Build and own the embedded Linux platform for AI-enabled robots using NVIDIA Jetson systems. Responsibilities include Linux customization, bootloader and kernel integration, OTA update infrastructure, hardware-software co-design, reliability testing, diagnostics, fleet monitoring, developer tooling, and platform security. The role requires close collaboration with electrical, robotics, and AI teams and involves debugging across the full embedded stack.
About Us
ART Lab (AI Robot Technology) is building novel and unexpected endpoints for AI in everyday spaces. We believe that in the AI revolution, we won't only be accessing intelligence through glass screens on our desks and in our pockets. ART Lab has invented a new type of AI model called VLIs - vision-language-interaction models - that can be used to power human-robot interactions across a range of robots. The team has backgrounds at Amazon (robotics), Apple, Logitech, Google (AI and robotics) and Humans since 1982. The company is advised by leaders from Stanford, LEGO, Nike, and Google.
The Role
We're seeking a Platform Engineer to build and own the embedded software platform that powers our AI-enabled robots. You'll work at the critical intersection of hardware and software, customizing Linux systems on NVIDIA Jetson platforms and building the infrastructure that enables our robots to reliably run AI models, control hardware, and update seamlessly in the field.
This is a foundational role where you'll make architectural decisions that affect every part of our product. You'll collaborate closely with our electrical engineering team to optimize the full hardware-software stack, and with our robotics and AI teams to ensure the platform can handle real-time perception, control, and inference workloads. If you love working close to the metal and want to build production-grade embedded systems for consumer robotics, this is the role for you.
What You'll Do
- Linux Platform Development: Customize and optimize Linux distributions for our NVIDIA Jetson-based compute platforms, tuning for performance, power efficiency, and reliability
- Jetson System Integration: Configure, customize, and optimize Jetson developer kits to meet our exact hardware and software requirements—from bootloaders to kernel modules
- OTA Update Infrastructure: Design and implement robust over-the-air software update systems for deployed robots, including rollback mechanisms, delta updates, and failure recovery
- Hardware-Software Co-design: Work directly with electrical engineers to optimize board bring-up, driver integration, and system-level performance
- System Reliability: hardware-in-the-loop test automations, on-device logging and diagnostics, fleet health monitoring to ensure product performance and reliability.
- Developer Experience: Create tooling and workflows that make it easy for AI and robotics engineers to develop, build, test, and deploy on the platform
- Security and Hardening: Implement security measures including secure boot, device authentication, and software lockdown to prevent unauthorized access and protect against penetration
Who You Are
Required:
- 3-5+ years of experience in embedded Linux development or platform engineering
- Deep expertise in Linux system internals: kernel configuration, device drivers, boot processes, and system services
- Strong C/C++ and Python skills
- Experience with embedded hardware platforms and working close to hardware
- Excellent debugging skills across the full stack—from bootloader to application layer
- Self-directed and comfortable with ambiguity—you can take ownership of complex problems and drive them to completion
- Based in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area
Preferred:
- Experience with NVIDIA Jetson platforms (Nano, Xavier, Orin)—a big plus if you've customized Jetson systems for production
- Built OTA update systems or worked on remote device management
- Background in consumer electronics, robotics, or IoT devices
- Experience with containerization (Docker), orchestration, or edge computing frameworks
- Familiarity with real-time systems, RTOS, or low-latency requirements
- Shipped a product that required custom Linux distributions or BSP development
- Understanding of power management, thermal considerations, and hardware constraints
This Role Might Not Be For You If:
- You prefer application-level software development over systems programming
- You're not comfortable working directly with hardware teams and debugging across electrical/software boundaries
- You need fully defined requirements and established infrastructure
- You're looking for a remote-only position
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