Job Description

Embedded Linux/Open WRT Engineer (Lead)

Reports to: Delivery Lead, (interim: Engineering Program Lead)

Location: India

Employment type: Full-time

About the Role

Owns the OpenWRT-based operating system for the company's connected device end to end — SDK/Buildroot builds, kernel configuration, package selection — and sets technical direction for the rest of the squad. This is the longest-lead-time specialist hire on the team and the squad's first line of technical ownership, working closely with the external hardware/EE function on board bring-up.

Key Responsibilities

Own the OpenWRT SDK/Buildroot build pipeline and produce reproducible, versioned firmware images for the connected device
Configure and maintain the Linux kernel (module selection, patches, device tree) for the device's SoC and radio hardware
Select, package, and maintain the OpenWRT package set (opkg) needed for the device's feature set
Set technical direction and review code across the squad; mentor the Device Driver, Embedded Systems, and Integration engineers
Partner with the hardware/EE function or contract manufacturer on board bring-up, hardware validation, and design-for-manufacturing feedback
Stand up and own a signed OTA update mechanism from day one
Establish CI/CD for automated firmware image builds (Buildbot or GitLab CI)

Required Qualifications

8+ years of embedded Linux experience, including at least 3 years specifically on Open WRT or a comparable embedded Linux distribution (Yocto, Build root)
Deep, hands-on kernel configuration and device driver experience in C
Experience owning a production firmware build/release pipeline, ideally including OTA updates
Comfortable working close to hardware — board bring-up, JTAG/serial console debugging, oscilloscope-level troubleshooting
Strong written communication; this role sets technical direction for a distributed US/India squad

Preferred Qualifications