Linux Platform & HLOS Stack Developer, Senior/Staff

Job Title

Linux Platform & HLOS Stack Developer, Senior/Staff

Role Summary

Develop and maintain custom Linux-based software stacks for Qualcomm SoCs and development platforms. Work on kernel development, device drivers, boot firmware integration, platform bring-up, and low-level debugging to enable stable, observable platform operation.

Collaborate with silicon, firmware, validation, and software teams to diagnose integration issues and deliver tooling and automation that improve platform stability and engineering productivity.

Experience Level

Senior. Preferably 5+ years of experience in Linux kernel development, embedded Linux, or platform enablement; equivalent practical experience considered.

Responsibilities

Principal responsibilities include platform bring-up, debugging, and tooling for Linux-based SoC platforms.

• Enable and maintain a custom Linux software stack for platform enablement, validation, and characterization.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize kernel drivers and low-level platform software.
• Debug complex issues spanning hardware, firmware, bootloaders, kernel, and userspace.
• Create and maintain Device Tree configurations and platform-specific software components.
• Design and implement telemetry, monitoring, and automation tools for system observability and diagnostics.
• Build tooling that interacts with hardware debuggers and platform interfaces to collect and analyze system data.
• Collaborate with silicon, firmware, performance, and validation teams to identify root causes and resolve platform issues.
• Develop workflows and tools to improve platform stability, usability, and engineering productivity.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution.

• Strong understanding of Linux internals: scheduling, memory management, interrupts, filesystems, and system initialization.
• Proficiency in C and ARM assembly; experience with Linux build systems.
• Proven experience in Linux kernel development, debugging, and customization.
• Knowledge of SoC boot flows, bootloaders, firmware, and Linux bring-up.
• Experience with Linux Device Tree development and board/platform configuration.
• Hands-on hardware-debugging experience (JTAG, Lauterbach Trace32 or equivalent) and low-level debugging techniques.
• Scripting for automation and tooling (Python, Bash, or similar).
• Familiarity with Git, CI/CD workflows, and modern software development practices.
• Experience with filesystem management, image creation/modification, flashing, and software deployment.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience developing telemetry, observability, or performance monitoring solutions for embedded or high-performance systems.
• Post-silicon validation, hardware bring-up, or platform performance analysis experience.
• Experience building tools that integrate with hardware debuggers for automated data collection and analysis.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Science, Engineering, or a related technical field. The posting also accepts equivalent practical experience; examples include: Bachelor's + 4+ years, Master's + 3+ years, or PhD + 2+ years of relevant experience as alternative pathways.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.