Software Manager, AV Platform OS and Drivers

General Motors; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 246,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors seeks a Software Engineering Manager to lead Platform OS and driver software, building foundational systems for next-generation vehicle compute platforms. You will manage a team spanning OS, BSP, HALs, and drivers to deliver robust platform capabilities for downstream product teams.

The role requires strong systems thinking, a background in embedded/low-level software, and proven people leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or work-equivalent in Computer Engineering, CS, EE.
• 8+ years in embedded software, systems software, platform software, or low-level Linux development.
• 2+ years in engineering management or technical team leadership.
• Strong experience with embedded C and C++ and OS concepts.
• Experience with Linux/embedded Linux, RTOS, or similar environments.
• Experience with hardware bring-up, BSP, driver integration, and system-level debugging.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team across Platform OS, BSP, kernel-level software, HALs, and drivers.
• Set technical direction and execution priorities for low-level platform software.
• Drive platform bring-up for new hardware and software releases.
• Oversee development, integration, and maintenance of drivers for compute, storage, networking, sensors, and peripherals.
• Collaborate with hardware, silicon, systems, validation, and program teams to deliver stable platform capabilities on schedule.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

OS/kernel concepts

Team leadership

Platform software

Driver development

Cross-functional collaboration

System architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Linux/Embedded Linux

BSP development

Job description

Job Description

Job Summary

We are seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead development of core Platform OS and driver software that enables reliable, scalable, and high-performance compute platforms. This role is responsible for building and leading a strong engineering team across platform operating system software, board support packages, hardware abstraction layers, and device drivers.

The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation in embedded systems and low-level software, along with proven people leadership. They will drive execution across platform bring-up, software integration, performance, stability, and cross-functional delivery while partnering closely with hardware, systems, validation, product, and program teams.

This is an L8 Software Engineering Manager role supporting a location-flexible hybrid work model.

The Role

As the Software Engineering Manager for Platform OS and Drivers, you will lead a team responsible for foundational software that powers next-generation vehicle compute platforms. You will balance technical direction, delivery execution, and people leadership to ensure the team delivers robust platform capabilities that downstream product and feature teams can depend on.

You will work across the full platform lifecycle, including architecture, bring-up, integration, debugging, optimization, quality, and long-term maintainability. Success in this role requires strong systems thinking, clear prioritization, and the ability to align teams across hardware and software boundaries.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and grow a team of software engineers working across Platform OS, BSP, kernel-level software, hardware abstraction layers, and device drivers
• Set technical direction and execution priorities for low-level platform software development
• Drive platform bring-up activities for new hardware and software releases
• Oversee development, integration, and maintenance of drivers for key compute, storage, networking, sensor, and peripheral interfaces
• Partner with hardware, silicon, systems, middleware, validation, and program teams to deliver stable platform capabilities on schedule
• Establish engineering processes for design reviews, code quality, debugging, root cause analysis, test coverage, and release readiness
• Remove roadblocks for the team and manage tradeoffs across schedule, scope, technical risk, and quality
• Support architecture decisions that improve portability, scalability, diagnosability, security, and long-term maintainability
• Mentor engineers and technical leads, build succession plans, and create a high-performance team culture focused on ownership and continuous improvement
• Track program execution through milestones, risks, dependencies, and measurable outcomes
• Drive issue resolution for complex system problems spanning software, hardware, integration, and performance
• Collaborate with recruiting and leadership to build the organization and attract strong embedded and platform engineering talent

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or work equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in embedded software, systems software, platform software, or low-level Linux development
• 2+ years of engineering management or technical team leadership experience
• Strong experience with embedded C and C++
• Strong understanding of operating systems, kernel concepts, multithreading, memory management, device drivers, and hardware-software interfaces
• Experience with Linux, embedded Linux, RTOS, or similar platform environments
• Experience with board bring-up, BSP development, driver integration, and system-level debugging
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts across hardware and software teams
• Strong debugging and root cause analysis skills across complex distributed or embedded systems
• Excellent communication, execution, and people leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience with automotive, ADAS, autonomy, robotics, or safety-critical embedded systems. or work equivalent experience
• Experience with ARM-based SoCs, boot flows, secure boot, power management, and performance optimization
• Familiarity with kernel instrumentation, tracing, profiling, and observability tools
• Experience with CI/CD, automated test infrastructure, and release management for platform software
• Experience leading globally distributed teams
• Familiarity with functional safety, cybersecurity, and production-quality software development practices

What Makes You Successful

• You can operate effectively at both technical depth and organizational leadership altitude
• You know how to build strong teams while maintaining a high bar for engineering quality
• You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and driving alignment across multiple stakeholders
• You translate complex platform challenges into clear priorities, execution plans, and business outcomes
• You bring urgency, ownership, and a continuous improvement mindset to platform development

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to shape the foundational platform software stack that enables scalable vehicle and compute capabilities. You will lead a team working on critical technology at the intersection of operating systems, hardware enablement, and product delivery, with meaningful impact across the broader software platform.

Compensation

The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.

• The salary range for this role: is$160,200- $246,300. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

Company Vehicle:

Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.