General Motors

Principal Software Engineer, Embedded Linux Platforms & Connectivity

General Motors$130K — $160K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in embedded Linux, firmware, BSP, or platform software development with Principal-level technical leadership.
  • Deep expertise in embedded Linux platform development, including kernel and driver development, Yocto/OpenEmbedded-based build environments, and board bring-up.
  • Strong experience with bootloaders, custom boot flows, and platform initialization.
  • Experience leading connected platform integration across technologies like Ethernet, BLE, and Wi-Fi.
  • Proficiency in communication protocols such as UART, PCIe, I2C, and CAN.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to mentor engineers.

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive technical architecture for embedded Linux platform software.
  • Lead the evolution of an embedded Linux platform strategy utilizing Yocto/OpenEmbedded.
  • Drive system bring-up across new hardware platforms and perform debugging.
  • Integration and optimization of hardware components within embedded software.
  • Guide diagnostics and fault management strategies for system reliability.
  • Analyze and resolve complex low-level system issues across hardware and software.
  • Drive platform readiness across development and production phases.

Benefits

  • Eligibility to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program with General Motors.
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Full Job Description

Job Description

Work arrangement: On-Site: This role is categorized as on-site. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Austin, TX five days per week.

The Role

General Motors is seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional to join our team as a Principal Software Engineer, Embedded Linux Platforms and Connectivity. As a global leader in the automotive industry, General Motors is committed to delivering high-quality vehicles that exceed customer expectations. This role will serve as a senior technical leader for next-generation automotive computing platforms, driving embedded Linux platform strategy, system architecture, and cross-functional execution across board bring-up, kernel and device driver integration, connectivity, diagnostics, health monitoring, and production readiness for our in-vehicle infotainment and embedded radio systems.

What You’ll Do

  • Define and drive the technical architecture for embedded Linux platform software across board bring-up, kernel, boot, connectivity, update, diagnostics, and platform services.

  • Lead the evolution of a common embedded Linux platform strategy, including Yocto/OpenEmbedded-based development, BSP architecture, source control, CI/CD, and engineering workflows that improve reuse, quality, and delivery speed.

  • Drive system bring-up across new hardware platforms, including bootloader configuration, BSP development, low-level debugging, and hardware-software integration.

  • Lead the integration and optimization of hardware components, including USB, PCIe, I2C-connected peripherals, Ethernet interfaces, and radio/connectivity subsystems within the embedded software stack.

  • Define and guide diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault management strategies that improve system reliability, serviceability, and operational visibility in critical automotive systems.

  • Analyze and resolve complex low-level system issues spanning high-speed buses, platform boot flows, peripheral integration, and network connectivity.

  • Drive platform readiness across development, manufacturing, and production, including flashing, provisioning, validation, and end-of-line support.

  • Partner closely with hardware, DevOps, manufacturing, suppliers, and adjacent software teams to resolve system-level tradeoffs and ensure successful program execution.

  • Author and review technical requirements, design documents, and architecture decisions to guide long-term platform direction.

  • Mentor engineers across the organization, review code and designs, and raise the bar on technical rigor, maintainability, and platform reuse.

  • Help define technical objectives and key results and drive continuous improvement in software stability, performance, scalability, and maintainability.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.

  • 10+ years of experience in embedded Linux, firmware, BSP, or platform software development, with demonstrated Principal-level technical leadership across complex products.

  • Deep expertise in embedded Linux platform development, including kernel and driver development, Yocto/OpenEmbedded-based build environments, BSP architecture, and board bring-up.

  • Strong experience with bootloaders such as U-Boot, custom boot flows, firmware integration, and early platform initialization.

  • Strong experience leading connected platform bring-up and integration across technologies such as Ethernet, BLE, Wi-Fi, time synchronization, and in-vehicle networking configuration.

  • Deep knowledge of communication protocols such as UART, PCIe, I2C, SPI, CAN, MDIO, and Ethernet.

  • Experience with embedded and real-time operating environments, including Linux and RTOS-based systems, and strong understanding of kernel internals, memory management, scheduling, file systems, and IPC mechanisms.

  • Strong experience with firmware/software update systems, OTA architecture, diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault detection for embedded platforms.

  • Experience supporting manufacturing and production integration, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, provisioning, and end-of-line testing.

