Lead Embedded C Engineer: OpenWrt/OpenSync LTE Router

TechDigital Group; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

TechDigital Group seeks an Embedded C Developer to build and maintain OpenWrt-based residential gateway firmware, blending DOCSIS/fiber WAN with LTE/5G backup.

You’ll work on OpenSync managers, OVSDB, and cloud-managed configuration, tackling modem integration, multi-WAN failover, and secure communications with TLS mutual authentication.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of embedded C development on Linux-based platforms.
• Strong proficiency in C programming—pointers, memory management, IPC, event-driven architectures.
• Experience with OpenWrt build system, package management, UCI configuration, and JFFS2/SquashFS overlays.
• Familiarity with OpenSync or similar cloud-managed CPE frameworks (OVSDB, protobuf, MQTT telemetry).
• Experience with cellular modem integration—AT commands, QMI/MBIM, rmnet/wwan.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and debug embedded C software for Linux-based gateways (ARM/MIPS).
• Develop and maintain OpenSync managers — OpenWrt cloud-managed configuration/state reporting.
• Implement LTE/5G cellular failover and WAN healthchecks with modem management.
• Develop LED state machine logic for multi-WAN status indication.
• Interface with cellular modems via AT commands and related protocols.
• Work with WiFi drivers for 2.4/5/6 GHz configurations; ensure driver quality.
• Debug kernel-level issues including PCIe/USB, network driver crashes, and panics.
• Implement secure TLS mutual authentication and tunneling protocols for cloud connectivity.
• Analyze field issues using logs and remote diagnostics; write init scripts and UCI handlers.
• Write unit tests and participate in code reviews via GitLab MR; collaborate with hardware/QA/cloud teams.
• Collaborate with hardware teams, QA, cloud engineers, and service provider partners.

Skills

Embedded C

OpenWrt/Linux networking

C/Linus programming

Modem integration

GDB/debugging

Cross-compilation

Git/GitLab CI/CD

Tools

OpenWrt build system

OVSDB

MQTT

libev/libuv

GDB/serial console

Cross-compilation toolchains

Job description

JD:
We're looking for an Embedded C Developer to work on next-generation residential gateway platforms that combine DOCSIS/fiber WAN connectivity with LTE/5G cellular backup. You'll be developing and maintaining firmware on OpenWrt-based hardware running the OpenSync framework, with direct impact on millions of deployed customer premises equipment (CPE).

Responsibilities
• Design, develop, and debug embedded C software for Linux-based residential gateway platforms (ARM/MIPS SoC)
• Develop and maintain OpenSync managers — event-driven daemons that interact with OVSDB for cloud-managed configuration and state reporting
• Implement and optimize LTE/5G cellular failover and fallback logic including modem management, route arbitration, and WAN healthchecks
• Develop LED state machine logic to provide accurate device status indication across complex multi-WAN scenarios
• Interface with cellular modems via AT commands, QMI/MBIM, USB, and PCIe (MHI) protocols
• Work with WiFi drivers (Qualcomm/Broadcom/Atheros) for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz radio configuration
• Debug kernel-level issues including PCIe enumeration, USB device management, network driver crashes, and kernel panics
• Implement and maintain secure communication channels using TLS with mutual authentication and tunneling protocols
• Analyze and resolve field issues using device logs, crash dumps, and remote diagnostics
• Develop init scripts, UCI configuration handlers, and persistent storage management for OpenWrt
• Write unit tests and participate in code reviews via GitLab merge requests
• Collaborate with hardware teams, QA, cloud platform engineers, and service provider partners

Required Skills
• 5+ years of embedded C development on Linux-based platforms
• Strong proficiency in C programming — pointers, memory management, IPC, event-driven architectures
• Experience with OpenWrt build system, package management, UCI configuration, and JFFS2/SquashFS overlay filesystems
• Familiarity with OpenSync or similar cloud-managed CPE frameworks (OVSDB, protobuf, MQTT telemetry)
• Experience with cellular modem integration — AT commands, QMI, network interface management (rmnet/wwan)
• Strong understanding of Linux networking — routing tables, metrics, netfilter, bridge interfaces, IPv4 and IPv6 dual-stack, neighbor discovery, DHCPv4/DHCPv6, SLAAC, and prefix delegation
• Understanding of TLS handshake with mutual authentication using X.509 certificates, certificate chain validation, and secure provisioning
• Knowledge of security and tunneling protocols — GRE tunneling, IPsec, VPN overlays, and secure encapsulation for cloud-managed traffic
• Experience with event loop frameworks (libev, libuv, or similar)
• Proficiency with debugging tools — GDB, strace, tcpdump, kernel logs, serial console
• Familiarity with Git, GitLab CI/CD, cross-compilation toolchains
• Understanding of WiFi standards (802.11ax/be) and wireless driver configuration

