Best Firmware Development Service Providers

GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

GlobalLogic (3.8/5) edges ahead of ScienceSoft (3.7/5) overall. GlobalLogic is the better choice for enterprises bundling embedded into larger programmes. ScienceSoft is the stronger option for healthcare IoT platforms with light firmware needs. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.

GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft: head-to-head summary

Criterion GlobalLogic ScienceSoft
Founded 2000 1989
HQ San Jose, California, USA McKinney, Texas, USA
Team size 30,000+ 750+
Rating 3.8 / 5 3.7 / 5
Primary differentiator Global delivery capacity with embedded work attached to large digital programmes Healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house
Pricing model Time & materials, dedicated team Fixed project, time & materials
Min. engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Primary tech stack C, C++, Embedded Linux C, C++, FreeRTOS
Industries served Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast, Industrial IoT Medical devices, Industrial IoT

GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft: overview

GlobalLogic

GlobalLogic was founded in Silicon Valley in 2000 and acquired by Hitachi in 2021. Its 2025 sustainability report counts 31,964 full-time employees. Embedded engineering is one listed service among many, and recent embedded work includes a January 2026 extension of its partnership with automotive software company Elektrobit for software-defined vehicles. Hitachi plans to merge GlobalLogic with Hitachi Digital Services in 2027. For most firmware buyers it is a scale option, used when the device is one part of a much larger digital programme.

ScienceSoft

ScienceSoft traces its origins to a cooperative founded in 1989 and is now headquartered in McKinney, Texas, with about 750 staff. It has offered IoT services since 2011, with projects such as the AKLOS Health physiotherapy platform, and lists embedded software among its services. Most of its revenue comes from healthcare IT, finance IT, data analytics and security testing. For firmware buyers it is mainly useful when the device side is small and the larger job is the platform around it.

Services and capabilities: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Capability GlobalLogic ScienceSoft
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: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Framework / platform GlobalLogic ScienceSoft
FreeRTOS N/A ✓
Zephyr ✓ N/A
Embedded Linux ✓ N/A
Yocto N/A N/A
AUTOSAR ✓ N/A
STM32 N/A N/A
Nordic N/A N/A
NXP N/A N/A
FPGA N/A N/A

Pricing comparison: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Criterion GlobalLogic ScienceSoft
Minimum engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Engagement models Dedicated team, Time & materials Fixed project, Time & materials
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Dimension GlobalLogic ScienceSoft
Best company size Startup to mid-market Startup to mid-market
Best industries Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast Medical devices, Industrial IoT
Best use cases Delivering connected-vehicle software alongside cloud and app platforms, Staffing an embedded team inside an existing GlobalLogic enterprise contract Building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration, Security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components
Typical project type Dedicated team Fixed project

GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft: pros and cons

GlobalLogic
+ Can deliver device, cloud and enterprise software under one master agreement
+ Elektrobit partnership supports automotive software-defined vehicle work
+ Hitachi ownership adds industrial and rail domain contacts
- Owned by Hitachi since 2021, with a planned 2027 merger into Hitachi Digital Services
- Embedded is a small share of a very large digital engineering business
- Large-firm minimums and overhead
ScienceSoft
+ Long healthcare IT history useful for connected medical platforms
+ In-house security testing team
+ Fixed-price proposals available for well-defined scopes
- Firmware is a minor service line, and public embedded case studies are few
- No hardware design
- Better suited to the platform around a device than to the device itself

Who should choose GlobalLogic?

A typical fit: delivering connected-vehicle software alongside cloud and app platforms.

Global delivery capacity with embedded work attached to large digital programmes. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast, Industrial IoT.

Who should choose ScienceSoft?

A typical fit: building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration.

Healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Industrial IoT.

Decision matrix: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope ScienceSoft
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme GlobalLogic
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: GlobalLogic (Not disclosed) vs ScienceSoft (Not disclosed)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical GlobalLogic
You need engineers to extend your own firmware team GlobalLogic
You need consulting before committing to a build Both may offer discovery engagements

Use case fit: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

Use case GlobalLogic fit ScienceSoft fit Winner
Delivering connected-vehicle software alongside cloud and app platforms Strong Limited GlobalLogic
Staffing an embedded team inside an existing GlobalLogic enterprise contract Strong Limited GlobalLogic
Building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration Limited Strong ScienceSoft
Security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components Limited Strong ScienceSoft
Fixed-price firmware build Limited Strong ScienceSoft
Extending an in-house firmware team Strong Strong Both

Verdict: GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft

GlobalLogic (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Global delivery capacity with embedded work attached to large digital programmes.

ScienceSoft (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components. If your situation matches that, ScienceSoft is a competitive option.

Related comparisons

GlobalLogic vs ScienceSoft FAQ

Is GlobalLogic better than ScienceSoft?

GlobalLogic (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. GlobalLogic's strongest advantage: can deliver device, cloud and enterprise software under one master agreement. ScienceSoft's strongest advantage: long healthcare IT history useful for connected medical platforms.

How do GlobalLogic and ScienceSoft differ in pricing?

GlobalLogic uses time & materials, dedicated team pricing. ScienceSoft uses fixed project, time & materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.

Which is better for enterprise: GlobalLogic or ScienceSoft?

GlobalLogic 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 GlobalLogic and ScienceSoft?

GlobalLogic's primary differentiator is: global delivery capacity with embedded work attached to large digital programmes. ScienceSoft's primary differentiator is: healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house. They also differ in team size (30,000+ vs 750+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Medical devices vs Medical devices, Industrial IoT).

Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.