Linux Engineer Kernel

ABOUT WIND RIVER

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability.

Wind River helps customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications industries solve complex technology challenges on their journey toward the new intelligent machine economy. The company’s software powers generation after generation of the safest, most secure systems in the world. Examples include playing a key role in NASA space missions such as Artemis I, the James Webb Space Telescope, and multiple Mars rovers. We’ve achieved recent 5G milestones including the world’s first successful 5G data session with Verizon and building one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world with Vodafone.

The company has received industry recognition for its technology innovation and leadership, and for its workplace culture, including global Great Place to Work certification and being named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years. If you want to be part of a unique culture where the lived experience is based on our cultural attributes of growth mindset, customer-focus, and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, come join us and help advance the future software defined world.

YOUR ROLE

As an Engineer of kernel, you will support the development of kernel components for the Linux operating system, assisting in implementation, testing, and debugging while working closely with experienced engineers to build your skills in system-level development.

In your daily job you will

Development & Implementation

• Develop and maintain embedded Linux systems software
• Implement features, bug fixes, and enhancements
• Write clean, maintainable code following team standards
• Debug and resolve technical issues
• Write unit tests and contribute to test coverage

Code Quality & Review

• Follow coding standards and best practices
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback
• Refactor code to improve quality and maintainability
• Document code and technical designs
• Ensure code meets quality and performance requirements

Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with team members
• Participate in sprint planning, daily standups, and retrospectives
• Communicate progress and blockers effectively
• Share knowledge and learn from teammates
• Contribute to team process improvements

Innovation & Research

• Lead research and development of new technologies
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends
• Drive proof-of-concept and prototype development
• Contribute to open source projects and communities
• Publish technical papers and present at conferences

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with product management on technical roadmap
• Engage with customers on technical requirements and solutions
• Work with sales and support on technical pre-sales and escalations
• Interface with executive leadership on technical strategy
• Partner with other engineering teams on cross-cutting initiatives

Technical Areas of Focus

Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are

• Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are:
• Eagerness to learn: Willingness to grow in one or more of kernel sustaining, BSP, feature development, user space, systems, or tool chain with mentorship and training
• Foundational technical ability: Ability to read and write C/C++, use Git, follow build and test procedures, and debug with guidance
• Collaboration: Ability to work in a distributed team across US, Romania, and India, ask questions, and communicate progress and blockers clearly

Kernel Sustaining

• Assist with applying security patches and CVE-related fixes under guidance
• Help backport patches and run kernel build and test procedures
• Learn kernel subsystems, drivers, and debugging (e.g., kgdb, ftrace) with mentorship
• Validate kernel changes on supported platforms and document results

Board Support Packages

• Maintain and update BSP configurations and device tree snippets with direction
• Support hardware bring-up and validation; run BSP test procedures
• Learn bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), device trees, and hardware documentation
• Document BSP changes and hardware requirements

Feature Development

• Implement well-scoped parts of new features from specifications and design docs
• Write and run tests for new functionality; update user-facing or developer documentation
• Participate in feature design and estimation discussions to learn the process
• Test features on assigned platforms and report issues

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE

Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science , Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of software engineering experience
• 3+ years of experience with embedded Linux or systems programming
• Ability to drive a project end-to-end, from concept and requirements through implementation, delivery, and release
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive as an exceptional team player who works well in collaborative environments
• Self-motivated, fast learner with a demonstrated ability to adopt and master new technologies

Technical Skills

• Experience with C/C++ and systems programming
• Good understanding of Linux kernel architecture
• Experience with embedded systems and real-time systems
• knowledge of system design, architecture, and patterns
• Experience with multiple build systems and toolchains
• Experience in debugging complex system-level issues
• Understanding of security, performance, and reliability principles

Domain Expertise

• Linux kernel development and architecture
• Embedded systems design and development
• System software architecture and design
• Compiler toolchains and build systems
• Device drivers and hardware abstraction layers
• Security, safety, and reliability engineering

Innovation & Impact

• Track record of technical innovation and impact
• Contributions to open source projects (preferred)
• Technical publications or conference presentations (preferred)
• Patents or technical achievements (preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Yocto Project and contributions
• Significant open source contributions (Linux kernel, etc.)
• Experience in safety-critical industries (aerospace, automotive, medical)
• Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262, DO-178C, etc.)
• Experience with formal methods and verification

Key Performance Indicators

• Technical strategy and architecture impact
• Innovation and new technology adoption
• Mentoring and technical development of others
• Technical problem resolution and system improvements
• Customer and partner technical engagement
• Open source contributions and industry recognition

BENEFITS - Canada

• Workplace Flexibility: Hybrid Work.
• Company-sponsored health, dental, and life insurance.
• Income protection through short and long-term disability coverage.
• Matching RRSP.
• Vacation and various time off policies to encourage work-life balance.
• Well-being programs: Employee assistance program, mental well-being through Unmind .
• Learning benefits: LinkedIn Learning subscription and seminars.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

Successful candidates must engage in a security clearance process in regard to their citizenship in order to perform fundamental job duties, as per applicable law. In particular, candidates with certain citizenship may not be able to perform such fundamental job duties. Currently, this includes citizens of the following countries: Belarus; Burma; China; Cuba; Iran; North Korea; Syria; Venezuela; Afghanistan; Cambodia; Central African Republic; Cyprus; Democratic Republic of Congo; Ethiopia; Eritrea; Haiti; Iraq; Lebanon; Libya; Russia; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Zimbabwe. The security clearance process may take a significant amount of time to complete, and any offer of employment will be contingent on the candidate's legal ability to perform the fundamental job duties. Wind River is committed to meeting its obligations to candidates under applicable human rights law and privacy law in this regard .

#