Senior Embedded Android / AOSP Engineer

We are seeking a full-time Embedded Android / AOSP Engineer at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area. In this role, you will be responsible for providing technical leadership and software development across embedded Android platform engineering and Android application development for Garmin products.

Essential Functions

• Serves in a leadership capacity as an individual contributor for carrying out embedded Android platform development, including OS integration, system image customization, and platform stability across the product lifecycle
• May serve as a Lead Software Engineer for complex software development project designs and/or reviews architected modules and software systems supporting new technology or improving capability/performance of existing functionality
• Leads and executes AOSP build configuration and Android version migration efforts
• Develops and maintains system-level components including init scripts, system services, and device-specific configurations within the AOSP build system (Soong / Make)
• Designs and implements robust inter-process communication mechanisms (e.g., service-based IPC, shared memory patterns) to enable reliable and low-latency communication across system components
• Leads root cause analysis and resolution of complex system issues, including memory leaks, deadlocks, ANRs, concurrency issues, and boot-time performance
• Identifies architectural gaps and inefficiencies within the platform and drives scalable, long-term solutions aligned with product and organizational needs
• Develops and maintains Android applications using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, contributing to feature development on consumer-facing surfaces
• Evaluates and documents differences between AOSP and standard Android platform capabilities, identifying gaps in services, APIs, or system components and driving solutions appropriate for the target device environment
• Collaborates closely with device QA, firmware, and mobile application teams to diagnose and resolve platform-level issues including build pipeline integrity and OS update mechanisms
• Serves as a subject matter expert for embedded Android platform development within the engineering organization
• Decomposes functional requirements into well-defined tasks
• Researches fundamental problems and implements algorithm solutions that are appropriate
• Offers peer technical assessments in areas of expertise, new technologies and software designs
• Participates in project leadership and/or program planning including providing technical input to product development plans and concept documents
• Makes substantial contributions toward determination of project goal/objective feasibility and applies good judgment in setting schedules/risk taking
• Mentors and provides guidance to less experienced Software Engineers (1 & 2)
• Contributes to advanced technical research on new technologies
• Offers process improvement suggestions and authors new procedures as appropriate
• Provides reliable solutions to a wide range of difficult problems using sound problem solving techniques

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Math, Physics or related field AND a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
• Demonstrated proficiency with Android Open Source Project (AOSP): build system (Soong/Make), system image customization, and platform-level component development
• Hands-on experience with Android version migrations on real hardware, including BSP bring-up, and validation against target device constraints
• Solid understanding of Android OS internals: init system, Binder IPC, system services, permissions model, and OTA update mechanisms
• Proficiency in Java and/or Kotlin with demonstrated experience in Android application development using Jetpack Compose
• Ability to diagnose and resolve platform-level issues across the stack, from build artifacts through OS runtime behavior
• Demonstrated proficiency with designing well architected software systems and modules that support new technology or improve capability/performance of existing functionality
• Demonstrated competence with researching fundamental problems and implementing appropriate algorithmic solutions
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a lead software engineer for a complex software project
• Ability to decompose functional requirements into well-defined tasks while balancing quality, quantity, and complexity in work output
• Demonstrated capability to offer peer technical assessments in areas of expertise, new technologies and software designs
• Mastered proficiency in writing software in Kotlin and/or Java, with experience in C or C++ in a systems context, and relevant experience and/or training in data structures or object-oriented design methodology
• Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Must be positive, detail oriented, organized, team oriented and a driven problem solver, multi-tasker, and self-starter with the ability to prioritize and lead in a fast paced, deadline-driven environment

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing for GMS-free or AOSP-only device environments, including familiarity with common platform capability gaps and strategies for addressing them
• Hands-on experience developing or modifying Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) components
• Experience with embedded Linux or Android-based consumer hardware products, particularly in constrained device environments
• Familiarity with OTA update frameworks (e.g., Android Update Engine) and release signing infrastructure
• Experience with C or C++ in a systems or platform context
• Familiarity with device QA workflows and automated test frameworks (e.g., CTS, VTS)
• Experience contributing to cross-functional teams spanning hardware, firmware, and software disciplines
• Prior experience working in a consumer mobile application codebase alongside embedded platform work
• An interest or passion for Golf is preferred

Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.

This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits