Principal software engineer

NXP Semiconductors; Dadri; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Noida to lead architecture across Linux kernel, boot loader, and user-space middleware with a security-first mindset.

You will mentor senior engineers, drive secure design reviews, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, high-performance platforms powering next-generation products. Noida-based full-time role with deep systems focus.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in systems/embedded/platform engineering with leadership.
• Expert in C/C++ for systems-level development; Rust a plus.
• Deep Linux kernel internals: drivers, MM, sched, net, LSMs.
• Hands-on boot loader development and secure boot flows.
• Strong knowledge of security protocols and cryptography.
• Experience with Yocto/OpenEmbedded/Buildroot for embedded.
• Proven ownership of architecture docs and production-ready software.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement security features in boot loader with secure boot and measured boot.
• Implement security features in Linux kernel drivers, filesystems, and networking.
• Build and optimize user-space middleware (IPC, OpenSSL, DPDK) with userspace drivers.
• Implement and integrate TLS 1.3, IPsec, SSH, and hardware-backed key management.
• Lead threat modeling, secure design reviews, and audits per ASLR/SELinux/AppArmor.
• Drive performance and reliability: profiling, tracing, memory safety, efficiency.
• Define platform CI/CD for low-level software: signing, SBOMs, reproducible builds, Yocto pipelines.
• Mentor engineers, guide roadmaps, and build/buy/OSS decisions.
• Collaborate with Design, IP, DevOps, product, QA to meet goals.

Skills

C/C++ systems programming

Linux kernel internals

Boot loader security

Security protocols TLS/SSH

eBPF/ tracing/ perf

Yocto/OpenEmbedded/Buildroot

SBOM/reproducible builds

ARM TrustZone/TEE

Kernel debugging (kgdb)

Secure boot/measured boot

Tools

U-Boot

GRUB

Yocto

Buildroot

OpenSSL

DPDK

eBPF tooling

KVM/QEMU

SELinux/AppArmor

Job description

Experience: 10+ years

Location: Noida

Employment Type: Full‑time

Team: Platform / Systems / Security Engineering

Role Summary

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer who combines deep systems expertise with security-first design. You will lead architecture and development across Linux kernel, boot loader, and user‑space middleware, building secure, reliable, and performant platforms that power our next‑generation [products/platforms]. You’ll set technical direction, elevate engineering standards, mentor senior engineers, and partner with cross‑functional stakeholders to deliver high‑impact outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Design and implement security features in boot loader complementing secure boot, measured boot, and chain of trust.


• Design and implement security features in Linux kernel features (e.g., device drivers, filesystems, networking stack, security modules).


• Build and optimize user‑space middleware (e.g., IPC frameworks, OpenSSL, DPDK) leveraging Userspace drivers.


• Implement and integrate security protocols (e.g., TLS 1.3, DTLS, IPsec, SSH,) and hardware‑backed key management.


• Drive threat modeling, secure design reviews, and code audits, ensuring compliance with best practices (e.g., ASLR, stack canaries, SELinux/AppArmor policies).


• Lead performance and reliability engineering including profiling, tracing (ftrace, eBPF, perf), memory safety, and resource efficiency.


• Define platform CI/CD for low‑level software (artifact signing, SBOMs, reproducible builds, Yocto/Buildroot/DEB/RPM pipelines).


• Mentor and grow engineers, guide technical roadmaps, and make pragmatic build/buy/OSS leverage decisions.


• Collaborate with Design team, IP team, DevOps, product, and QA to meet functional, performance, and certification goals.

Qualifications (Required)

• 10+ years of professional experience in systems/embedded/platform engineering, including technical leadership at team or org scale.


• Expert in C/C++ for systems‑level development; nice to have proficiency in Rust for memory‑safe components.


• Demonstrated depth in Linux kernel internals (at least two areas): drivers, MM, scheduler, net, filesystems, security modules (LSMs), eBPF.


• Hands‑on boot loader development and customization (U‑Boot, GRUB, secure boot flows, measured boot, boot‑time diagnostics).


• Strong knowledge of security protocols and cryptography (TLS/IPsec, X.509/PKI, key exchange, HSM/TPM, secure storage, attestation).


• Experience building user‑space middleware (IPC, service management with systemd, observability/logging, configuration frameworks).


• Proficiency with Linux build systems and distributions for embedded/platform (Yocto/OpenEmbedded, Buildroot) or enterprise (Deb/RPM).


• Proven ownership of architecture/design documents, RFCs, and shipping production‑quality platform software.


• Debugging mastery using kernel/user tools (kgdb, crash, perf, ftrace, strace, gdb, BPF tools) on real hardware/virtualized targets.


• Nice to Have Trusted execution & firmware: ARM TrustZone, OP‑TEE, Intel SGX/TDX, AMD SEV, TF‑A, UEFI, ACPI/Device Tree.


• Virtualization & containers: KVM/QEMU, Kata Containers, cgroups, namespaces; container security (seccomp, SELinux/AppArmor).


• Networking & storage: DPDK, SR‑IOV, NVMe, RDMA, io_uring; high‑throughput low‑latency pipeline design.


• Safety/security certifications: FIPS 140‑3 validation, Common Criteria, ISO 27001/21434, AUTOSAR, IEC 62443.


• Secure software supply chain: artifact signing, SBOM (SPDX/CycloneDX), SLSA levels, reproducible builds.


• Scripting/automation: Python, Bash; Bazel/CMake/Meson; advanced CI (GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins, Buildkite).


• Observability: eBPF tracing, LTTng, SystemTap, ETW analogs; production telemetry & fleet operations.


• HW familiarity: SoC bring‑up, board support packages (BSP), JTAG, oscilloscopes, power/thermal profiling.

More information about NXP in India... #LI-2734

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) enables a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through innovation. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is pushing boundaries in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets.

For more information, visit www.nxp.com Bright Minds. Bright Futures. We believe that a key component to growing our business is to develop our people. To enable you to grow your career at NXP, we offer online and offline learning opportunities to help you develop some of your core and professional skills. Commitment At NXP. We recognize NXP is a powerful change agent as we continue to deliver innovative solutions that advance a more sustainable future.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and making measurable year-on-year progress.

Also, we aim to create an inclusive work environment and we will not tolerate racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind.

We have programs in place focused on diversity, inclusion and equality.

Thank you for considering a career at NXP.