Staff Software Engineer, Virtualization & ECU Simulation

NIO; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental & Vision

HSA contribution

FSA

401(k)

Life Insurance

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Disability leave

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

NIO Inc. is building the next-generation ECU simulation platform powering software-defined vehicle development. You will design and deliver foundational low-level software at the intersection of hypervisor tech, hardware architecture, and automotive RTOS, impacting future mobility programs.

The role emphasizes ownership of end-to-end emulation and virtualization components, cross-platform delivery, and collaboration with validation and integration teams to accelerate vehicle software development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on experience building complex, high-performance software systems (embedded systems, virtualization, or large-scale simulation preferred).
• 3+ years of deep expertise in QEMU or similar simulation / emulation / virtualization software development on Linux (KVM experience highly valued).
• Strong architectural background in CPU, GPU, and NPU architectures, modern SoC designs, software stacks, and virtualization technologies (including virtualization extensions and performance optimization techniques).
• Solid mastery of Linux kernel internals, embedded / real-time operating systems (real-time OS), and low-level driver development.
• Proven experience with ARM platform bring-up and bare-metal / low-level software development.
• BS / MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality, production-grade code on aggressive timelines, with excellent technical documentation and communication skills.
• Organized mindset and a passion for delivering high-quality software in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design and delivery of low-level emulation and virtualization software for high-performance, high-throughput ECU simulation across multiple cross-platform vehicle initiatives, ensuring industry-leading reliability, scalability, and efficiency.
• Architect and optimize CPU, GPU, NPU simulation / emulation / virtualization technologies continuously pushing the boundaries of functionality, performance, efficiency, and reliability.
• Deliver production-grade simulation components that precisely meet product definitions, customer specifications, and vehicle platform requirements, maintaining full traceability to requirements.
• Design and implement high-performance Linux guest drivers and libraries for CPU, GPU, NPU, and peripheral components, enabling seamless virtualized hardware access in a virtualized environment.
• Partner closely with application and system development, validation, and integration teams to translate real-world automotive constraints into robust, high-quality simulation solutions that accelerate vehicle product SW development, validation, and integration.
• Drive high-quality, on-time delivery of software deliverables across multiple vehicle programs while championing best practices in testing strategies, traceability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

QEMU

Linux

C/C++

Hypervisor

SoC architectures

ARM

Real-time Linux

Education

BS/MS in EE/CE/CS

Tools

QEMU

KVM

VMware

VirtualBox

Xen

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 envisions itself as a user enterprise where innovative technology meets experience excellence. 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 growth. NIO provides premium smart electric vehicles under the NIO brand, family-oriented smart electric vehicles through the ONVO brand, and small smart high-end electric cars with the FIREFLY brand.

We are building the next-generation ECU simulation platform that powers software-defined vehicle development across multiple vehicle programs. Using state-of-the-art CPU, GPU, and NPU simulation / emulation / virtualization technologies, our team enables hyper-realistic, high-throughput, and scalable simulation environments that dramatically accelerate vehicle software validation, integration, and deployment.

The Role:

You will design and deliver the foundational low-level software that makes this possible — working at the intersection of hypervisor technology, hardware architecture, and automotive real-time systems. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role with direct influence on vehicle programs that will shape the future of mobility.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end design and delivery of low-level emulation and virtualization software for high-performance, high-throughput ECU simulation across multiple cross-platform vehicle initiatives, ensuring industry-leading reliability, scalability, and efficiency.
• Architect and optimize CPU, GPU, NPU simulation / emulation / virtualization technologies continuously pushing the boundaries of functionality, performance, efficiency, and reliability.
• Deliver production-grade simulation components that precisely meet product definitions, customer specifications, and vehicle platform requirements, maintaining full traceability to requirements.
• Design and implement high-performance Linux guest drivers and libraries for CPU, GPU, NPU, and peripheral components, enabling seamless virtualized hardware access in a virtualized environment.
• Partner closely with application and system development, validation, and integration teams to translate real-world automotive constraints into robust, high-quality simulation solutions that accelerate vehicle product SW development, validation, and integration.
• Drive high-quality, on-time delivery of software deliverables across multiple vehicle programs while championing best practices in testing strategies, traceability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of hands-on experience building complex, high-performance software systems (embedded systems, virtualization, or large-scale simulation preferred).
• 3+ years of deep expertise in QEMU or similar simulation / emulation / virtualization software development on Linux (KVM experience highly valued).
• Strong architectural background in CPU, GPU, and NPU architectures, modern SoC designs, software stacks, and virtualization technologies (including virtualization extensions and performance optimization techniques).
• Solid mastery of Linux kernel internals, embedded / real-time operating systems (real-time OS), and low-level driver development.
• Proven experience with ARM platform bring-up and bare-metal / low-level software development.
• BS / MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality, production-grade code on aggressive timelines, with excellent technical documentation and communication skills.
• Organized mindset and a passion for delivering high-quality software in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Deep expertise in QEMU or simulator architecture and development (contributor or maintainer experience is a strong plus).
• Hands-on experience with Linux hypervisors and virtualized driver stacks in environments such as QEMU, KVM, VMware, VirtualBox, or Xen.
• Familiarity with Linux hypervisor, middleware, and application frameworks.
• Experience in automotive platforms (AUTOSAR, functional safety ISO 26262, or vehicle virtualization frameworks) is a significant advantage.
• Exposure to cloud computing, databases, and logging techniques for large-scale simulation/validation pipelines is a plus.

Benefits:

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time NIO employee, you are eligible for the following benefits on the first day you join NIO:

• Anthem Blue Cross, HSA, and Kaiser HMO medical plans with $0 for Employee Only 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 Anthem Blue Cross medical plan
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with Brokerage Link option
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time
• 13 Paid Holidays a year
• Paid Parental Leave for first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)
• Paid Disability Leave for first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)
• Voluntary benefits including: Voluntary Life and AD&D options for you, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent child(ren), pet insurance