff |
| - | Delivery is North America–focused, which can mean limited overlap for European or Asian clients |
| Timesys | |
|---|---|
| + | Vigiles gives continuous CVE monitoring for the Linux image after launch |
| + | Long history with Yocto, Buildroot and secure boot on common application processors |
| + | Practical help with SBOM requirements under US and EU cybersecurity rules |
| - | Acquired by Lynx Software in 2023; product focus may shift toward Lynx's hypervisor and RTOS line |
| - | Little bare-metal MCU firmware work |
| - | No hardware design services |
Who should choose Dojo Five?
A typical fit: setting up automated firmware builds, unit tests and static analysis for an in-house team.
Firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded DevOps product, EmbedOps. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial IoT.
Who should choose Timesys?
A typical fit: hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM.
Embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Aerospace & defence.
Decision matrix: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Dojo Five |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Dojo Five (Not disclosed) vs Timesys (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Dojo Five |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Neither lists a dedicated-team model |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Dojo Five |
Use case fit: Dojo Five vs Timesys
| Use case | Dojo Five fit | Timesys fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting up automated firmware builds, unit tests and static analysis for an in-house team | Strong | Limited | Dojo Five |
| Writing Zephyr firmware for a Nordic-based Bluetooth LE wearable | Strong | Limited | Dojo Five |
| Hardening an i.MX-based medical device's Linux image and producing an SBOM | Limited | Strong | Timesys |
| Setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways | Limited | Strong | Timesys |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Dojo Five vs Timesys
Dojo Five (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded DevOps product, EmbedOps.
Timesys (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need setting up ongoing CVE monitoring for a fleet of industrial gateways. If your situation matches that, Timesys is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Dojo Five vs Timesys FAQ
Is Dojo Five better than Timesys?
Dojo Five (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Dojo Five's strongest advantage: every engineer works on firmware, so you never get a web developer reassigned to your bootloader. Timesys's strongest advantage: vigiles gives continuous CVE monitoring for the Linux image after launch.
How do Dojo Five and Timesys differ in pricing?
Dojo Five uses time & materials, fixed project pricing. Timesys uses fixed project, time & materials, software subscription pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Dojo Five or Timesys?
Timesys is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Dojo Five and Timesys?
Dojo Five's primary differentiator is: firmware-only consultancy that also sells its own embedded DevOps product, EmbedOps. Timesys's primary differentiator is: embedded Linux services combined with Vigiles vulnerability tracking. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Consumer electronics vs Industrial IoT, Medical devices).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.