Embedded Linux Software Engineer - Tycho Ai

Polluxa, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Tycho.AI is building autonomous intelligence solutions for unmanned systems and has a strong focus on Linux-based on-board software. The role centers on bringing up custom Linux images, kernels, drivers, and device trees for high-performance autonomy hardware.

You will contribute to security features, performance tuning, and CI-driven automation, collaborating with hardware teams on board bring-up and debugging tasks.

Qualifications

• Embedded Linux experience and kernel bring-up required.
• Strong C/C++ and kernel-space/user-space knowledge.
• Hands-on debugging with hardware interfaces (PCIe, USB, MIPI).

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain custom Linux images for on-board autonomy computers, including bootloader, kernel, and root filesystem configuration.
• Configure, customize, and patch the Linux kernel, develop custom device drivers, and manage device trees for target hardware.
• Implement system security features and optimize memory, boot time, and CPU utilization.
• Build automation scripts and test frameworks in Python or Bash, and integrate them with CI.

Skills

Embedded Linux development

C/C++ programming

Linux kernel architecture

Device tree bring-up

Debugging & bring-up

Education

Bachelor's or higher in CS/CE/EE

Tools

Git

Jenkins

GDB

JTAG

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

Job description

Tycho.AI is redefining the future of autonomous intelligence. Spun out of MIT and backed by DoD contracts, we are building breakthrough AI and autonomy solutions for unmanned systems operating in GPS-denied and contested environments. We are a fast-growing, dual-use technology company at the forefront of national security and commercial innovation, with a mission to push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve.

Joining Tycho.AI means being part of a team shaping the next decade of autonomy from defense applications to commercial opportunities in areas like logistics, disaster response, and beyond. If you want to work at the cutting edge of autonomy and robotics with a company that’s poised for major impact and growth, we want to hear from you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain custom Linux images for on-board autonomy computers, including bootloader, kernel, and root filesystem configuration.
• Configure, customize, and patch the Linux kernel, develop custom device drivers, and manage device trees for target hardware.
• Implement system security features (secure boot, encryption, firewall rules) and optimize memory, boot time, and CPU utilization.
• Build automation scripts and test frameworks in Python or Bash, and integrate them with CI.
• Collaborate with hardware team: define

requirements

, read schematics, bring up new boards, and debug with oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and JTAG.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Embedded software development experience in Linux environments.
• Strong proficiency in C and/or C++.
• Deep knowledge of Linux kernel architecture, device trees, and user-space/kernel-space interactions.
• Hands-on experience with bring-up and debugging of high-speed hardware interfaces like PCIe, MIPI CSI-2, USB 3.x.
• Working knowledge of low-speed peripheral protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN) and DMA-based data movement.
• Proficiency with debugging tools (GDB, JTAG, logic and protocol analyzers) and version control and CI/CD practices (Git, Jenkins or similar).

NICE TO HAVE

• NVIDIA Jetson platforms (JetPack, L4T) or comparable system bring-up.
• Hands-on experience with the Yocto Project and BitBake build engine.
• Real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT), scheduling and latency analysis, or RTOS experience.
• Bare-metal or RTOS microcontroller firmware (STM32 or similar ARM Cortex-M), including peripheral configuration and DMA.
• Camera and sensor pipeline work: V4L2 driver development, image sensor bring-up, and timestamp synchronization.
• High-rate, high-throughput inter-process communication.