Lead Embedded Software Engineer

Valmet•Owings Mills, MD

About The Position

The Lead Embedded Software Engineer is responsible for leading the architecture, implementation, and advancement of embedded Linux platforms powering Valmet’s automation solutions. As a senior technical authority, this role influences product strategy, drives architectural decisions, mentors engineers, and ensures embedded platforms meet performance, reliability, security, scalability, and lifecycle expectations. The position works across hardware, firmware, software, test, manufacturing, and product teams to align platform development with immediate requirements and long-term vision. The role provides technical leadership across multiple product lines, including platform strategy for Yocto builds, kernel configuration, driver architecture, and real-time system behavior. It leads development, debugging, and optimization of kernel modules, device drivers, and application software; guides real-time, performance-critical C/C++ applications; and oversees BSP integration and validation. The engineer also contributes to architecture documentation, design guidelines, engineering standards, design reviews, technical governance, and roadmap planning.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in embedded Linux development.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
Strong expertise with Yocto and custom Linux distribution development.
Familiarity with debugging and profiling tools such as Valgrind, perf, oprofile, or similar.
Mastery of Linux kernel internals, device drivers, and low-level system debugging.
High proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and real-time applications.
Understanding of low-latency and deterministic system design, such as PREEMPT_RT.
Proven track record of technical leadership.
Comfort working at the intersection of hardware and software.
Strong systems thinking, structured problem-solving, and lifecycle awareness.

Nice To Haves

Experience in industrial automation or mission-critical environments.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and architectural oversight for embedded Linux software across multiple product lines.
Drive platform strategy across Yocto builds, kernel configuration, driver architecture, and real-time system behavior.
Lead development, debugging, and optimization of Linux kernel modules, device drivers, and application software.
Architect and guide the implementation of real-time, performance-critical applications in C/C++.
Drive resolution of complex issues spanning hardware, kernel, bootloaders, and user-space components.
Ensure long-term platform maintainability, security posture, and scalability.
Mentor embedded engineers and raise the technical bar across the organization.
Collaborate with hardware, test, manufacturing, and product management to ensure system success.
Oversee BSP integration and validation of embedded platform components.
Contribute to architecture documentation, design guidelines, and engineering standards.
Represent embedded engineering in design reviews, technical governance, and roadmap planning.