Preferred Skills
• Experience with Qualcomm IPQ series SoCs (IPQ5018, IPQ9574) and NSS/PPE data path
• Experience with Broadcom BCM series chipsets (BCM4908, BCM6750, BCM63178) and Memory Direct Engine (MDE) / hardware acceleration
• Knowledge of Atheros/QCA/BCM wireless chipsets and CFG80211/mac80211 driver architecture
• Knowledge of DOCSIS cable modem interaction and WAN interface management
• Experience with PCIe and USB subsystems in embedded Linux (device enumeration, power management, error recovery)
• Familiarity with eSIM/eUICC provisioning (LPA, GSMA SGP.22)
• Experience with carrier aggregation, NR5G NSA/SA, and multi-band cellular configurations
• Understanding of TR-069/TR-369 (USP) device management protocols
• Basic understanding of TR-181 data model for CPE device management and service configuration
• Experience with Kconfig-based build configuration
• Knowledge of flash storage considerations — wear leveling, persistent partitions, factory reset flows
• Familiarity with thermal management and power management (battery-powered CPE)

Tools & Technologies
• Languages: C, Shell scripting (sh/bash), Python (test automation)
• OS/Platform: OpenWrt (Linux 5.x/6.x kernel), ARM Cortex-A53/A73
• Frameworks: OpenSync, OVSDB, libev, protobuf-c, jansson (JSON)
• Chipsets: Qualcomm IPQ, Broadcom BCM, Atheros/QCA
• Networking: iproute2, iptables/nftables, ovsdb-server, hostapd/wpa_supplicant, GRE, IPsec
• Security: OpenSSL/mbedTLS, X.509 certificates, mTLS, certificate management
• Cellular: Qualcomm QCM/SDX modems, MHI, qcserial, AT+QENG/AT+COPS
• Protocols: IPv4, IPv6, DHCPv4/v6, DNS, MQTT, GRE, TLS 1.2/1.3
• Build: Make, Kconfig, OpenWrt feeds, cross-compilation (musl/glibc)
• Debug: GDB, valgrind, serial console, logpull analysis
• VCS/CI: Git, GitLab, merge request workflows

Nice to Have
• Experience working directly with ISP/MSO/OEM partners
• Exposure to hardware bring-up and board support package (BSP) development
• Experience with Agile/Scrum in a firmware development context
• Familiarity with SCTE/DOCSIS standards
• Understanding of TR-181 data model parameters for WAN management, WiFi configuration, and device monitoring
• Experience with GRE tunnel implementation for backhaul traffic in managed WiFi deployments

What You'll Work On
• Cellular failover/fallback state machines with sub-second transition handling
• LED indication logic for multi-WAN connectivity states
• Modem health monitoring and subsystem restart/recovery
• Internet reachability healthcheck frameworks
• Cloud-managed device configuration and telemetry reporting via MQTT
• Secure cloud connectivity using mTLS with X.509 certificate-based mutual authentication
• GRE tunnel management for cloud-redirected traffic
• Factory reset, firmware upgrade, and persistent storage management
• IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack network configuration, routing, and failover across DOCSIS and LTE interfaces
• WiFi radio configuration and performance optimization across Qualcomm / Broadcom platforms
• Kernel crash analysis and driver-level bug resolution

Top Skills:
1. Embedded C Development on Linux/OpenWrt
o C programming, Linux internals, debugging, IPC, event-driven design
2. OpenSync/OpenWrt Platform Development
o OpenSync Managers, OVSDB, UCI, MQTT, OpenWrt build system
3. Linux Networking & LTE/5G Cellular Integration
o Routing, IPv4/IPv6, failover, QMI/MBIM, modem management, GRE/IPsec

Additional Details:
Team size 8
Direct report - None
Key Deliverables :
Responsibilities
• Design, develop, and debug embedded C software for Linux-based residential gateway platforms (ARM/MIPS SoC)
• Develop and maintain OpenSync managers — event-driven daemons that interact with OVSDB for cloud-managed configuration and state reporting
• Implement and optimize LTE/5G cellular failover and fallback logic including modem management, route arbitration, and WAN healthchecks
• Develop LED state machine logic to provide accurate device status indication across complex multi-WAN scenarios
• Interface with cellular modems via AT commands, QMI/MBIM, USB, and PCIe (MHI) protocols
• Work with WiFi drivers (Qualcomm/Broadcom/Atheros) for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz radio configuration
• Debug kernel-level issues including PCIe enumeration, USB device management, network driver crashes, and kernel panics
• Implement and maintain secure communication channels using TLS with mutual authentication and tunneling protocols
• Analyze and resolve field issues using device logs, crash dumps, and remote diagnostics
• Develop init scripts, UCI configuration handlers, and persistent storage management for OpenWrt
• Write unit tests and participate in code reviews via GitLab merge requests
• Collaborate with hardware teams, QA, cloud platform engineers, and service provider partners




unique selling points - Strong - Hands-on experience developing OpenSync-based OpenWrt gateway firmware with LTE/5G cellular failover, combining deep Embedded C expertise, Linux networking, and cloud-managed CPE platforms.