Yocto Linux Staff Engineer

About the role

Join DroneShield as an Embedded Linux Staff Engineer and play a hands-on role in building practical tools that support our embedded software and R&D teams. You’ll be working at the cutting edge of defence technology, helping deliver real-world solutions that make a difference. From improving CI/CD pipelines to automating deployments across containerised and Hardware-in-the-Loop environments, this role offers the chance to take ownership of systems that directly impact product quality, reliability and speed of delivery.

We’re looking for a proactive Linux professional with solid experience in CI/CD, Python, C/C++, Yocto and Linux-based environments, who enjoys improving legacy systems and building smart tooling for developers. You’ll thrive here if you have strong attention to detail, enjoy problem-solving, and can work both independently and as part of a fast-paced team. If you have a “can do” attitude and want to contribute to meaningful technology in a collaborative Australian workplace, DroneShield would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations 

• Act as the technical authority for embedded Linux build systems, CI/CD architecture, and Yocto‑based workflows across the organisation
• Define and drive the long‑term strategy and roadmap for embedded Linux build, integration, and release infrastructure supporting multiple hardware platforms and product lines
• Design, add, maintain and evolve pipelines/jobs for nightly builds, merge builds, commit builds, and ad‑hoc builds, ensuring scalability, reproducibility, and auditability
• Architect and maintain multi‑configuration Yocto build systems, including BSP variants and long‑lived product branches
• Lead initiatives to improve CI performance, reliability, flexibility, and developer experience, reducing feedback loops while increasing confidence in outputs
• Establish metrics and observability for CI/CD health, failure analysis, and infrastructure utilisation
• Architect and automate continuous delivery pathways for embedded Linux images, containers, and artefacts into test, validation, and staging environments
• Support team velocity via user friendly tools and short development cycles for the build-deploy-test process
• Reduce friction and risk when deploying software to containerised infrastructure and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) test systems
• Own, extend and streamline DroneShield’s HIL test infrastructure operating on specialised embedded hardware
• Design and maintain tooling for runner provisioning, lifecycle management, health monitoring, and observability
• Integrate tools into automated workflows to improve feedback on code quality, security, static analysis, testing, and documentation quality
• Own, maintain, and modernise legacy build systems, scripts and tooling, reducing technical debt over time
• Improve system reliability by adding tests to exercise all pipeline and deployment actions, identifying and mitigating single points of failure
• Write, maintain and set standards for high‑quality internal documentation across build systems, tooling, and workflows
• Collaborate closely with software, firmware, hardware, QA, and systems engineering teams, leading by influence and technical expertise

Qualifications, Experience and Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, IT, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years’ experience designing, building and maintaining CI/CD systems
• Proven experience with CI/CD platforms with experience integrating Embedded Devices to GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or equivalent
• Strong experience with development and collaboration tools including Git, Jira, Confluence, Docker, and Linux‑based environments
• Advanced Python expertise (required) for tooling, automation, and system integration
• C/C++ experience on a Linux platform, Golang is nice to have
• Strong background in DevOps practices, automated testing, infrastructure reliability, and monitoring
• Deep practical experience with the Yocto Project, including layers, recipes, BSPs, SDKs, and release management
• Experience with alternative embedded Linux build systems such as Buildroot
• Strong proficiency working in a Linux‑first, command‑line‑driven environment
• Multiple years’ experience with embedded device build, integration, and test workflows
• Hands‑on experience designing, operating, or maintaining Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) test systems
• Familiarity with cross‑compilation, device trees, bootloaders, and secure embedded Linux deployment practices

Non‑technical skills

• Strong written and visual communication skills, capable of engaging both engineers and senior stakeholders
• Strong experience producing clear, instructional technical documentation for complex systems
• Excellent systems‑level troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis abilities
• Ability to balance long‑term strategic improvements with short‑term delivery needs
• Comfortable working autonomously while providing mentorship and technical leadership in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, multi‑task, and meet deadlines under pressure
• A proactive “can‑do” attitude and willingness to assist with a wide variety of tasks, including occasional work outside the core role

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.