Sr. Embedded Linux & Platform Engineer

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions‑free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

As a Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader in the development of next‑generation charging products. You will architect and implement full‑stack embedded Linux solutions—from low‑level BSP and kernel drivers to scalable Yocto distributions and automated CI/CD pipelines. By bridging the gap between hardware enablement and secure cloud‑ready applications, you will ensure our platforms are highly automated, secure, and optimized for large‑scale manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Core Platform & BSP Architecture
  • Define the full lifecycle of BSP development, including bootloader (U‑Boot/Barebox) customization and Linux kernel tuning for ARM architectures.
  • Work directly with hardware engineers to perform initial board bring‑up, debugging signal integrity and power management using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
  • Develop and maintain high‑performance kernel drivers and customize Device Trees to support proprietary hardware peripherals.
• Yocto & Build System Leadership
  • Architect modular, scalable Yocto/OpenEmbedded layers that support multiple hardware variants from a single codebase.
  • Implement advanced Bitbake techniques (shared state caches, PR servers) to reduce build times and ensure reproducible releases.
  • Build and distribute cross‑compilation toolchains and QEMU environments to enable “hardware‑less” application development.
• Automation First DevOps & CI/CD
  • Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines (GitLab/GitHub Actions) that automate image generation and license compliance checks.
  • Architect automated testing rigs that flash builds onto physical hardware and run functional tests (LAVA/Pytest) without human intervention.
  • Develop software for contract manufacturers used in factory provisioning, unique device identification, and automated end‑of‑line functional testing.
• Security & Lifecycle Management
  • Implement a Chain of Trust using NXP HAB or TI Secure Boot, alongside encrypted filesystems and OP‑TEE.
  • Design and manage fail‑safe, A/B partitioned update systems (e.g., Mender, RAUC) to ensure maximum uptime for field devices.
  • Automate the generation of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) to ensure audit‑ready documentation and security tracking.
• Systems & Application Programming
  • Develop high‑performance middleware and system services in C/C++ that interface directly with hardware.
  • Bridge the gap between low‑level drivers and high‑level applications, ensuring efficient data flow and resource management.
  • Optimize root filesystems and boot times to meet sub‑second “Time‑to‑First‑Frame” requirements.
• Design for Manufacturing & Provisioning
  • Architect the “First‑Boot” process and develop automated tools for MAC address assignment, serial number injection, and hardware verification.
  • Collaborate with hardware designers to ensure test points and debug interfaces are accessible for automated test fixtures (JTAG/Bed‑of‑Nails).
  • Implement automated injection of unique device identities (X.509 certificates) and secure keys during the manufacturing flow.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 4+ years of industry experience developing C/C++ based applications on embedded Linux.
• 2+ years of experience with build tools such as Make and CMake.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using languages such as Bash or Python.
• Deep experience in microcontroller development with a native understanding of I2C, SPI, UART, and SDIO.
• Experience with implementing CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, etc.
• A proven passion for low‑level Linux development and a “CLI‑first” mindset.
• The stamina to navigate 6,000+ page SoC reference manuals without hesitation.
• A genuine curiosity and a track record of being a lifelong learner.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with Buildroot and/or Yocto‑based build systems for embedded devices.
• Experience in kernel driver development.
• Hands‑on experience with containerization technologies like Docker.
• Experience with web‑based communication protocols, especially gRPC and WebSockets.
• Experience working with CAN and Modbus communication interfaces.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies and using tracking tools like Jira and JAMA.
• Experience with designing software to meet functional safety e.g., UL1998, UL5500, etc.

Where You’ll Work

Department: Charging & Energy

Location: California (Torrance, Irvine, Palo Alto)

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for Southern California Based Candidates: $135,100 – $168,900 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Salary Range for Northern California Based Candidates: $146,900 – $183,600 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary

Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment. Part‑Time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.