Freelance Linux Kernel Developer Jobs in Lithonia, GA

Date Posted:
2026-06-30
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-GA-ATLANTA-100 ~ 100 Galleria Pkwy SE ~ GALLERIA
Position Role Type:
Onsite
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
Security Clearance Type:
DoD Clearance: Secret
Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required after day 1
At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world's most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.
Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.
Software Department team in Atlanta, GA is seeking a highly motivated, experienced Principal Embedded Software Engineer to be part of their team supporting Electronic Warfare (EW) programs.
What You Will Do:
This role requires deep expertise in embedded software, SoC architectures, and FPGA-integrated systems, as well as the ability to translate system-level requirements into robust, deterministic software implementations.

• Derive embedded software and FPGA interface requirements from high-level system specifications and CONOPS.
• Architect, implement, and integrate embedded C/C++ software for ARM-based SoCs, microprocessors, and FPGA-coupled processing pipelines.
• Develop software-firmware interaction layers, including register-level interfaces, low-level drivers, memory controllers, and high-speed serial transceiver integrations.
• Perform system modeling, timing analysis, and simulation of embedded execution paths and data flows.
• Develop and debug real-time applications on bare-metal and embedded Linux platforms, including custom Yocto-based distributions.
• Execute board-level bring-up, bootloader configuration, device-tree tuning, and BSP customization for SoC platforms.
• Debug complex system interactions involving DDR, flash, multi-gigabit transceivers, synchronization signals, power-on sequences, and RF-connected electronics.
• Perform in-lab testing and characterization using logic analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and FPGA/SoC debugging tools.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of system-level software failures, Linux kernel issues, and FPGA-software integration defects.
• Collaborate closely with systems, FPGA, RF, and electrical engineering teams to ensure interface compatibility, timing closure, and system performance margins.
• Work onsite in ATL, GA.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a Bachelor's in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience.
• Experience with programming languages such as C/C++ and Python for automation, integration, build tooling, and verification workflows.
• Experience building deterministic real-time software on bare-metal and embedded Linux (Yocto), including kernel configuration, bootloader (U-Boot) modification, and driver development OR similar.
• Experience debugging of system boot flows, memory initialization, transceiver bring-up, kernel modules, and user-space interactions.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Active Secret security clearance.
• Experience developing on ARM-based SoCs with integrated FPGA fabric, including AXI-based interfaces, DMA engines, DDR subsystems, and SPI/I2C/UART peripheral architectures.
• Experience working on Electronic Warfare (EA/ES), radar processing chains, or secure communications architectures.
• Experience with .NET C#, WPF/MVVM, Visual Studio, Vitis, Jenkins, Jira, Collaborator, and TortoiseSVN.
• Extensive lab experience with advanced instrumentation (high-speed oscilloscopes, vector signal generators, logic analyzers) and SoC/FPGA debug interfaces (JTAG, trace analyzers).
• Familiarity with bus architectures such as VME, VPX, PCI/PCIe, and Gigabit Ethernet.
• Experience across the full software engineering lifecycle including architecture definition, requirement decomposition, code generation, unit/functional testing, and system-level validation.
• Background in signal processing, radar algorithms, low-level optimization, or hardware-accelerated compute architectures.
• Experience with RTOS environments, real-time schedulers, and deterministic task execution.
• Knowledge of networking protocols, low-level packet handling, and embedded communication stacks.

What We Offer:

• Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.

Learn More & Apply Now!
Please consider the following role type definition as you apply for this role.

• Relocation Eligible - Relocation assistance available
• Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.
• This position requires a security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA , an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.
The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.
Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.
Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.
This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.
RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.
RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act.
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