RMB Consulting vs EES: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of EES (3.8/5) overall. RMB Consulting is the better choice for teams wanting to work directly with one named, 30-year-tenured firmware engineer. EES is the stronger option for teams deliberately avoiding a large delivery organization in favor of senior-led staff. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
RMB Consulting vs EES: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | RMB Consulting | EES |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 | 2012 |
| HQ | Frederick, MD, USA (also Tampa, FL) | Tempe / Chandler, AZ, USA |
| Team size | 1–10 | 3–50 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal with a public technical record | Explicitly positions itself as senior-led, keeping the team small by design rather than as a growth-stage limitation |
| Pricing model | Project-based and hourly consulting engagements | Contract engineering engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Bare-Metal Firmware | C, C++, Industrial Embedded Systems |
| Industries served | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices | Industrial |
RMB Consulting vs EES: overview
RMB Consulting
RMB Consulting has operated in embedded systems design and consulting since 1995, run by founder and chief engineer Nigel Jones, who brings more than 30 years of professional embedded systems engineering experience and a long-running record of public technical writing on firmware design. For a client hiring a small team, working directly with a single named, 30-year-tenured engineer, rather than being assigned whichever staff member is available, is close to the smallest and most direct version of an engineering-hire relationship this list offers.
EES
Embedded Engineering Solutions (EES) was launched in 2012 and is based in Tempe, Arizona, with reported headcount varying across sources from roughly 3 to 50 employees, most consistently described as a small, senior-led firm. The company specializes in contract firmware, embedded systems, and hardware design engineering for the industrial sector, and its own positioning leans on being senior-led rather than layered with junior staff. For a hiring buyer specifically avoiding a large delivery organization, that's the stated value proposition, not an incidental trait.
Services and capabilities: RMB Consulting vs EES
| Capability | RMB Consulting | EES |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| RTOS development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✗ | ✗ |
| Functional safety | ✗ | ✗ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: RMB Consulting vs EES
| Framework / platform | RMB Consulting | EES |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| LVGL | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: RMB Consulting vs EES
| Criterion | RMB Consulting | EES |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based consulting, Hourly consulting | Contract firmware and hardware engineering |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: RMB Consulting vs EES
| Dimension | RMB Consulting | EES |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices | Industrial |
| Best use cases | Hiring a single, deeply experienced engineer for a bare-metal firmware project, Second-opinion technical review from someone with a long public track record | Hiring a deliberately small, senior-led team for an industrial firmware program, Combined hardware and firmware engineering without separate specialist vendors |
| Typical project type | Project-based consulting | Contract firmware and hardware engineering |
RMB Consulting vs EES: pros and cons
| RMB Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | 30 years of professional embedded engineering experience concentrated in one named, publicly verifiable principal |
| + | A substantial public technical writing record lets a hiring buyer evaluate expertise before ever making contact |
| + | 30 years of operating history under the same founder gives continuity most larger firms can't offer |
| + | Team size of 1 to 10 means zero layers between the client and the engineer doing the work |
| - | A team of 1 to 10 people severely limits capacity for a large or multi-workstream engagement |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | Availability may be constrained given the founder-led, low-headcount structure |
| EES | |
|---|---|
| + | Explicit senior-led positioning means the small team size is a deliberate choice, not just a growth-stage limitation |
| + | 13 years of operating history as a contract engineering firm for the industrial sector |
| + | Combines firmware, embedded systems, and hardware design in one team, covering multiple disciplines without separate specialist hires |
| + | Small size means a client's engagement represents a meaningful share of the firm's total capacity |
| - | Reported employee counts vary widely across sources, from roughly 3 to 50, worth confirming current headcount directly |
| - | Small team size caps capacity for a large or multi-workstream program |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose RMB Consulting?
A typical fit: hiring a single, deeply experienced engineer for a bare-metal firmware project.
30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal with a public technical record. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices.
Who should choose EES?
A typical fit: hiring a deliberately small, senior-led team for an industrial firmware program.
Explicitly positions itself as senior-led, keeping the team small by design rather than as a growth-stage limitation. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial.
Decision matrix: RMB Consulting vs EES
| 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: RMB Consulting (Not published) vs EES (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | RMB Consulting |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | RMB Consulting |
Use case fit: RMB Consulting vs EES
| Use case | RMB Consulting fit | EES fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a single, deeply experienced engineer for a bare-metal firmware project | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Second-opinion technical review from someone with a long public track record | Strong | Limited | RMB Consulting |
| Hiring a deliberately small, senior-led team for an industrial firmware program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Combined hardware and firmware engineering without separate specialist vendors | Limited | Strong | EES |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: RMB Consulting vs EES
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware Development projects. 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal with a public technical record.
EES (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need combined hardware and firmware engineering without separate specialist vendors. If your situation matches that, EES is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
RMB Consulting vs EES FAQ
Is RMB Consulting better than EES?
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. RMB Consulting's strongest advantage: 30 years of professional embedded engineering experience concentrated in one named, publicly verifiable principal. EES's strongest advantage: explicit senior-led positioning means the small team size is a deliberate choice, not just a growth-stage limitation.
How do RMB Consulting and EES differ in pricing?
RMB Consulting uses project-based and hourly consulting engagements pricing. EES uses contract engineering engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: RMB Consulting or EES?
EES is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each developer before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between RMB Consulting and EES?
RMB Consulting's primary differentiator is: 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal with a public technical record. EES's primary differentiator is: explicitly positions itself as senior-led, keeping the team small by design rather than as a growth-stage limitation. They also differ in team size (1–10 vs 3–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial, Consumer electronics vs Industrial).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.