Principal Linux Driver Engineer

Renesas is one of the top global semiconductor companies in the world. We strive to develop a safer, healthier, greener, and smarter world, and our goal is to make every endpoint intelligent by offering product solutions in the automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT markets. Our robust product portfolio includes world-leading MCUs, SoCs, analog and power products, plus Winning Combination solutions that curate these complementary products. We are a key supplier to the world’s leading manufacturers of electronics you rely on every day; you may not see our products, but they are all around you.

Renesas employs roughly 21,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide. As a global team, our employees actively embody the Renesas Culture, our guiding principles based on five key elements: Transparent, Agile, Global, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial. Renesas believes in, and has a commitment to, diversity and inclusion, with initiatives and a leadership team dedicated to its resources and values. At Renesas, we want to build a sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. Join us and build your future by being part of what’s next in electronics and the world.

Responsibilities

Driver Development & Maintenance : Design, develop, debug, and optimize Linux kernel drivers to ensure high performance and stability.; Architecture Design : Participate in system architecture discussions and propose driver-level solutions to optimize hardware-software interaction.; Performance Optimization : Analyze system bottlenecks, perform kernel performance profiling, and optimize I/O, memory management, and interrupt handling.; Issue Resolution : Troubleshoot complex kernel issues, provide root cause analysis, and deliver effective fixes for internal teams and customers.; Cross-functional Collaboration : Work closely with hardware, firmware, and application teams to ensure driver compatibility and system reliability.; Customer Support : Assist customers in deploying company products, provide technical guidance, and resolve driver-related issues in production environments.; Product Testing : Participate in product feature validation and system integration testing to ensure driver stability and compatibility on target platforms.; Technical Leadership : Act as a subject matter expert, mentor team members, and drive best practices and code quality standards.

Requirements

Education : Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.; Experience :; 5+ years of Linux kernel or driver development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior technical role (Staff or above).; Strong understanding of Linux kernel architecture, device model, memory management, and synchronization mechanisms.; Skills :; Proficient in C programming and familiar with kernel debugging tools (e.g., gdb, perf, ftrace).; Deep knowledge of bus protocols such as PCIe, USB, I2C, SPI, and related driver development.; Familiar with Git and CI/CD workflows, with strong awareness of coding standards.; Soft Skills :; Excellent communication skills and ability to lead in cross-functional teams.; Strong problem-solving and systematic thinking capabilities.; Customer-oriented mindset with experience in technical support or field deployment.

Nice to have

Experience with ARM or x86 platform driver development.; Hands-on experience with OpenBMC development or maintenance.; Contributions to Linux kernel community or open-source projects.; Hardware bring-up experience and ability to interpret hardware specifications.