Senior Embedded Software Engineer, Apptronik

• The ideal candidate is a hands-on embedded Linux expert who is passionate about building highly reliable systems from the hardware up
• Deep understanding of Linux OS fundamentals, including the kernel, system boot process (bootloaders, device trees), and device drivers
• Proven, hands-on experience in board bring-up for custom or commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware
• Strong experience developing and customizing embedded Linux distributions
• Proficiency in C/C++ programming
• Proficiency with embedded Linux build systems like the Yocto Project or Buildroot
• Solid understanding of embedded systems security principles, including secure boot, device hardening, and encryption
• Proficient in shell scripting (Bash) and ideally Python
• Direct experience deploying software to both ARM (Nvidia Jetson preferred) and x86_64 (AMD) architectures
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and system analysis skills
• Strong documentation and communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience in software engineering with a focus on embedded Linux systems
• Significant hands-on experience building and maintaining custom embedded Linux operating systems from the hardware level up
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate

Desirable

• You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools
• It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it
• In this role, you will be responsible for the ground-up development and maintenance of our custom embedded Linux operating system that powers our humanoid robots
• You will create a minimal, real-time, secure, and robust OS tailored to our software's demanding requirements
• This involves everything from initial board bring-up and bootloader configuration to kernel customization and implementing security measures
• You will work closely with our robotics, controls, and perception engineers to ensure the OS provides a stable and high-performance foundation for all robotic functions
• You'll also manage the build and deployment infrastructure to support our rapid development cycles across Nvidia Jetson (ARM) and AMD compute platforms
• Embedded OS Development & Board Bring-Up
• Architect and develop a custom, minimal embedded Linux distribution tailored for our humanoid robot's real-time and performance needs
• Lead board bring-up activities for new and revised hardware platforms, including bootloader configuration (e.g., U-Boot), kernel porting, and initial hardware validation
• Manage the Linux kernel, including custom configurations, patch application, and the development of device trees to support our specific hardware peripherals
• Integrate and debug device drivers for various subsystems, such as sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces
• Implement security best practices for embedded systems, including OS hardening, secure boot configuration, and management of device security features
• Build System and CI/CD Pipeline Management
• Develop and maintain the embedded Linux build system using tools such as the Yocto Project or Buildroot to create reproducible OS images
• Architect and own the end-to-end Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines for the embedded OS
• Continuously improve the build and deployment pipelines, integrating automated testing, security scanning, and artifact management
• Deployment and Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates
• Design and implement a robust Over-the-Air (OTA) update strategy (e.g., A/B partition updates) to ensure our robots can be updated reliably and safely in the field
• Oversee the deployment, validation, and maintenance of the OTA update mechanism across our fleet
• Team Collaboration and Mentorship
• Act as the subject matter expert for the embedded Linux OS, providing support and guidance to the wider engineering team
• Develop and maintain clear, comprehensive documentation for the OS architecture, board bring-up procedures, and build system
• Mentor other engineers on embedded Linux best practices