Staff Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & Driver Development

generalmotors; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation benefits

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors seeks a Staff Software Engineer focused on Linux kernel and driver development for embedded automotive platforms. You will lead bring-up activities, develop drivers for cameras, displays, and networking, and work across hardware and software teams to ensure robust, maintainable systems.

You will contribute to upstream Linux efforts, define OKRs, and drive reliability and performance improvements across the infotainment and embedded stack in production vehicles.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of embedded Linux kernel development, device driver programming and board bring-up.
• Expertise in Linux kernel internals: memory management, scheduling, filesystems, IPC.
• Experience with camera bring-up: MIPI-CSI, ISP tuning, V4L2 pipelines.
• BSP development experience; bootloaders and firmware integration.
• Deep knowledge of USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI, MIPI-CSI and Ethernet.
• Network protocols including BLE/Bluetooth 5.0.
• Diagnostics, health monitoring and fault detection for embedded systems.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop Linux kernel and device drivers for cameras, displays, multimedia, and Networking.
• Lead system bring-up: bootloader config, camera pipeline setup, BSP development, debugging.
• Integrate hardware components (USB, PCIe, I2C, Ethernet) with software stack.
• Create diagnostics and health monitoring to ensure reliability and predictive maintenance.
• Troubleshoot low-level issues in camera interfaces and high-speed data paths.
• Support manufacturing with hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line tests.
• Collaborate with hardware teams for platform validation; contribute to upstream Linux.

Skills

Linux kernel development

Device driver programming

Camera bring-up

MIPI-CSI

U-Boot

Ethernet/WiFi

JTAG/GDB

System bring-up

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

U-Boot

GDB

ftrace

perf

Job description

Job Description

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to [Austin, TX] three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business if more than 3 days].

General Motors is seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional to join our team as a Staff Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & Driver Development. As a global leader in the automotive industry, General Motors is committed to delivering high-quality vehicles that exceed customer expectations. This role will be instrumental in the bring-up of next-generation automotive computing platforms, focusing on Linux kernel development, device drivers, low-level system integration, diagnostics, and health monitoring for our in-vehicle infotainment and embedded systems.

Specific job responsibilities include:

• Develop and enhance Linux kernel and device drivers, including those for camera sensors, display interfaces, multimedia subsystems, and networking (WLAN, LAN, BLE, BT5.0).
• Lead system bring-up activities, including bootloader configuration, camera pipeline initialization, board support package (BSP) development, and low-level debugging.
• Integrate and optimize hardware components, including USB, PCIe, I2C-connected peripherals, and Ethernet interfaces to ensure seamless operation within our embedded software stack.
• Develop and implement diagnostics and health monitoring solutions, ensuring system reliability, predictive maintenance, and fault detection in critical automotive systems.
• Analyze and troubleshoot low-level system issues, particularly in camera interfaces (MIPI-CSI, ISP bring-up), high-speed data buses, and network connectivity.
• Support manufacturing and production processes, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing to ensure smooth integration of software into production vehicles.
• Work closely with hardware teams to validate and debug platform issues, ensuring optimal hardware-software interaction.
• Contribute to upstream Linux kernel development and work with open-source communities where applicable.
• Define Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and work towards continuously improving software stability, performance, and maintainability.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field, or Work equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in embedded Linux kernel development, device driver programming, and board bring-up.
• Expertise in Linux kernel internals, including memory management, scheduling, file systems, and IPC mechanisms.
• Experience in camera bring-up, including MIPI-CSI, ISP tuning, V4L2 framework, and image processing pipelines.
• Strong experience with BSP development, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), and firmware integration.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocols such as USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI, and MIPI-CSI.
• Experience with Ethernet interfaces (WLAN, LAN) and network protocols (BLE, Bluetooth 5.0).
• Proficiency in diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault detection for embedded systems.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and production support, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing.
• Proficiency in low-level debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, GDB, ftrace, kdump, perf).
• Experience with SoC architectures and hardware interaction at the register level.
• Knowledge of power management techniques, security frameworks, and real-time optimizations in Linux-based systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex system issues across software and hardware domains.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field, or Work equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in embedded Linux kernel development, device driver programming, and board bring-up.
• Expertise in Linux kernel internals, including memory management, scheduling, file systems, and IPC mechanisms.
• Experience in camera bring-up, including MIPI-CSI, ISP tuning, V4L2 framework, and image processing pipelines.
• Strong experience with BSP development, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), and firmware integration.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocols such as USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI, and MIPI-CSI.
• Experience with Ethernet interfaces (WLAN, LAN) and network protocols (BLE, Bluetooth 5.0).
• Proficiency in diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault detection for embedded systems.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and production support, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing.
• Proficiency in low-level debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, GDB, ftrace, kdump, perf).
• Experience with SoC architectures and hardware interaction at the register level.
• Knowledge of power management techniques, security frameworks, and real-time optimizations in Linux-based systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex system issues across software and hardware domains.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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.

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