Linux Bootloader Lead

Job Title: Linux Bootloader Lead

• Lead the architecture, development, and optimization of the Linux boot process, including firmware, bootloader, kernel, and early userspace.
• Own and maintain the entire boot stack: UEFI, Secure Boot, Bootloaders (GRUB, systemd-boot, U-Boot), and initramfs/initrd.
• Collaborate with platform teams to bring up new boards/platforms and ensure successful boot to the Linux OS.
• Implement and validate secure boot chains, measured boot, and firmware validation using TPM, UEFI variables, and cryptographic signatures.
• Optimize boot time and performance for user-friendly startup experience, including debugging slow boot issues using profiling tools.
• Lead the integration and customization of bootloaders for x86 and ARM-based platforms, handling multi-OS and recovery boot scenarios.
• Support advanced boot features like dual boot, A/B updates, fastboot, and UEFI Shell tools.
• Work closely with hardware, BIOS/firmware, OS, and security teams to ensure cohesive platform initialization.
• Own debug and recovery workflows for boot failures, including diagnostics for power-on reset, firmware updates, and kernel panics.
• Participate in secure OS update architecture, rollback protections, and integrity checks at each boot stage.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Electronics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in Linux system bring-up, bootloader development, and low-level platform initialization.
• Deep knowledge of the Linux boot flow, including UEFI, ACPI, Device Tree, bootloaders, and init systems (systemd/sysvinit).
• Strong expertise in GRUB, systemd-boot, or U-Boot, UEFI/EDK II programming and customization, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, Measured Boot, and SBAT (Secure Boot Advanced Targeting)
• Familiarity with x86 and ARM platform initialization, boot configuration (NVRAM, EFI vars), and multi-stage boot handling.
• Experience with boot time profiling and performance tuning tools like bootchart, systemd-analyze, and kernel initcall_debug.
• Proficient in C, Assembly, shell scripting, and familiarity with Makefiles and build systems.
• Strong debugging skills with serial consoles, JTAG, Lauterbach, and pre-kernel crash dump analysis.
• Experience with firmware upgrade and rollback mechanisms, capsule updates, and BIOS/firmware vendor toolchains.
• Contributions to open-source bootloaders or Linux early-boot subsystems is a plus.