  • Proficiency with low-level debugging tools such as JTAG, GDB, ftrace, kdump, perf, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.

  • Experience with ARM-based SoCs and hardware interaction at the register level.

  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex system issues across software, hardware, manufacturing, and operational domains.

  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence across teams and organizations, drive architectural alignment, and communicate effectively with both engineers and leadership.

  • Proven ability to mentor engineers, review technical work, and establish engineering standards and best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience defining and driving common Linux platform strategies across multiple products or hardware generations.

  • Experience with OTA/update systems spanning internal and external components.

  • Experience working across supplier and partner boundaries to deliver platform capabilities.

  • Experience with manufacturing platform support and production readiness for embedded systems.

  • Experience contributing to or leading within open-source embedded Linux communities such as Yocto Project, OpenEmbedded, or related ecosystems.

  • Experience in automotive, robotics, consumer devices, cloud-connected edge systems, or other complex embedded products.

Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

This job is not eligible forrelocationbenefits. Anyrelocationcosts would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATEDSPONSORSHIPFOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILLNEED GM IMMIGRATIONSPONSORSHIP(e.g., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.) NOW OR IN THE FUTURE

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About General Motors

General Motors Company engages in the manufacture and sale of cars and trucks in the United States, China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. It offers sedans, crossovers, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, coupes, sports/convertibles and hybrid vehicles, hatchbacks/wagons, and vans, as well as mini cars in India. The company also provides parts and accessories, such as iPod and MP3 compatibility, mobility accessories, performance parts, AC parts and services, and merchandise. In addition, it offers vehicle safety, security, and information services. The company provides used vehicles. It offers its products through dealers and distributors. General Motors Company was formerly known as NGMCO, Inc. and changed its name to General Motors Company in July 2009. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. It operates manufacturing facilities in India, the United States, and Canada. General Motors Company operates as a subsidiary of the United States Department of The Treasury. General Motors led global vehicle sales for 77 consecutive years from 1931 through 2007, longer than any other automaker, and is currently among the world's largest automakers by vehicle unit sales. General Motors acts in most countries outside the USA via wholly-owned subsidiaries but operates in China through 10 joint ventures. GM's OnStar subsidiary provides vehicle safety, security, and information services. In 2009, General Motors shed several brands, closing Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer, and emerged from a government-backed Chapter 11 reorganization. In 2010, GM made an initial public offering IPOs to date and returned to profitability later that year.

General Motors Careers

Join the dynamic team at General Motors, a global leader in automotive innovation and technology. At General Motors, we offer unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career forward while contributing to a legacy of engineering excellence.

Work You’ll Do

Embark on a career with General Motors to drive the future of mobility. Our team is dedicated to redefining the automotive landscape through innovation and leadership in electric vehicles and sustainable solutions. By joining us, you will be part of a culture that values diversity, teamwork, and continuous professional growth.

Transform Your Career

General Motors is not just a company; it's a community where you can grow your skills alongside the best in the industry. Our leadership is committed to providing every employee—from interns to senior professionals—with opportunities for career advancement, leadership development, and diversity training.

Innovate and Lead

At General Motors, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From research and development to manufacturing, our teams work collaboratively to lead the industry with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. We encourage our employees to think big and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Join Our Global Team

As part of our global workforce, you will collaborate with talented individuals who are passionate about shaping the future of transportation. General Motors offers a variety of career paths in engineering, design, IT, marketing, and more. With over 155,000 employees worldwide, our network provides expansive opportunities for networking and professional development.

Internship Programs and Employment Benefits

Start your career journey with a General Motors internship, where you can apply your academic knowledge to real-world projects. Our internships provide a robust foundation in the automotive industry, with mentorship from experienced leaders. Full-time employees enjoy a wealth of benefits, including comprehensive health care, retirement plans, and performance bonuses, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded.

Explore Job Opportunities

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, General Motors offers positions that leverage your unique skills. Our hiring process is designed to identify and nurture talent, focusing on aligning your capabilities with the right opportunities for growth within the company.

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Learn more about General Motors
Size
157,000 employees
Market Cap
$46.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$6.4 billion
Founded
1908
5 Year Trend
-3.2%
Revenue
$122.4 billion
NASDAQ

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