Research Architect - Yocto

Job description:
The Role Mandate
As Research Architect - Yocto for Advanced System Integration, you will design and implement a Yocto-based build and integration platform. You will translate architecture direction into detailed designs and working solutions, standardize Yocto sub-modules, optimize build performance and system images, strengthen CI/CD and LTS adoption, and resolve complex integration issues across Yocto layers, BSPs and embedded Linux subsystems.
Why This Role – What You Gain
Build-platform ownership
Shape core Yocto modules, BitBake workflows and reusable integration patterns.
Measurable engineering impact
Improve build time, image size, reproducibility and developer productivity.
Multi-SoC architecture exposure
Create BSP-independent patterns for scalable platform and SoC onboarding.
Global open-source collaboration
Work with platform teams and upstream Yocto/OpenEmbedded ecosystems.
The Larger Impact
• Advance the webOS build framework toward upstream-aligned, maintainable Yocto/OpenEmbedded architecture.
• Deliver measurable improvements in rootfs or system-image size, build time and engineering efficiency.
• Enable reproducible CI validation, Yocto LTS adoption and scalable BSP-independent multi-SoC support.
• Strengthen technical execution through design reviews, mentoring and evidence-based optimization.
Key Responsibilities
Yocto Architecture and Build Engineering
• Architect and standardize core Yocto/OpenEmbedded sub-modules, including BitBake configurations, recipe design, metadata layers, dependency management and image generation.
• Translate principal-level architecture direction into detailed designs, proof-of-concepts and production-ready implementation across build and integration workflows.
• Design modular, BSP-independent layer structures and reusable patterns that support multiple SoCs and reduce platform-onboarding effort.
• Lead Yocto LTS upgrade and migration activities, assessing layer compatibility, BSP impact, build risks and stabilization needs.
• Prepare and maintain architecture documentation, technical decision records, implementation guidance and engineering best practices.
Optimization, CI/CD and Integration
• Drive build-performance improvements through bottleneck analysis, sstate-cache optimization, parallel-build tuning, artifact reuse and dependency simplification.
• Optimize system-image and rootfs composition through recipe, package, feature and dependency analysis while protecting functionality and stability.
• Architect and implement CI/CD pipelines for automated and reproducible Yocto builds, upstream synchronization, LTS adoption and validation workflows.
• Lead debugging and resolution of complex build, compilation, linker, packaging, bring-up and system-integration failures.
• Troubleshoot embedded Linux graphics and media integration issues, including rendering, playback and hardware-acceleration dependencies.
• Collaborate with platform, BSP, DevOps, QA and product teams, and mentor engineers on Yocto build and integration activities.
How the Role Works
The Advanced System Integration team operates as a high-ownership engineering group. The Research Architect works closely with the Principal Architect and hands-on engineers, connecting architecture with implementation, measurable optimization and platform integration. Decisions are supported by reproducible baselines, technical evidence, code reviews and cross-functional design alignment.
Mandatory Skills and Experience͏
8-11 years of software engineering experience in Embedded Linux, build systems and system integration.
3+ years of hands-on Yocto/OpenEmbedded experience covering BitBake, recipes, metadata layers and build configuration.
Experience creating detailed architecture and design for build or integration platforms and guiding implementation teams.
Strong Embedded Linux product-development and system-internals knowledge for build and integration debugging.
Hands-on experience in build-time optimization, bottleneck analysis, sstate-cache strategy, parallel builds and dependency optimization.
Experience building CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or Git-based workflows.
Strong Python, Bash/Shell scripting and Git skills.
C/C++ background to trace, debug and patch compilation, linker and system-level failures.
Ability to mentor engineers and collaborate across platform, BSP and product teams.
Preferred / Good to Have͏
Experience with open-source contribution workflows for Yocto, OpenEmbedded, BitBake or Linux.
Experience with Yocto LTS upgrades, upstream synchronization and large-scale platform migration.
Experience with CMake, Bazel, ccache, distcc or Icecream in large build environments.
Experience on consumer-electronics, TV, STB, automotive or another resource-constrained embedded platform.
Educational Qualification͏
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electronics, Embedded Systems, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
What Success Looks Like͏
• Core Yocto sub-modules, recipes, metadata and dependency workflows are standardized and maintainable.
• Build-time and system-image improvements are demonstrated against reproducible baselines without critical regression.
• CI/CD pipelines and validation workflows improve build reliability, traceability and Yocto LTS adoption.
• BSP-independent architecture and reusable integration patterns improve multi-SoC scalability.
• Complex build and integration issues are resolved through structured root-cause analysis and technical leadership.

Work arrangement
No