Senior Software Engineer - OS, Robot Software

Wayve; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayve in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a skilled Robot Software OS engineer to own Linux kernel and device driver development for our autonomous driving fleet. You will collaborate across Product, Project and Engineering to build reliable software for on-road experimentation and data collection to train new driving models.

The role focuses on developing and maintaining our bespoke Linux distribution (Yocto), kernel drivers for new hardware sensors, and hardening the fleet against cyber threats.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in high-performance embedded Linux systems software (C/C++).
• Strong knowledge of embedded Linux (kernel, device tree), Yocto, boot sequence, secure boot and user-space apps.
• Ability to troubleshoot performance, memory, and I/O bottlenecks across distributed systems.
• Experience with IPC mechanisms and IPC middleware for high-throughput robotics apps (e.g., ROS).

Responsibilities

• Own the creation and maintenance of Linux kernel and device drivers.
• Collaborate with Product, Project, and Engineering management to build the right solution.
• Develop and deliver software in C++ with high quality and observability on a vehicle 2000 km away.
• Create robust, fault-tolerant software with comprehensive diagnostics for the deployed fleet.
• Lead by example in testing, documentation, tooling, mentorship, and collaborative practices.

Skills

Embedded Linux

C/C++

Linux kernel

Driver development

Debugging

IPC Middleware

ROS

Nvidia Jetson

Nvidia Drive

Tools

Yocto

ROS

Nvidia Jetson

Nvidia Drive

Job description

About Us

Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems.

About Us

Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems.

Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward. Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving.

In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future.

At Wayve, your contributions matter. We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact.

Make Wayve the experience that defines your career!

The role

The Robot Software team is responsible for the software that runs on our internal fleet of vehicles to enable autonomous driving and collect data for training new driving models. You will join a motivated and talented team of engineers to deliver a reliable, stable and flexible software stack to support on-road experimentation by our model developers and scientists. Your work will enable these teams to iterate quickly and gather the data they need to improve our autonomous driving capabilities and support new product features, which is critical to the success of Wayve’s mission.

The OS team within Robot Software are the curators of Wayve's bespoke Linux distribution, which is installed across our ever-expanding development fleet. The team works closely with various groups across Wayve, including other parts of Robot Software, the hardware and supply chain teams, and our field engineering and reliability engineering teams. The team's responsibilities include developing and maintaining our Linux distribution using Yocto, creating and updating Linux kernel drivers for new hardware sensors and peripherals, and hardening our development fleet against all forms of cyber attack.

Key Responsibilities

• Expertise in Linux: Own the creation and maintenance of Linux kernel and device drivers.
• Collaborate with technical and business stakeholders: Work with Product, Project, and Engineering management to advise and build the right solution
• Software Development: Build and deliver software in C++ with high quality and reliability. Create software which is observable and debuggable when running on a device 2000 km away and with limited connectivity.
• Fault Tolerance and Diagnostics: Create robust, fault-tolerant software solutions with comprehensive system diagnostics to enable us to quickly and efficiently resolve any issues preventing our deployed fleet from operating at maximum capacity.
• Drive a strong engineering culture: Lead by example as you demonstrate best practices for: testing, documentation, ease-of-use, technical (and non-technical) tooling, mentorship, and collaboration.

About you

Essential

• Software Development Skills: Proficiency developing high-performance embedded Linux systems software in C and C++. Demonstrated ability to manage the complete software development lifecycle from ideation through delivery & optimization.
• Linux Expertise: Familiarity with embedded Linux (kernel, device tree), build systems (Yocto), boot sequence, secured boot and user space application software development.
• Debugging Skills: Ability to delve deep into performance issues, stack traces, core dumps, slow disk writes, high system load, memory bottlenecks, external device bottlenecks, and threading issues.
• IPC Middleware Knowledge: Strong understanding IPC mechanisms and how to optimally use and configure IPC middleware for high data throughput robotics applications (e.g. with frameworks such as ROS).

Desirable

• Experience with robotics or automotive frameworks such as Nvidia Jetson or Nvidia Drive.
• Experience with embedded real time (RT) OS such as QNX.

This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid) and the reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $209,700 to $260,000, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.

Wayve is committed to creating an inclusive interview experience. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to participate fully in our interview process, please let us know.

We understand that everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences and that not everyone will meet all of the requirements listed above.

At Wayve we're committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law.

For more information visit Careers at Wayve.

To learn more about what drives us, visit Values at Wayve

For US candidates only, please visit E-Verify Notice and Participation and Right to Work