Freelance Linux Kernel Development Jobs in Washington

Are you a versatile engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software? Do you have a deep understanding of Xilinx FPGAs and the AXI protocol, but also enjoy diving into schematic design, PCB layout guidance, or kernel drivers when the need arises? We are seeking a dynamic, mid-career Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team developing next-generation medical devices.

In this role, you will be the linchpin between the digital logic fabric and the high-level application software. You will architect and implement complex FPGA designs that interface seamlessly with user-space applications running on embedded processors via AXI interconnects. Beyond the FPGA, you will own the board-level electronics: you'll generate detailed schematics for complex devices built around the Xilinx FPGA, ensuring robust power delivery, high-speed signal routing, and peripheral integration. We are looking for a "full-stack" embedded thinker, someone who is equally excited to design a new analog front-end, refactor a Linux device driver, or optimize a data processing pipeline. You won't just be writing and using IP blocks; you will own the embedded ecosystem, from the circuit board to the application layer, delivering technology that directly impacts patient lives under a quality management system.

Key Responsibilities

• Board-Level Schematic Generation: Design and own the detailed electrical schematics for complex, FPGA-centric medical devices. This includes component selection, power architecture definition, clock distribution, high-speed memory interfaces (DDR), and analog signal conditioning circuits.
• FPGA Architecture & Implementation: Design, code, and verify complex digital designs on Xilinx platforms (Vivado/Vitis), with a primary focus on implementing custom IP blocks that communicate with user-space Linux applications via AXI4 (Lite, Stream, and Memory-Mapped) interfaces.
• Device Driver & Kernel Development: Develop and maintain Linux kernel drivers and user-space libraries that bridge the gap between the FPGA logic and C++/Rust/Python applications.
• Full-Cycle Medical Device Development: Participate in all phases of the product lifecycle within a regulated IEC 62304 / ISO 13485 framework, including requirements definition, architectural design, FMEA, and verification testing.
• Cross-Functional Hardware Integration: Work closely with PCB layout engineers to guide stack-up and routing; perform board bring-up, bench testing (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and debugging of your schematics.
• Broad Problem Solving: Demonstrate flexibility by owning problems outside any single domain. You will debug high-speed signal integrity issues one day, and write a Python script to automate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing the next.
• Optimization: Profile and optimize embedded systems for low latency, high throughput, SWAP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) constraints, and patient safety.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Experience: 4-7+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems development.
• Schematic & Board Design: Proven ability to generate complex board-level schematics for FPGA-based designs using industry-standard tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad). Must understand power sequencing, high-speed routing constraints, and mixed-signal layout considerations.
• Xilinx Proficiency: Deep working knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain (Vivado, Vitis) and the ability to generate, customize, and debug IP cores connected via the AXI interconnect protocol.
• Hardware Description Languages: Proficiency in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for synthesis, simulation, and timing closure.
• Embedded Linux: Strong experience with embedded Linux (Yocto, PetaLinux, or Buildroot), kernel configuration, and cross-compilation.
• Software Skills: Fluency in C/C++ or Rust (preferred) for low-level firmware and driver development; proficiency in Python for scripting and data analysis.
• Interface Knowledge: Solid understanding of communication protocols beyond AXI, such as SPI, I2C, UART, and high-speed serial links.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Medical Experience: Experience working in a regulated environment (FDA, MDR) with safety-critical standards like IEC 62304.
• Analog/Digital Circuitry: Deep experience with precision analog front-ends, ADCs, DACs, and power management ICs (PMICs) commonly found in medical instrumentation.
• Broad Toolbox: Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), SoC design on Zynq/MPSoC/RFSoC platforms, or high-speed transceivers.

Who You Are

• An Adaptable Engineer: You have deep expertise in Xilinx logic design and schematic generation, and a broad willingness and ability to contribute wherever the project needs it most, from software drivers to regulatory documentation.
• A Systems Thinker: You don't just see an FPGA task; you see the data flow from the sensor conditioning circuit, through the AXI bus, up to the UI.
• A Clear Communicator: You can translate complex hardware limitations to software engineers and vice versa, documenting your work clearly for regulatory audits.