Principal Open Source Technologist

Calsoft Labs

Austin, TX(remote)

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Aerospace and Defense, C Programming Language, C++ Programming Language, Code Reviews, Communication Skills, Community Relations, Computer Science, Conferences, Develop and Maintain Customers, Device Drivers, Ecosystems, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Linux, Embedded Systems, Engineering, Git, ISO (International Organization for Standardization), Kernel Programming, Leadership, Licensing Compliance, Linux Kernel, Linux Operating System, Linux System Internals/Programming, Mentoring, Open Source, Open Source Licenses, Performance Metrics, Plumbing, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Process Improvement, Publications, Realtime Operating System, Safety Standards, Software Engineering, Software Patches, Source Code/Configuration Management (SCM), Systems/Internals Programming, Technical Leadership, Technical Publications, Thought Leadership

LOCATION

Austin, TX(remote)

POSTED

30+ days ago

Position: Principal Open Source Technologist
Location: Austin, TX (Remote)

About the Opportunity
The Principal Open Source Technologist is a senior technical leadership role focused on open source strategy, community engagement, and technical excellence in open source projects. This role drives client's open source initiatives, represents the company in open source communities, and ensures our contributions align with business objectives while advancing the open source ecosystem.
In your daily job you will:

Open Source Strategy & Leadership

Develop and execute client's open source strategy and roadmap
Identify strategic open source projects and communities for engagement
Drive technical vision for open source contributions and initiatives
Represent the client in open source communities and working groups
Influence open source project direction and technical decisions
Build relationships with key open source maintainers and contributors

Technical Contributions

Lead significant contributions to open source projects (Linux kernel, Yocto Project, etc.)
Design and implement features that benefit both client and the open source community
Review and approve open source contributions from client's engineers
Ensure code quality and adherence to open source project standards
Maintain upstream patches and ensure compatibility with upstream projects
Drive upstream-first development practices

Community Engagement

Actively participate in open source communities and mailing lists
Present at open source conferences and events (Linux Plumbers, FOSDEM, etc.)
Organize and lead open source community events and meetups
Build and maintain relationships with open source community leaders
Mentor engineers on open source contribution practices
Foster a culture of open source contribution within the client

How You Will Contribute
Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are:
Open Source Project Areas

Linux Kernel

Contribute to Linux kernel development and maintenance
Address kernel features relevant to embedded systems
Work on device drivers, subsystems, and core kernel functionality
Ensure the client kernel patches are upstream-ready

Yocto Project

Lead contributions to Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded
Drive features and improvements for embedded Linux builds
Participate in Yocto Project technical steering
Mentor Yocto Project contributors

Required Qualifications

Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
12+ years of software engineering experience
8+ years of experience with embedded Linux or systems programming
5+ years of active open source contribution experience
Proven track record of significant open source contributions
Experience as a maintainer or core contributor to major open source projects

Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ and systems programming
Deep understanding of Linux kernel architecture and development
Extensive experience with embedded systems and real-time systems
Strong knowledge of open source development practices and tools
Experience with Git and distributed version control
Expertise in code review and open source contribution workflows
Understanding of open source licensing and compliance
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis - without requirement for any type of visa sponsorship/transfer, now, or at any time in future. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Must be a local resident of Greater Austin, TX, with ability to work on campus.

Leadership & Communication

Exceptional technical communication skills
Strong public speaking and presentation abilities

Preferred Qualifications

Maintainer or core contributor status in major open source projects
Extensive Yocto Project experience and leadership
Significant Linux kernel contributions and recognition
Experience in safety-critical industries (aerospace, automotive, medical)
Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262, DO-178C, etc.)
Open source project governance experience
Industry recognition (awards, keynote speaking, etc.)
Published technical papers or articles on open source topics
Key Performance Indicators
Open source contribution quality and impact
Community engagement and relationship building
Strategic open source project participation
Upstream contribution acceptance rate
Conference presentations and speaking engagements
Mentoring and development of open source contributors
Open source strategy execution
Industry recognition and thought leadership

About the Company

Calsoft Labs

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