Senior Embedded Performance Engineer

Auterion; Virginia; On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Stock Options

Generous holiday allowance

Company pension plan

Car parking

Enhanced maternity & paternity leave

Mental health and wellbeing support

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Auterion is seeking a Senior Embedded Performance Engineer to push the limits of embedded Linux, low-latency video, and data pipelines on autonomous systems. You’ll work across AuterionOS and hardware interfaces to shave latency, improve throughput, and optimize startup times.

This role blends software, systems, and hardware work, requiring strong C++/Python skills, proficiency with ROS2, Docker, and profiling tools, and collaboration across cross-functional teams to deliver measurable

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience with object-oriented C++ and/or Python.
• Deep experience with embedded Linux, cross-compilation, debugging, profiling.
• Experience with low-latency video or data-streaming pipelines on embedded platforms.
• Strong debugging and performance analysis skills across system and app levels.
• Proficient with ROS2/DDS middleware and networked systems.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Apps & Simulation teams to build high-performance autonomous systems.
• Design, optimize, and maintain performance-critical components in AuterionOS.
• Improve end-to-end behavior across compute, networking, video, and hardware interfaces.
• Analyze workloads like real-time telemetry, video, and media processing.
• Investigate bottlenecks from kernel to application code.
• Translate customer use cases into robust technical solutions.
• Propose platform capabilities with measurable performance gains.

Skills

C++

Python

Embedded Linux

Performance tuning

Latency optimization

Profiling

Education

B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Computer Science / Software Engineering

Tools

Docker

docker-compose

qemu

CMake

GStreamer

ROS2/DDS

REST APIs

Job description

Auterion builds a cutting-edge operating system for autonomous robotic systems that empower a diverse range of platforms to perform surveillance, reconnaissance, inspection, mapping and logistics tasks. Our industry-leading software drives the adoption of robotic fleets and is recognized by the U.S. government as the future standard for its drone programs.

We are looking for a Senior Embedded Performance Engineer who is passionate about getting the most out of embedded systems — from low-level Linux tuning and hardware integration to high-performance video and data pipelines. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working close to hardware, moving across the stack, and solving the kinds of problems where milliseconds, bandwidth, startup time, and system efficiency matter.

You will work across the AuterionOS ecosystem on topics such as:

• Embedded Linux performance and system tuning
• Low-latency video streaming and media pipelines
• C/C++, Python, and Bash-based platform development
• Hardware integration, system profiling, and end-to-end optimization
• Collaboration with experienced and driven engineers across Auterion

Responsibilities

• Work within the Apps & Simulation team and collaborate with other development teams to build high-performance products for autonomous systems.
• Design, optimize, and maintain performance-critical components within AuterionOS, Auterion’s custom embedded Linux distribution.
• Improve end-to-end system behavior across compute, networking, video, and hardware interfaces, with a strong focus on latency, throughput, reliability, and resource efficiency.
• Analyze and optimize demanding workloads such as real-time telemetry, video streaming, media processing, and communication between distributed system components.
• Investigate system bottlenecks across the full stack, from kernel and OS behavior to application-level code and tooling.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to understand both internal and customer use cases, and translate them into robust technical solutions.
• Propose and implement new platform capabilities with a strong emphasis on measurable performance gains in real-world deployments.
• Participate in daily stand-ups, release planning, and prioritization discussions.

Qualifications and Skills

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience writing object-oriented C++ and/or Python.
• Deep experience with embedded Linux systems, including cross-compilation, debugging, profiling, and performance tuning.
• Strong hands-on background in diagnosing and optimizing real-world system behavior, including CPU, memory, I/O, networking, boot time, and application latency.
• Experience building or optimizing low-latency video or data-streaming pipelines, ideally on embedded platforms.
• Excellent understanding of software systems that span embedded devices, higher-level applications, and fully integrated products.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including system design, implementation, debugging, and testing.
• Experience with video codecs, GStreamer, RTP/RTSP, or hardware-accelerated media pipelines.
• Solid experience with Debian/Ubuntu-based systems, Bash scripting, and systemd.
• Experience with Docker and docker-compose in complex development and deployment environments, as well as qemu.
• Strong debugging and performance analysis skills at both system and application level, combined with a proactive and self-directed working style.
• Proficient in ROS2/DDS-style middleware and experienced with networking across multiple OSI layers, including REST APIs and performance-sensitive communication paths.
• Experience with system integration and interfacing sensors or peripherals, especially via USB and Ethernet.
• Experience working in an agile engineering environment with stand-ups, sprint planning, and shared ownership across teams.
• Bonus: Experience with build systems such as CMake, including improving build performance in large-scale software projects.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Stock Options
• Generous holiday allowance
• Company pension plan
• Car parking
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Learning and development opportunities

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.