Staff Linux Kernel Driver Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA, United States

We're Cruise, a self-driving service designed for the cities we love.

We’re building the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles to safely connect people to the places, things, and experiences they care about. We believe self-driving vehicles will help save lives, reshape cities, give back time in transit, and restore freedom of movement for many.

In our cars, you’re free to be yourself. It’s the same here at Cruise. We’re creating a culture that values the experiences and contributions of all of the unique individuals who collectively make up Cruise, so that every employee can do their best work.

Cruise is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, both in our workplace and in our products. If you are looking to play a part in making a positive impact in the world by advancing the revolutionary work of self-driving cars, come join us. Even if you might not meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply. You might just be the right candidate for us.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Linux Kernel Driver Technical Lead to join our silicon systems team. As the Tech Lead, you will play a crucial role in developing and leading the implementation of Linux kernel drivers for automotive chips with a focus on network switching, PCIe, image sensors,  machine learning accelerators, and specifically on ARM CPUs. Your expertise will ensure efficient and reliable driver integration, optimization, and functionality across these technologies. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge automotive and embedded systems advancements.

What you’ll be doing:

Lead a team of software engineers in designing, developing, and maintaining silicon validation focussed Linux kernel drivers.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define driver requirements and specifications, including SOC architects, hardware, and Firmware Engineers.

Design, implement, and debug Linux kernel drivers targeting automotive chips for areas such as network switching, PCIe, image sensors, and machine learning accelerators specifically targeting ARM CPUs

Perform driver integration, optimization, and testing to ensure high performance, stability, and compatibility with the target ARM-based hardware platforms.

Work closely with the Embedded system team to port the driver to the production repository and provide a testing infrastructure.

Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and support to team members, fostering their professional growth and promoting a collaborative work environment.

Conduct code reviews and ensure adherence to coding standards, best practices, and software quality guidelines.

Participate in evaluating and selecting tools, frameworks, and technologies to enhance the driver development process on ARM CPU architectures.

Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends in Ethernet switch technologies, PCie, and Sensors related to embedded systems.

What you must have:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 15+ years of experience

Extensive experience (at least ten years) in Linux kernel driver development and Linux kernel internals.

Proven experience as a technical lead, leading and managing software development projects.

Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with automotive chips, network switching, PCIe, image sensors, and machine learning accelerators, specifically on ARM CPU

Proficiency in programming languages such as C and C++ and familiarity with scripting languages like Python.

Solid understanding of embedded systems and device drivers, with expertise in Linux kernel architecture and device models.

Familiarity with low-level hardware interfaces, bus protocols (e.g., SPI, I2C, CANFD), and protocols (e.g., Ethernet, PCIe)

Experience with kernel debugging tools, performance profiling, and optimization techniques.

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze and debug complex system-level issues.

Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Bonus points!

Experience with automotive software development standards and safety-critical systems.

Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and related scheduling techniques.

The salary range for this position is $161,500 - $237,500. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. You may also be offered a bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. These ranges are subject to change.

Why Cruise?

Our benefits are here to support the whole you:

Competitive salary and benefits

401(k) Cruise matching program

Medical / dental / vision, AD+D and Life

Subsidized mental health benefits

Flexible vacation and company paid holidays

Healthy meals and snacks available for non-remote employees

Paid parental, jury duty, bereavement, family care, and medical leave

Fertility Benefits

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Flexible Spending Account

Pre-tax Commuter Benefit Plan for non-remote employees

CruiseFlex, a working policy for US-Based Cruisers, lets you and your manager find the working style that’s best for you, whether it’s primarily in-person, primarily at home, or a combination of home and in-office time. - learn more about CruiseFlex here

We’re Integrated

Through our partnerships with General Motors and Honda, we are the only self-driving company with fully integrated manufacturing at scale.

We’re Funded

GM, Honda, Microsoft, T. Rowe Price, and Walmart have invested billions in Cruise. Their backing for our technology demonstrates their confidence in our progress, team, and vision and makes us one of the leading autonomous vehicle organizations in the industry. Our deep resources greatly accelerate our operating speed.

We’re Independent

We have our own governance, board of directors, equity, and investors. Our independence allows us to not just work on the edge of technology, but also define it.

We’re Vested

You won’t just own your work here, you’ll have the potential to own equity in Cruise, too. We are competing in a market that is projected to grow exponentially, which gives our company valuation room to grow. We offer a new kind of equity program called Recurring Liquidity Opportunity (RLO), which combines IPO-like liquidity with the stability of remaining private - learn more about RLO here

We’re Safety Conscious

We integrate #staysafe, our top priority at Cruise, into our everyday work. Through our Safety Management System, every Cruiser is asked to do their part by reporting any potential issues or hazards they observe and making continuous improvements. You’ll be able to contribute to safety at Cruise, no matter your job function or title.

Cruise LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where contributions are valued and celebrated, and our employees thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do the best work of their lives. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, caste, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, or disability. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on these or other protected categories or social identities. Cruise will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable laws.

Cruise is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know or email [email protected] .

We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. To help us track the effectiveness and inclusivity of our recruiting efforts, please consider answering the following demographic questions. Answering these questions is entirely voluntary. Your answers to these questions will not be shared with the hiring decision makers and will not impact the hiring decision in any way. Instead, Cruise will use this information not only to comply with any government reporting obligations but also to track our progress toward meeting our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging objectives.

Candidates applying for roles that operate and remotely operate the AV:  Licensed to drive a motor vehicle in the U.S. for the three years immediately preceding your application, currently holding an active in-state regular driver’s license or equivalent, and no more than one point on driving record. A successful completion of a background check, drug screen and DMV Motor Vehicle Record check is also required.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Cruise does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Furthermore, Cruise does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.