Embedded Software Engineer III, Kernel

Flock Safety; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Job summary

Flock Safety is expanding its Device OS Team for aviation hardware, focusing on a stable embedded Linux stack across drones and docks. You will contribute from driver development to kernel-level bring-up, collaborating with engineers and partners to deliver reliable software.

The role emphasizes hands-on firmware work, CI builds, and deploying OS images to hardware, with opportunities in remote settings across the US.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in embedded software development on consumer devices.
• Practical experience working with embedded Linux-based systems (academic, internship, or professional) such as Yocto and BuildRoot.
• Solid programming skills in C and C++.
• Practical experience with Linux kernel internals (memory management, power management, IRQ handling).
• Experience with Linux kernel drivers for SPI/I2C/UART.
• Familiarity with bootloaders development and customization and early bring‑up concepts.
• Experience developing or debugging firmware for Audio Digital Signal Processors within embedded hardware environments is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience with Qualcomm chipset bring‑up and Qualcomm proprietary subsystems is a plus.
• Knowledge of OpenWRT and networking protocols and services (TCP/IP, D‑Bus) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work across low-level driver development and OS bring-up to improve device stability.
• Collaborate with senior engineers and partners to implement OS customizations and features.
• Debug, CI-build, and deploy stable OS builds directly to flight hardware.

Skills

Embedded software

Yocto

BuildRoot

C/C++

Kernel internals

SPI/I2C/UART

Bootloader bring-up

Audio DSP firmware

Qualcomm bring-up

Networking (TCP/IP)

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in EE/CE/CS

Tools

OpenWRT

Job description

The Problem

As Flock expands our Device OS Team for our Aviation hardware products, ensuring absolute operating system stability is critical for flight. This team is responsible for the entire software and firmware stack running on our mission critical drones and the supporting docks.

In this role, you will gain hands‑on experience across a wide range of development areas — from low-level driver development and system bring‑up to OS customizations and feature implementation. You’ll work closely with senior engineers, internal stakeholders and external partners, building your expertise in embedded Linux and kernel development while contributing directly to the performance and reliability of our devices.

What You Bring

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field




• 2+ years of experience in embedded software development on consumer devices




• Practical experience working with embedded Linux-based systems (academic, internship, or professional) such as Yocto and BuildRoot.




• Solid programming skills in C and C++




• Practical experience with Linux kernel internals (memory management, power management, IRQ handling)




• Experience with Linux kernel drivers for SPI/I2C/UART




• Familiarity with bootloaders development and customization and early bring‑up concepts




• Experience developing or debugging firmware for Audio Digital Signal Processors within embedded hardware environments is a plus




• Hands‑on experience with Qualcomm chipset bring‑up and Qualcomm proprietary subsystems is a plus




• Knowledge of OpenWRT and networking protocols and services (TCP/IP, D‑Bus) is a plus

What This Role is Not

• This isn't a high-level application or UI development role, you will focus entirely on low-level kernel space, bootloaders and BSP bring‑up




• This is not a purely theoretical design role, you will directly debug physical devices, run CI builds, and deploy stable operating system builds directly to hardware




• This isn't an isolated engineering position, you will collaborate constantly across electrical engineering, QA, and cloud teams to align hardware and software behavior

Compensation

In this role, you'll receive a starting salary between $130,000 and $160,000 as well as Flock Stock Options. Base salary is determined by job‑related experience, education/training, as well as market indicators. Your recruiter will discuss this in depth with you during our first chat.

Why Flock

Every community deserves to be safe. Flock builds the technology that makes that real: last year we supported over 1 million criminal investigations and helped locate more than 10,000 missing people. We're 1,700 people building the impossible with over $1B in funding, and the expectations are high on purpose. If you want a role where the stakes are real and the pace matches, this is it.

Some problems get solved faster in the same room, so we prioritize candidates in Atlanta and Boston. Hub-based roles mean real in-person time with your coworkers. Remote roles exist, and when a posting is open to remote work, it says so.

the impossible takes every kind of mind. Flock is an equal opportunity employer, and we know the best solutions come from diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills working together with mutual respect. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, email [e-mail]; your information stays confidential and is used only to arrange the right accommodation for your interviews.

On compensation: we pay fairly for the work. Base salary is determined by job‑related experience, education, training, and market indicators. The range in this posting covers base salary only and doesn't include equity, sales bonus plans where applicable, or benefits. The range may be adjusted over time, and this posting may span more than one career level.

One last thing: all legitimate communication from Flock comes from an email ending in @flocksafety.com or [e-mail]. We never make offers through messaging apps or third parties, and we never request payment or sensitive personal information during hiring. If you encounter suspicious outreach about a Flock role, report it to [e-mail].