Sr. Linux Kernel/Hypervisor Developer

NIO; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

NIO Inc. is seeking an experienced kernel or hypervisor engineer to work hands-on with the foundations of NIO’s in-vehicle compute platform.

You will join the core system software team behind SkyOS-H, contributing from architecture design to production deployment in next-generation intelligent vehicles. You will work on low-level system software for real-time, high-efficiency automotive environments, including AD/ADAS compute, sensor fusion, and secure boot.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 1+ years of experience in embedded systems or low-level system software development.
• Strong coding skills in C, ARM assembly, and in-line assembly.
• Deep understanding of Arm V8 architecture: GIC, SMMU, cache hierarchy, and Arm Virtualization Host Extensions (VHE).
• Proficiency in Git, C/C++, Python, and object-oriented programming.
• Experience with Linux kernel development or driver subsystems.
• Knowledge of embedded system security: Arm TrustZone, OP-TEE, Secure Boot.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a microkernel-based operating system and hypervisor tailored for diverse on-vehicle applications in autonomous driving.
• Analyze and enhance OS functionalities for real-time performance, high efficiency, security, and functional safety.
• Collaborate with the team to discuss and refine designs and implementations; lead through demonstrations to foster growth.
• Mentor peers while advancing architecture and production deployment of SkyOS-H and related variants.

Skills

C

ARM assembly

Linux kernel development

Driver development

C/C++

Python

Git

Embedded systems

Real-time systems

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Git

Arm TrustZone

OP-TEE

Arm V8 virtualization (VHE)

Job description

NIO Inc. is a pioneer and a leading company in the global smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIO aspires to shape a sustainable and brighter future with the mission of “Blue Sky Coming”

.
NIO designs, develops, manufactures and sells smart electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation core technologies. NIO distinguishes itself through continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, exceptional products and services, and a community for shared growt

h.
About the Posi

tion
This role is ideal for an experienced kernel or hypervisor engineer who wants to work hands-on with the foundations of NIO’s in-vehicle compute platform. You will join the core system software team behind SkyOS-H, NIO’s in-house hypervisor, and other SkyOS variants — contributing from architecture design to production deployment in next-generation intelligent vehi

• les.
  Hypervisor & Kernel Performance at

ScaleYou’ll work on low-level system software designed for real-time, high-efficiency, and safety-critical automotive environments. This includes optimizing latency and throughput, refining vIRQ handling, improving cache and memory subsystem efficiency (SMMU, coherency, and paging), and leveraging Arm V8 virtualization extensions (VHE). You will contribute to hypervisor scheduling, partition isolation, and secure domain management to achieve automotive-grade determinism and performance on modern

SystemsFrom early architecture exploration to kernel integration, driver development, validation, and production rollout — your work will directly power live vehicle systems. You’ll enable mission-critical domains such as AD/ADAS compute, sensor fusion, and secure boot/trusted execution (TrustZone, O

P-TEE).
In collaboration with AI and cloud teams, you’ll also support emerging LLM-based intelligent copilots and in-vehicle assistants, where hypervisor-level performance and scheduling directly enhance on-vehicle AI responsiveness. This role offers a rare opportunity to build real products that blend operating systems, virtualization, and intelligence at the edge — all within a fast-moving automotive envi

ronment.
Respons

responsabilitiesDevelop and execute a microkernel-based operating system and hypervisor tailored for diverse on-vehicle applications in autonomous driving

• ibilitiesDevelop and execute a microkernel-based operating system and hypervisor tailored for diverse on-vehicle applications in autonomous driving


• vehicles.Analyze and enhance operating system functionalities for real-time performance, high efficiency, security, and functiona


• l safety.Collaborate with the team to discuss and refine designs and impleme


• ntations.Lead through demonstration, serving as both a mentor and a mentee to foster team growth and knowledge

sharing.
Qual

• ificationsBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or rela


• ted field.1+ years of experience in embedded systems or low-level system software de


• velopment.Strong coding skills in C, ARM assembly, and in-line


• assembly.Deep underststanding of Arm V8 architecture: GIC, SMMU, cache hierarchy, and Arm Virtualization Host Extensi


• ons (VHE).Proficiency in Git, C/C++, Python, and object-oriented pr


• ogramming.Experience with Linux kernel development or driver s


• ubsystems.Knowledge of embedded system security: Arm TrustZone, OP-TEE, Se


• cure Boot.Ability to thrive and contribute effectively within a global, cross-functional enginee

ring tea

m.
BenefitsAlong with competitive pay, as a full-time NIO employee, you are eligible for the following benefits on the first day yo

• u join NIO:Anthem PPO, HSA, and Kaiser HMO medical plans with $0 for Employee Onl


• y Coverage.Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plan. Both provide options with a $0 paycheck contribution covering you and your eligible


• dependents.Company Paid HSA (Health Savings Account) Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible CIGNA m


• edical planHealthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Acc


• ounts (FSA)401(k) with Brokerage


• Link optionCompany paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disabilit


• y insuranceEmployee Assista


• nce ProgramSick and Va


• cation time13 Paid Holi


• days a yearPaid Parental Leave for first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employmen


• t with NIO)Paid Disability Leave for first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employmen


• t with NIO)Voluntary benefits including: Voluntary Life and AD&D options for you, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent child(ren), pe


• t insuranceCommut


• er benefitsMobile Cell P


• hone CreditHealthjoy mobile benefit app supporting you and your dependents with benefit questions on the go & support with benefit billin