Staff Software Engineer– Boot Software

Job Description

The Team:

The BSW (Basic Software) Memory Boot & Programming Services team is a core embedded-software group responsible for the memory, boot, and programming capabilities that enable GM electronic control units (ECUs) to securely receive, store, validate, and update software and calibration content across manufacturing, service, engineering, and over-the-air use cases.

The team develops and integrates boot managers, bootloaders, bootloader updaters, memory and data-management services, programming flows, and related security components, while partnering closely with hardware, application software, vehicle programs, suppliers, manufacturing, and service organizations to deliver reliable, production-ready embedded infrastructure.

The team is part of GM’s Mechatronic Software Platform organization, within Embedded Platform Systems & Infrastructure, whose mission is to provide robust mechatronic software infrastructure that enables customer-facing vehicle features and functions.

The Role:

We are now hiring for a Staff Software Engineer for Boot Software within the BSW Memory Boot & Programing Services team! This role is referred to as NATS (New Architecture Technical Specialist) within GM, and serves as the primary expert for ECU Boot software (Boot SW). You will define and evolve Boot SW for new SDV controller families, lead deep‑dive troubleshooting of Boot issues, and execute advanced integration work to bring up and stabilize new architectures.

This role requires someone who can confidently juggle multiple programs and priorities, stay calm under pressure, and consistently drive issues to clear, data‑driven closure. You will lead the bring-up of new controller architectures, develop and evaluate new Boot designs, and drive a balanced, scalable architecture that enables high‑quality software delivery across multiple programs.

This is a senior individual contributor role (GM Level 8) that operates at the intersection of hardware, basic software, application, solution, and systems teams, and aggressively leverages AI tools across design, integration, debugging, documentation, and standard work to increase both speed and quality.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities):

• Drive evaluation of Boot software and provide technical recommendations.
• Own the end‑to‑end Boot software design and integration strategy for new controller architectures, from first samples through production launch.
• Execute advanced integration work to bring new controllers to operational status, including initial board bring‑up, flash programming, and startup sequence validation.
• Closely collaborate with solution and systems teams to define and evolve requirements for Boot to support current and future features.
• Develop and maintain controller flash partitioning, memory maps, and update concepts (OTA, recovery strategies) in collaboration with Security, Diagnostics, and Application teams.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and resolution of complex controller‑level issues related to Boot, startup timing, initialization order, and cross‑controller dependencies.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Software Integration Leaders (SWILs), other NATS, and program teams on Boot SW best practices and constraints.
• Define and refine strategies for flash programming, manufacturing programming flows, and service reprogramming to ensure robust, efficient updates across plants and field service environments.
• Collaborate closely with System and Software Architects, Safety, Cybersecurity, and Diagnostics stakeholders to ensure architectural consistency and compliance with safety and security requirements.
• Support development of standard work, guidelines, and reusable assets for Boot/BSW integration across controller families and programs.
• Influence portfolio and roadmap decisions by articulating technical risks, trade‑offs, and investment needs for new controller architectures.

Your Skills & Abilities (Require Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in embedded software development for automotive or similarly safety‑critical, real‑time systems.
• Proven expertise with: MCU/SoC startup and Bootloader design (primary/secondary boot, secure boot, fallback/recovery concepts); Low‑level software integration (RTOS, memory, clock, reset, power management, communication interfaces such as CAN/LIN/FlexRay/Ethernet); Flash programming techniques, memory mapping, and resource optimization on constrained embedded platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to perform deep‑dive debugging using tools such as JTAG/trace, debuggers, logic analyzers, and low‑level logging.
• Strong systems thinking and ability to balance requirements from safety, cybersecurity, diagnostics, performance, and cost perspectives.
• High degree of comfort leveraging modern AI tools (e.g., code assistants, static/dynamic analysis, observability platforms) as part of day-to-day engineering workflows.

People Skills:

• Excellent communication and documentation skills; able to clearly explain complex technical topics to diverse audiences.
• Proven track record providing technical leadership, influencing cross‑functional teams, and mentoring other engineers.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior individual contributor (GM Level 8 or equivalent), setting technical direction and influencing roadmaps without direct people-management responsibility.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Experience as a Technical Specialist, System Architect, or equivalent senior technical leadership role in embedded controls.
• Direct experience with: Automotive ECUs, AUTOSAR (Classic or Adaptive), and/or similar component‑based BSW architectures; Secure Boot, key management, and cryptographic concepts in embedded systems; OTA / FOTA update architectures, including rollback and recovery strategies.
• Prior work within GM controller, VMEC, or Mechatronic Software Platform organizations and familiarity with roles such as NATS, SWIL, and other Technical Specialists.
• Experience launching new controller families (new silicon, new E/E architectures) from concept through production.
• Demonstrated ability to define and institutionalize standard work, best practices, and reusable integration patterns across multiple programs and teams.
• DFSS, ASPICE, or Functional Safety (ISO 26262) experience related to low‑level and Boot software.

Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate.

Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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