Principal Technologist (Austin, TX)

Aptiv•Walnut Creek, CA

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Open Source Technologist is a senior technical leadership role focused on open source strategy, community engagement, and technical excellence in open source projects. This role drives Wind River's open source initiatives, represents the company in open source communities, and ensures our contributions align with business objectives while advancing the open source ecosystem. In your daily job you will: Open Source Strategy & Leadership Develop and execute Wind River's open source strategy and roadmap Identify strategic open source projects and communities for engagement Drive technical vision for open source contributions and initiatives Represent Wind River in open source communities and working groups Influence open source project direction and technical decisions Build relationships with key open source maintainers and contributors Technical Contributions Lead significant contributions to open source projects (Linux kernel, Yocto Project, etc.) Design and implement features that benefit both Wind River and the open source community Review and approve open source contributions from Wind River engineers Ensure code quality and adherence to open source project standards Maintain upstream patches and ensure compatibility with upstream projects Drive upstream-first development practices Community Engagement Actively participate in open source communities and mailing lists Present at open source conferences and events (Linux Plumbers, FOSDEM, etc.) Organize and lead open source community events and meetups Build and maintain relationships with open source community leaders Mentor engineers on open source contribution practices Foster a culture of open source contribution within Wind River HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are: Open Source Project Areas Linux Kernel Contribute to Linux kernel development and maintenance Address kernel features relevant to embedded systems Work on device drivers, subsystems, and core kernel functionality Ensure Wind River's kernel patches are upstream-ready Yocto Project Lead contributions to Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded Drive features and improvements for embedded Linux builds Participate in Yocto Project technical steering Mentor Yocto Project contributors

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
12+ years of software engineering experience
8+ years of experience with embedded Linux or systems programming
5+ years of active open source contribution experience
Proven track record of significant open source contributions
Experience as a maintainer or core contributor to major open source projects
Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ and systems programming
Deep understanding of Linux kernel architecture and development
Extensive experience with embedded systems and real-time systems
Strong knowledge of open source development practices and tools
Experience with Git and distributed version control
Expertise in code review and open source contribution workflows
Understanding of open source licensing and compliance
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis - without requirement for any type of visa sponsorship/transfer, now, or at any time in future. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Must be a local resident of Greater Austin, TX, with ability to work on campus.
Exceptional technical communication skills
Strong public speaking and presentation abilities

Nice To Haves

Maintainer or core contributor status in major open source projects
Extensive Yocto Project experience and leadership
Significant Linux kernel contributions and recognition
Experience in safety-critical industries (aerospace, automotive, medical)
Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262, DO-178C, etc.)
Open source project governance experience
Industry recognition (awards, keynote speaking, etc.)
Published technical papers or articles on open source topics

Responsibilities

Develop and execute Wind River's open source strategy and roadmap
Identify strategic open source projects and communities for engagement
Drive technical vision for open source contributions and initiatives
Represent Wind River in open source communities and working groups
Influence open source project direction and technical decisions
Build relationships with key open source maintainers and contributors
Lead significant contributions to open source projects (Linux kernel, Yocto Project, etc.)
Design and implement features that benefit both Wind River and the open source community
Review and approve open source contributions from Wind River engineers
Ensure code quality and adherence to open source project standards
Maintain upstream patches and ensure compatibility with upstream projects
Drive upstream-first development practices
Actively participate in open source communities and mailing lists
Present at open source conferences and events (Linux Plumbers, FOSDEM, etc.)
Organize and lead open source community events and meetups
Build and maintain relationships with open source community leaders
Mentor engineers on open source contribution practices
Foster a culture of open source contribution within Wind River
Contribute to Linux kernel development and maintenance
Address kernel features relevant to embedded systems
Work on device drivers, subsystems, and core kernel functionality
Ensure Wind River's kernel patches are upstream-ready
Lead contributions to Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded
Drive features and improvements for embedded Linux builds
Participate in Yocto Project technical steering
Mentor Yocto Project contributors