Staff Software Engineer – Compute Systems Software (Embedded OS)

The Vehicle Experiences Engine (VEE) at GM is transforming how millions of people interact with their vehicles by building the software engines behind next-generation digital experiences. At the core of this transformation is the Compute Systems Software team the group that delivers the foundational embedded platform for GMs software-defined vehicles.

As a Staff Software Engineer Compute Systems Software (Embedded OS) you will lead the design development and debugging of the embedded Linux platform that powers GMs in-vehicle compute systems. Youll work across the Linux kernel board support packages (BSP) device drivers and core frameworks on modern ARM-based SoCs using C and classic UNIX/Linux tooling to deliver high-performance highly reliable compute in production vehicles.

Youll report to the Software Engineering Manager Compute Systems Software and collaborate closely with partners across Android Automotive OS multimedia connectivity and system frameworks to deliver platform capabilities that scale globally across GMs vehicle portfolio. This role requires strong technical leadership broad system-level judgment and the ability to influence architecture execution and engineering standards across teams.

About the Role

In this role you will be a hands-on engineer working at the intersection of embedded Linux automotive compute and classic UNIX tooling.

You will:

Own critical pieces of the compute platform from kernel configuration and BSP integration to device drivers and system services for GMs digital cockpit and vehicle compute systems.

Build and maintain Yocto-based embedded Linux distributions and associated build pipelines that ship on high-volume vehicle programs.

Drive system performance optimization and complex debugging using low-level tools (e.g. perf ftrace gdb tracing/profiling) to diagnose issues across software and hardware boundaries.

Work deeply in Linux/UNIX environments living at the command line automating workflows with shell and Python and refining build systems (Make and related tools) to keep the platform reliable and reproducible.

Partner with Qualcomm and other silicon vendors to bring up new SoCs integrate vendor deliverables and tune platform features for GM-specific use cases.

Provide technical leadership within the team mentoring others and helping drive engineering standards and best practices across the stack.

This role is hybrid with regular onsite collaboration at a GM technical center consistent with GMs hybrid work guidelines for engineering roles.

Responsibilities

• Embedded Linux platform development
  - Design implement andmaintainLinux kernel modules device drivers BSP components and low-level system services for in-vehicle compute platforms.

• Yoctoand build systems
  - Configure and extendYocto-based embedded Linux distributions;maintainbuild metadata layers and recipes used to produce production images.
  - Own and refinebuild systemsto ensure deterministic scalable builds for multiple programs and variants.

• Performance optimization and debugging
  - Profile andoptimizeCPU memory I/O and thermal behavior across the embedded stack to meet stringent automotive performance and reliability requirements.
  - Lead complex debugging and root-cause analysis using command-line tools logs and traces to resolve issues that span hardware kernel drivers and user space.

• Engineering systems & quality
  - Contribute to and improve CI/CD pipelines automated testing and validation strategies for platform software ensuring high-quality regression-resistant releases.
  - Use Git/GitHub and code review best practices tomaintaincode quality and traceability across a multi-team environment.

• Technical leadership & collaboration
  - Mentor and support other engineers through design reviews code reviews and hands-on pairing helping grow embedded Linuxexpertiseacross the team.
  - Collaborate with Android Automotive OS multimedia connectivity safety and systems teams to deliver integrated solutions that work end-to-end in the vehicle.

• Vendor and cross-company partnership
  - Work directly with silicon vendors (e.g.Qualcommand other ARM SoC partners) to integrate new platforms debug vendor issues andoptimizeSoC capabilities for GM vehicles.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field; or equivalent practical experience.

• 10 years of professional experience in embedded systems or kernel-level software development including delivering production software in the automotive industry or similarly complex embedded domains.

• Deep expertise with embedded Linux on ARM-based SoCs including several of:

• Linux kernel subsystems kernel configuration and low-level system behavior

• Device driver development and debugging

• BSP integration bootloaders board bring-up and device-tree configuration

• Hardware abstraction and enablement for new boards and peripherals

• Strong hands-on experience with Yocto (or comparable embedded Linux build systems) and a track record of shipping commercial embedded Linux deployments.

• Demonstrated strength in system performance optimization and complex debugging with the ability to lead root-cause analysis across hardware kernel drivers middleware and user space.

• Strong experience with build systems and development tooling including:

• Make-based build flows and associated tooling

• Git/GitHub and high-quality code review practices

• CI/CD pipelines automated testing and release-quality engineering for platform software

• Core languages: strong proficiency in C plus practical experience with Make Python and shell scripting (e.g. Bash) for automation tooling and debugging.

• Demonstrated technical leadership through architecture direction mentoring design and code reviews and driving execution across cross-functional teams.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence technical decisions align partner teams and explain complex system-level topics clearly.

• Experience working directly with silicon vendors or strategic platform partners (e.g. Qualcomm) to integrate deliverables resolve issues and optimize platform capabilities.

Desired Skills

• Masters degree in Computer Science Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field.
• Experience contributing to or upstreaming changes in the Linux kernel or related open-source projects.
• Familiarity with Android Automotive OS HAL integration and multimedia pipelines (audio video camera graphics).
• Exposure to automotive safety concepts (e.g. ISO 26262 ASIL safety islands health monitoring frameworks).
• Deep comfort working in Linux/UNIX command-line environments using classic tooling (shell core utilities gdb perf strace etc.) to diagnose and resolve issues in complex systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership: mentoring peers leading cross-team debugging efforts and driving platform-wide improvements in reliability performance and developer experience.

Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of the California Bay Area.

The base salary range for this role is $217000 and $275000. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance job level and individual performance.

Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical dental vision Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts retirement savings plan sickness and accident benefits life insurance paid vacation & holidays tuition assistance programs employee assistance program GM vehicle discounts and more.