Principal Open Source Technologist

ALTEN; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consulting firm is looking for a Principal Open Source Technologist to drive their open source strategy and community engagement. This senior role involves leading contributions to key open source projects and ensuring that technical contributions align with business objectives. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in systems programming, a strong background in open source development, and exceptional communication skills. The position is based in Austin, TX with remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software engineering experience.
• 8+ years with embedded Linux or systems programming.
• 5+ years of open source contribution experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute open source strategy and roadmap.
• Lead contributions to major open source projects.
• Mentor engineers on open source contribution practices.

Skills

Expert-level proficiency in C/C++

Strong knowledge of open source development practices

Exceptional technical communication skills

Public speaking and presentation abilities

Education

Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Git

Job description

• Drive upstream-first development practices

Position: Principal Open Source Technologist

Location: Austin, TX (Remote)

About The Opportunity

The Principal Open Source Technologist is a senior technical leadership role focused on open source strategy, community engagement, and technical excellence in open source projects. This role drives client's open source initiatives, represents the company in open source communities, and ensures our contributions align with business objectives while advancing the open source ecosystem.

In your daily job you will:

Open Source Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute client's open source strategy and roadmap
• Identify strategic open source projects and communities for engagement
• Drive technical vision for open source contributions and initiatives
• Represent the client in open source communities and working groups
• Influence open source project direction and technical decisions
• Build relationships with key open source maintainers and contributors

Technical Contributions

• Lead significant contributions to open source projects (Linux kernel, Yocto Project, etc.)
• Design and implement features that benefit both client and the open source community
• Review and approve open source contributions from client's engineersEnsure code quality and adherence to open source project standards
• Maintain upstream patches and ensure compatibility with upstream projects
• Drive upstream-first development practices

Community Engagement

• Actively participate in open source communities and mailing lists
• Present at open source conferences and events (Linux Plumbers, FOSDEM, etc.)
• Organize and lead open source community events and meetups
• Build and maintain relationships with open source community leaders
• Mentor engineers on open source contribution practices
• Foster a culture of open source contribution within the client

How You Will Contribute

Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are:

Open Source Project Areas

Linux Kernel

• Contribute to Linux kernel development and maintenance
• Address kernel features relevant to embedded systems
• Work on device drivers, subsystems, and core kernel functionality
• Ensure the client kernel patches are upstream-ready

Yocto Project

• Lead contributions to Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded
• Drive features and improvements for embedded Linux builds
• Participate in Yocto Project technical steering
• Mentor Yocto Project contributors

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 12+ years of software engineering experience
• 8+ years of experience with embedded Linux or systems programming
• 5+ years of active open source contribution experience
• Proven track record of significant open source contributions
• Experience as a maintainer or core contributor to major open source projects
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ and systems programming
• Deep understanding of Linux kernel architecture and development
• Extensive experience with embedded systems and real-time systems
• Strong knowledge of open source development practices and tools
• Experience with Git and distributed version control
• Expertise in code review and open source contribution workflows
• Understanding of open source licensing and compliance
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis - without requirement for any type of visa sponsorship/transfer, now, or at any time in future. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
• Must be a local resident of Greater Austin, TX, with ability to work on campus.

Leadership & Communication

• Exceptional technical communication skills
• Strong public speaking and presentation abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Maintainer or core contributor status in major open source projects
• Extensive Yocto Project experience and leadership
• Significant Linux kernel contributions and recognition
• Experience in safety-critical industries (aerospace, automotive, medical)
• Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262, DO-178C, etc.)
• Open source project governance experience
• Industry recognition (awards, keynote speaking, etc.)
• Published technical papers or articles on open source topics
• Key Performance Indicators
• Open source contribution quality and impact
• Community engagement and relationship building
• Strategic open source project participation
• Upstream contribution acceptance rate
• Conference presentations and speaking engagements
• Mentoring and development of open source contributors
• Open source strategy execution
• Industry recognition and thought leadership