Staff Software Engineer – Compute Systems Software (Embedded OS)

Job Description

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 GM’s 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 GM’s in-vehicle compute systems. You’ll 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.

You’ll 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 GM’s 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 GM’s 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 GM’s hybrid work guidelines for engineering roles.

Responsibilities

• Embedded Linux platform development

  
  -

  Design, implement, and

  maintain

  Linux kernel modules, device drivers, BSP components, and low-level system services for in-vehicle compute platforms.

• Yocto

  and build systems
  -

  Configure and extend

  Yocto-based embedded Linux distributions

  ;

  maintain

  build metadata, layers, and recipes used to produce production images.
  -

  Own and refine

  build systems

  to ensure deterministic, scalable builds for multiple programs and variants.

• Performance, optimization, and debugging

  
  -

  Profile and

  optimize

  CPU, 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 to

  maintain

  code 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 Linux

  expertise

  across 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.,

  Qualcomm

  and other ARM SoC partners) to integrate new platforms, debug vendor issues, and

  optimize

  SoC capabilities for GM vehicles.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s 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

• Master’s 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 $217,000 and $275,000. 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.





This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.



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

.

Accommodations

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,

email

us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. 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.