Embedded Systems Engineer (Linux), AI Systems

Building the core software stack for a local AI computer.

We’re inviting an experienced, Embedded Systems Engineer to join our core team at Mother, building our first computer, the Mother I. We are looking for a self-starter who is a highly motivated and autonomous operator to join us at our Mountain View office.

What is Mother?

We are tool builders. Our mission is to create tools that enable endless creativity and amplify our inherent human abilities.

What is Mother I?

Too much of today’s AI compute is concentrated in the hands of a few large companies. We believe in local and open-source AI—your AI should truly be your own.

Mother I is an AI supercomputer designed to run a wide range of open-source models locally. At its core is a software stack that makes it remarkably easy to run models and perform powerful tasks—directly on your own machine.

Tech you'll use:

• Rust
• Linux
• systemd-nspawn, cgroups, seccomp, namespaces
• Secure Boot, TPM
• LUKS2, dm-crypt
• WireGuard

You will:

• Build foundational systems software using Rust for a secure, AI-optimized Linux workstation
• Develop and maintain sandboxing and process isolation using systemd-nspawn, Linux namespaces, and containerization primitives
• Architect and develop a secure onboarding process using technologies such as Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
• Implement encrypted storage and user data protection mechanisms with integrity checks and access control enforcement
• Design and deploy zero-trust networking layers to enable secure multi-user and multi-workload environments
• Contribute to the full stack: kernel parameters, init flows, system services, and user-facing tooling for workload execution
• Help shape internal security posture and contribute to OS-level hardening, thread modeling, and response automation

You have:

• 4+ years of experience building low-level systems software or secure infrastructure using Rust, C, or C++
• Hands-on experience with system-level Linux programming, especially around namespaces, capabilities, seccomp, or cgroups
• Experience working with Secure Boot, UEFI, TPM 2.0, or similar trusted execution environments
• A clear understanding of cryptographic storage, disk encryption, and filesystem integrity
• Familiarity with systemd, bootloaders, and Linux init systems
• Strong problem-solving skills in building reliable systems under constraints of performance, security, and maintainability
• Even better
• Passion for building, bias for action, and are excited by uncertainty
• You are autonomous and adaptable – own the work, move fast, react quickly
• You’ve built secure boot pipelines end-to-end in high-security environments such as banking or defense
• You’ve worked with ASRock / ASUS or similar workstation x86 hardware and built provisioning flows for Linux devices
• Experience designing secure-by-default user onboarding and provisioning experiences
• Knowledge of distributed systems and zero-trust networking frameworks, e.g., WireGuard
• Contributions to open-source projects in systems, security, or platform tooling