Principal Software Engineer

Renesas is seeking an accomplished Software Engineer to lead the development and delivery of embedded operating system software and middleware for the Renesas RZ family of ARM-based microprocessors. This role owns the end-to-end software strategy across multiple operating systems—including Linux, Zephyr RTOS, FreeRTOS, and Azure RTOS—as well as the middleware stack that enables RZ platforms across industrial, IoT, automotive, and consumer markets.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in embedded systems, the hardware/software interface, and open-source development practices, combined with proven leadership and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration with SoC architects, product managers, and external partners.

Technical Leadership & Architecture

• Define and own the operating system roadmap and strategy for the Renesas RZ product family, including build-vs-buy decisions, internal development priorities, and partner-driven ports.
• Oversee the enablement, porting, and up streaming of Linux, Zephyr RTOS, FreeRTOS, and Azure RTOS across the RZ SoC portfolio (e.g., RZ/G, RZ/V, RZ/A, RZ/T series).
• Drive the architecture, development, and maintenance of middleware components—including but not limited to graphics frameworks, networking stacks, security libraries, file systems, connectivity (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth), motor control libraries, and multimedia codecs.
• Collaborate closely with SoC architects and hardware teams to ensure silicon designs are well-supported by software, influencing decisions around IOMMU, DMA, interrupt controllers, boot ROM interfaces, and peripheral IP.
• Ensure robust Board Support Package (BSP) development, device tree enablement, and driver development across all supported operating systems.
• Lead upstream contribution strategies to Linux kernel, Zephyr Project, and other open-source communities, maintaining active maintainer/contributor relationships.

Process & Delivery

• Own the software release process for RZ OS offerings, including version management, release notes, quality assurance gates, and customer-facing documentation.
• Drive open-source compliance practices, including license review, SBOM generation, and audit readiness.
• Manage requirement traceability from customer/market needs through implementation and validation.
• Partner with product marketing, field application engineers, and key customers to define requirements, prioritize features, and resolve escalated issues.

Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Identify, establish, and manage relationships with external partners and vendors delivering OS ports, commercial support, or middleware components for RZ platforms.
• Represent Renesas in relevant industry consortia and open-source foundations (e.g., Linux Foundation, Zephyr Project, Eclipse Foundation).
• Engage with strategic customers to understand use‑case requirements and ensure platform software meets market needs.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent. Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of software engineering experience with progressively increasing responsibility, including 5+ years in a technical leadership role.
• Embedded OS Expertise: Deep hands‑on experience with at least two of the following:
  • Linux kernel development (driver development, BSP bring‑up, up streaming)
  • Zephyr RTOS (architecture, device driver model, subsystem contributions)
  • FreeRTOS (porting, configuration, middleware integration)
  • Azure RTOS (ThreadX, FileX, NetX Duo, USBX)
• Hardware/Software Interface: Strong understanding of ARM Cortex‑A and Cortex‑R/M architectures, SoC boot flows, JTAG/debug interfaces, memory‑mapped peripherals, and hardware datasheet interpretation.
• Middleware: Experience with embedded middleware including graphics (Wayland, LVGL), networking (TCP/IP, TLS), connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi), storage, and security components.
• Open‑Source: Demonstrated track record of upstream contributions and compliance management (GPL/BSD/MIT/Apache licensing).
• Tools & Infrastructure: Proficiency with Git, Yocto/Open Embedded, Buildroot, Jenkins or equivalent…