System Engineer | Researcher

About NIO

NIO is a pioneer and leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market, founded in November 2014 with a mission to shape a joyful lifestyle through smart electric vehicles and associated technologies.

We are seeking a Staff System Engineer | Researcher to join our SkyOS team. The team designs and develops NIO's full-domain vehicle operating systems. The role explores new ideas and designs to make systems software faster, more dependable, and intelligent, from proof of concept to final production quality. You will work across kernel, networking, file system, drivers, hypervisor, libc, build system, and more, optimizing from high-level architecture to assembly instructions, turning research ideas into production products, shaping future systems software for intelligent EVs.

• Conduct original research on systems software, including OS kernel, file systems, and networking to improve system performance and dependability.
• Design and implement or rearchitect system components to fulfill performance and safety goals.
• Define long‑term systems software architecture and roadmap in the smart EV domain.
• Work with engineering teams to put research outcomes into real‑world deployments.

• Master or Ph.D. in computer science/engineering or related fields.
• Research experience in operating systems, virtualization, and system security.
• In‑depth knowledge of computer architecture.
• Expertise in at least one of the following architectures: x86, ARM, RISC‑V.
• Proficiency in C, assembly, and Rust.
• Ability to understand, organize, and improve the code of complex system software.
• Ability to diagnose and solve complex system issues.
• Independent research capability and strong collaboration skills.
• Accurate and concise communication.

• Ph.D. in computer science/engineering or related fields, or a Ph.D. candidate expected to graduate within 6–12 months.
• Publications in top system conferences such as SOSP, OSDI, Euro Sys, DSN, ASPLOS.
• Experience building system software from scratch (kernel, OS, hypervisor, file system, or network stack).
• Hands‑on experience in microkernels and multiserver operating systems.
• Familiarity with formal verification methods.

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $ - $. Pay is determined by location and factors such as skills, experience, and education.

• Health plans:
  Anthem Blue Cross, HSA, and Kaiser HMO with $0 for employee‑only coverage.
• Dental (including orthodontic) and vision plans.
• Company‑paid HSA contribution.
• Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• 401(k) with brokerage link option.
• Basic life, AD&D, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Sick and vacation time, 13 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave: first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days).
• Paid disability leave: first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days).
• Voluntary benefits:
  Life, AD&D for you and dependents, pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits, mobile cell phone credit, free lunch and snacks.
• Onsite gym, employee discounts and perks program.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.