Role Overview
We are hiring an Embedded Linux Engineering Leadto lead embedded Linux development for custom hardware products. This is a player/coach role with an expected split of roughly 50% technical leadership and 50% hands-on development.

The right candidate will personally contribute to the company's embedded Linux platform, in addition to planning the team's work, ensuring effective delegation, and keeping engineers focused on near-term execution priorities.

For a strong performer, this role is expected to grow into a formal people-management position within 6-12 months.

Note: Candidate must reside in The United States.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is a Senior Embedded Linux Engineer who wants to lead without stepping away from the code too early. They can personally solve difficult technical problems, but they also know how to organize work, focus on a team, delegate effectively, and create momentum.

This role is designed for someone with credible growth potential into formal engineering management. It is an ideal opportunity for a strong technical performer to try leading a team.

What You'll Do

The Embedded Linux Engineering Lead will provide day-to-day technical and execution leadership for the embedded Linux function. This includes translating platform goals into actionable work, setting priorities, coordinating assignments, reviewing technical direction, and ensuring the team remains focused on the most important near-term objectives.

The role will also remain hands-on. The Team Lead will contribute directly to bootloader, kernel, device tree, root filesystem, build system, update system, board bring-up, debugging, and release work. They will work closely with hardware, firmware, QA, manufacturing, security, and application software teams to deliver reliable Linux-based products.

As the team grows, the Team Lead will progressively take on more formal leadership responsibilities, including planning, mentoring, hiring input, performance feedback, and team ownership.

What We're Looking For

• Strong embedded Linux experience on custom hardware platforms.
• Willingness to lead a small technical team of embedded engineers.
• Strong C, Python, and/or shell scripting skills.
• Practical experience with Linux kernel configuration, device trees, bootloaders, root filesystems, board support packages, and build systems (e.g. Buildroot, Yocto, etc)
• Proven ability to debug low-level hardware/software integration issues.
• Clear written and verbal communication.

Nice To Have

• Prior experience as a technical lead, team lead, or senior engineer responsible for coordinating other engineers.
• Experience with secure boot, signed updates, encrypted storage, or device identity.
• Experience with production update systems for embedded Linux: SWUpdate, RAUC, Mender, Hawkbit, or similar.
• Experience with production concerns for Linux devices: image generation, factory provisioning, diagnostics, or manufacturing test.
• Experience with ARM SoCs, NXP i.MX, Xilinx/Zynq/Kria, FPGA SoCs, or similar platforms.

Compensation & Benefits

The Compensation range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. Please note that the actual compensation may vary depending on location and job-related factors such as qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location and you are selected for an interview, the Talent Acquisition Partner can share more information with you. If the compensation structure for the role includes an incentive component (i.e. most Sales roles) the range below represents total target compensation (TTC) (base salary + variable).

$148,000 - $198,000 (USD) a year
Salary range (min - max)

Position Type: New Vacancy

Magnet is proud to offer benefits such as:

- Generous time off policies

- Competitive compensation

- Volunteer opportunities

- Reward and recognition programs

- Employee committees & resource groups

- Healthcare and retirement benefits

Indicators of Success

We're looking for someone who checks off most, but not all, of the boxes listed in "skills and experiences". It's more important to us to find candidates who can display indicators of success through skills they have developed and experiences they have been a part of, than to find folks who have "been there, done that". We want to be part of your development journey, and we'll learn as much from you as you learn from us.

How We Work

At Magnet Forensics, we take a hybrid-flexible approach to support your productivity and work-life balance. If you're within a comfortable travel distance to one of our offices, you'll occasionally join us in person. How often you'll come in depends on your department and team needs, typically ranging from weekly to monthly. These in-person moments help us build stronger connections, spark new ideas, and celebrate our successes together. Most days, you can choose what works best for you, while staying in tune with your team's goals.

We're excited to welcome you to our team and look forward to achieving great things together - both in the office and wherever you work best!