Software Engineer, Principal

Zebra Technologies•Mississauga, ON

63d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges. Being a part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are a part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve. You'll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about – locally and globally. Come make an impact every day at Zebra. We are seeking a principal architect to spearhead our on-device AI initiatives for wearables. In this pivotal role, you will help define the unified SW vision and roadmap for our AI platform, ensuring long-term scalability from the kernel to the application layer. You will be tasked with optimizing complex AI models for peak performance while managing the tradeoffs and balance of performance, power, thermal efficiency, and battery life. This position requires a combination of deep knowledge low-level Android kernel (BSP), an basic understanding AI application development skills, and deep expertise in RTOS/embedded systems. By solving critical challenges in on device AI you will also be a mentor to the wider engineering teams, enabling us to deliver the responsive, secure, and intelligent experiences that define modern wearables. This role is a hybrid position and requires a minimum of three days per week in our Mississaugua, ON office. Zebra reserves the right to modify your work location based on business need.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master’s degree with 10+ years’ work experience
Experience in low-level systems, including Android kernel (BSP) development and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
Experience development for embedded software
Experience in integrating Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities for on-device AI.

Nice To Haves

Experience in developing and deploying AI/ML models on-device, particularly for resource-constrained environments like wearables.
Hands-on experience with embedded systems, including sensor fusion (e.g., cameras, scanners, voice).
Demonstrated experience leading the complete lifecycle of machine learning models, from initial data ingestion and model training to final deployment and performance optimization on target hardware.

Responsibilities

Architects and leads the design, development, and testing of software solutions for highly-complex technical projects, with a focus on integrating Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. Defines software specifications and drives the technology roadmap for our AI-powered products.
Spearheads the development of sophisticated software for low-power, resource-constrained embedded devices. Demonstrates deep expertise in optimizing algorithms, managing memory, and minimizing power consumption for edge computing environments.
Leads the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning models, deployment and optimization for inference on target hardware.
Champions new thinking and creativity in team members. Coaches others on how to effectively develop, communicate, and implement new AI-driven solutions.
Drives a culture of quality by establishing and championing software engineering best practices such as Test-Driven Development (TDD). Implements robust CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipelines with comprehensive automated testing to prevent regressions and ensure rapid, predictable releases.
Creates and maintains comprehensive technical documentation, including developer guides and API specifications, to enable other teams and foster clear communication and knowledge sharing.
Maintains keen awareness of the competitive landscape, particularly in applied AI and Computer Vision, direct designs and create solutions that surpass the competition. Stays current with ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), hardware accelerators, and algorithmic advancements.
With other engineering disciplines, develops next-generation, AI-first ideas and solutions to meet client needs before the competition, turning novel concepts into tangible products.
Analyzes competitor intellectual property in the AI/ML space and participates in activities related to protecting our intellectual property, including novel algorithms and model architectures.
Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
Serves as an organization-wide spokesperson and prime consultant on large, specialized projects that affect the organization’s long-term goals and objectives.
Provides technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers, creating formal networks to drive coordination among groups.