Staff Embedded Linux Engineer

LineVision, Inc.•Boston, MA

12h•$160,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

LineVision is seeking a Staff Embedded Linux Engineer to take ownership of the Linux kernel, drivers, bootloader, and embedded architecture for its current and future grid-monitoring devices. The devices are ruggedized, solar-powered sensors mounted on poles near transmission lines. Each uses a Linux compute module paired with a microcontroller, connects over cellular, and is designed to operate for years without a site visit. The role is based in person at LineVision’s Boston headquarters and reports to the Senior Manager of Embedded Software Engineering. The engineer will maintain and improve the device software platform, lead board bring-up, develop device security including secure boot, and move algorithms onto devices in collaboration with Data Science and Computer Vision. The role has broad autonomy and includes technical leadership across hardware, firmware, and cloud application software. Within the first three months, the engineer is expected to assume day-to-day responsibility for kernel, driver, and bootloader work; document a security patching process; baseline system performance; and present a prioritized technical roadmap. Within six months, the role is expected to deliver production improvements with measurable gains and define the device security architecture and roadmap with partner teams. Within the first year, the engineer will lead embedded software architecture for the next-generation sensor, establish a repeatable process for deploying models and algorithms on-device, and strengthen the team’s embedded Linux capabilities through reviews and coaching. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Experience developing Linux kernels and device drivers in C, including device trees and common bus and camera interfaces.
Experience with bootloader development (U-Boot or similar) and board bring-up for new SoCs or modules.
Experience maintaining and security-patching embedded Linux over a multi-year product life, including CVE triage and kernel upgrades.
Software engineering background and strong working knowledge of hardware, including reading schematics and datasheets and debugging with JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
Scripting experience in Python and Bash.
A track record of technical leadership, including setting direction for a platform or subsystem and raising engineering standards.
Currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Experience with hardware-level device security, including secure boot, chain of trust, key management, and secure factory provisioning.
Experience optimizing embedded Linux for boot time, power, and reliability.
Experience running workloads on NPUs or GPUs.
Experience with OTA update systems for deployed fleets, including A/B partitioning and rollback.
Experience with Yocto/OpenEmbedded, FreeRTOS, or Rust.
Upstream Linux kernel contributions.
Cybersecurity compliance experience, such as EU RED or EN 18031.

Responsibilities

Maintain the Linux kernel and bootloader on LineVision devices, including security patching, driver development, and operating system improvements.
Lead board bring-up on new hardware platforms, from first boot through production.
Improve device-platform performance, power efficiency, and reliability.
Design hardware-level device security, including secure boot and factory-signed software, in collaboration with hardware and manufacturing teams.
Work with Data Science and Computer Vision to adapt algorithms for low-footprint, on-device execution using NPUs, GPUs, and other hardware where beneficial.
Own the Linux BSP and platform build system, including device trees, OS image releases, and kernel and bootloader upgrade strategy.
Lead root-cause analysis of cross-layer issues, including kernel crashes, power and thermal behavior, and field or manufacturing failures.
Influence SoC, module, and peripheral selection for future hardware, considering Linux support, vendor BSP quality, maintainability, and security features.
Set embedded Linux technical standards through design and code reviews, mentoring, and technical support for engineers across hardware, firmware, and cloud application software.
Establish a documented security patching process and take day-to-day responsibility for kernel, driver, and bootloader work.
Baseline system performance, including boot time, shutdown time, and power draw, and present a prioritized technical roadmap to Engineering leadership.
Define the device security architecture and roadmap, covering secure boot and chain of trust, signed software and updates, key management and factory provisioning, debug and physical interface protection, data protection, and regulatory cybersecurity requirements such as EU RED.
Lead embedded software architecture for the next-generation sensor, including its OS, bootloader, update mechanism, and security.
Establish a repeatable workflow with Data Science and Computer Vision for moving models and algorithms onto devices.
Develop the team’s embedded Linux expertise through design reviews, code reviews, and coaching.
Collaborate closely with Data Science, Software Engineering, and Hardware Engineering.