A MIPS assembly developer writes, tests, and debugs low-level code for applications or operating systems using the MIPS instruction set architecture. They handle direct hardware manipulation, memory management, and optimization tasks to ensure software runs efficiently and stably. Their work often involves understanding complex system architecture and creating precise, efficient code. They might also be responsible for diagnosing and fixing issues in existing assembly code, translating high-level language code to assembly, and working closely with hardware engineers to understand the nuances of the specific hardware being programmed.