Principal Technologist - Enterprise OS

Aptiv; Troy (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance

Flexible time-off policies

Job summary

Aptiv is seeking a Principal Technologist in Troy, MI to provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the eLxr, a Debian-based OS for safety-critical products. In this role, you will define and drive the technical vision while collaborating with product management and engineering teams.

The ideal candidate should have 12+ years of experience in software engineering, specifically within Linux OS, excellent communication skills, and the ability to engage with Enterprise customers. Offering a hybrid work model and comprehensive benefits, Aptiv invites you to shape technology and drive impact.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in technical leadership roles.
• Deep expertise in Linux operating systems, particularly Debian-based distributions.
• Strong understanding of OS internals including kernel.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall technical vision for the eLxr OS platform.
• Provide strategic technical guidance across all major components.
• Mentor engineering teams on design approaches and technical decision-making.

Skills

Linux operating systems

Technical leadership

Architecture roles

Software engineering

Cloud integration

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Debian-based distributions

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About Wind River

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability.

Principal Technologist

Location: Austin, TX

About Wind River

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability.

Wind River helps customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications industries solve complex technology challenges on their journey toward the new intelligent machine economy. The company’s software powers generation after generation of the safest, most secure systems in the world. Examples include playing a key role in NASA space missions such as Artemis I, the James Webb Space Telescope, and multiple Mars rovers. We’ve achieved recent 5G milestones including the world’s first successful 5G data session with Verizon and building one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world with Vodafone.

The company has received industry recognition for its technology innovation and leadership, and for its workplace culture, including global Great Place to Work certification and being named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years. If you want to be part of a unique culture where the lived experience is based on our cultural attributes of growth mindset, customer-focus, and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, come join us and help advance the future software defined world.

About The Opportunity

About the Role

Wind River is seeking an accomplished Principal Technologist to provide technical leadership and strategic direction for eLxr, a commercial Debian‑based operating system designed for safety‑critical products across Telecom, Aerospace, Industrial, and Automotive markets. In this role, you will define and drive the long‑term technical vision for the platform. You will contribute across the entire OS lifecycle including architecture, requirements, design, implementation, integration, and verification, while ensuring technical alignment across engineering teams and business stakeholders.

You will work closely with product management, system architects, and Enterprise customers to translate strategic needs into actionable technical direction and scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall technical vision and architecture for the eLxr OS platform and its cloud integration.
• Provide strategic technical guidance across all major components, including kernel, system services, hardware enablement, enterprise integration, and cloud components.
• Lead architectural decisions and establish technical standards and best practices for the platform.
• Engage directly with Enterprise customers to understand technical needs and incorporate them into product requirements.
• Partner with product management, engineering leadership, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment between technical strategy and business goals.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams on design approaches, implementation strategies, and technical decision‑making.
• Review, evaluate, and approve major architectural changes and technical proposals.
• Represent Wind River at industry conferences, technical forums, and key customers.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in technical leadership or architecture roles.
• Deep expertise in Linux operating systems, particularly Debian‑based distributions.
• Strong understanding of OS internals, including kernel subsystems, system services, package management, boot processes, and system initialization.
• Experience with hardware enablement and platform support, especially within x86 server environments.
• Proven track record architecting and delivering complex, production‑grade systems.
• Experience working with Enterprise customers and understanding their technical and operational requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong decision‑making capability and the ability to drive technical consensus across teams.
• Must reside in Greater Austin, TX area
• United States Citizenship required
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Contributions to open‑source projects, particularly within the Linux ecosystem; Debian contributions are a strong plus.
• Experience with commercial Linux distributions or OS‑level product development.
• Experience working with AWS or other cloud environments.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and
  
  

Kubernetes.

• Background in systems programming (C, C++, Rust, Python).
• Advanced degree in Computer Science or related field.
  
  

Benefits

• Hybrid work model for workplace flexibility
• Comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• RRSP matching for financial security
• Flexible time-off policies for work-life balance
• Employee assistance program for mental well-being
• Learning benefits, including a LinkedIn Learning subscription and seminars
  
  

Special Clearance Requirements

This position will perform work that the U.S. government has specified can only be performed by a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and therefore any offer will be contingent upon verification of both of these requirements.

Join us at Wind River, where we're not just shaping technology; we're shaping the future of a safer, more connected world. Your journey to make a meaningful impact begins here.

Wind River is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other legally protected status

Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates

Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.