General Motors

Staff Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & Driver Development

General Motors$120K — $160K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field, or equivalent work experience
  • 8+ years of experience in embedded Linux kernel development and device drivers
  • Expertise in Linux kernel internals like memory management and IPC mechanisms
  • Experience with camera bring-up and image processing pipelines
  • Strong knowledge of bootloaders, firmware integration, and BSP development
  • Deep understanding of communication protocols like USB and PCIe
  • Proficiency in diagnostics and fault detection for embedded systems

Responsibilities

  • Develop and enhance Linux kernel and device drivers for automotive systems
  • Lead bootloader configuration and camera pipeline initialization activities
  • Integrate and optimize hardware components for embedded software
  • Implement diagnostics and health monitoring solutions
  • Analyze and troubleshoot low-level system issues, especially in camera interfaces
  • Collaborate with hardware teams to debug platform issues
  • Contribute to upstream Linux kernel development and engage with open-source communities

Benefits

  • Eligibility for relocation benefits
  • Participation in a company vehicle evaluation program upon successful motor vehicle report review
  • Focus on employee well-being both at work and at home
  • Commitment to an inclusive workplace fostering belonging and development
  • Opportunity to drive meaningful change in the automotive industry
Full Job Description
Job Description

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to [Austin, TX] three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business if more than 3 days].

General Motors is seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional to join our team as a Staff Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & Driver Development. As a global leader in the automotive industry, General Motors is committed to delivering high-quality vehicles that exceed customer expectations. This role will be instrumental in the bring-up of next-generation automotive computing platforms, focusing on Linux kernel development, device drivers, low-level system integration, diagnostics, and health monitoring for our in-vehicle infotainment and embedded systems.

Specific job responsibilities include:
• Develop and enhance Linux kernel and device drivers, including those for camera sensors, display interfaces, multimedia subsystems, and networking (WLAN, LAN, BLE, BT5.0).
• Lead system bring-up activities, including bootloader configuration, camera pipeline initialization, board support package (BSP) development, and low-level debugging.
• Integrate and optimize hardware components, including USB, PCIe, I2C-connected peripherals, and Ethernet interfaces to ensure seamless operation within our embedded software stack.
• Develop and implement diagnostics and health monitoring solutions, ensuring system reliability, predictive maintenance, and fault detection in critical automotive systems.
• Analyze and troubleshoot low-level system issues, particularly in camera interfaces (MIPI-CSI, ISP bring-up), high-speed data buses, and network connectivity.
• Support manufacturing and production processes, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing to ensure smooth integration of software into production vehicles.
• Work closely with hardware teams to validate and debug platform issues, ensuring optimal hardware-software interaction.
• Contribute to upstream Linux kernel development and work with open-source communities where applicable.
• Define Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and work towards continuously improving software stability, performance, and maintainability.
Additional Job Description

Qualifications/Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field, or Work equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in embedded Linux kernel development, device driver programming, and board bring-up.
• Expertise in Linux kernel internals, including memory management, scheduling, file systems, and IPC mechanisms.
• Experience in camera bring-up, including MIPI-CSI, ISP tuning, V4L2 framework, and image processing pipelines.
• Strong experience with BSP development, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), and firmware integration.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocols such as USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI, and MIPI-CSI.
• Experience with Ethernet interfaces (WLAN, LAN) and network protocols (BLE, Bluetooth 5.0).
• Proficiency in diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault detection for embedded systems.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and production support, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing.
• Proficiency in low-level debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, GDB, ftrace, kdump, perf).
• Experience with SoC architectures and hardware interaction at the register level.
• Knowledge of power management techniques, security frameworks, and real-time optimizations in Linux-based systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex system issues across software and hardware domains.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in embedded Linux kernel development, device driver programming, and board bring-up.
• Expertise in Linux kernel internals, including memory management, scheduling, file systems, and IPC mechanisms.
• Experience in camera bring-up, including MIPI-CSI, ISP tuning, V4L2 framework, and image processing pipelines.
• Strong experience with BSP development, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), and firmware integration.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocols such as USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI, and MIPI-CSI.
• Experience with Ethernet interfaces (WLAN, LAN) and network protocols (BLE, Bluetooth 5.0).
• Proficiency in diagnostics, health monitoring, and fault detection for embedded systems.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and production support, including hardware validation, firmware flashing, and end-of-line testing.
• Proficiency in low-level debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, GDB, ftrace, kdump, perf).
• Experience with SoC architectures and hardware interaction at the register level.
• Knowledge of power management techniques, security frameworks, and real-time optimizations in Linux-based systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex system issues across software and hardware domains.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

"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.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards Resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
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General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, emailus or call us at 800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

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.

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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.

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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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