Wireless Engineer

WiFi Connectivity Engineer

Job Location: Palo Alto, CA

In this critical role, you will be instrumental in bringing up and optimizing WiFi functionality on advanced embedded WiFi hardware within our next-generation in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems for Software Defined Vehicles.

Your deep expertise will be vital in porting and integrating complex WiFi drivers, enabling robust and seamless wireless connectivity within a virtualized Android environment.

If you are a seasoned WiFi expert with a profound understanding of embedded systems, hypervisor-based driver development, and a passion for tackling intricate challenges to deliver high-performance, reliable connectivity in an automotive context, we invite you to take the initiative and revolutionize the in-car communication experience with us.

As a WiFi Engineer, you will be at the forefront of enabling advanced wireless capabilities for Ford's future vehicles.

Job Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end bring-up, integration, and validation of WiFi functionality on advanced embedded WiFi hardware, ensuring optimal performance and stability from the ground up.
• Architect, develop, and port complex WiFi drivers to operate efficiently and robustly, specifically tailored for a virtualized Android environment.
• Strategically optimize WiFi performance, throughput, latency, power efficiency, and reliability across the entire stack – from hardware interaction through the hypervisor to the application layer.
• Conduct in-depth, multi-layered system debugging and root cause analysis for complex issues spanning physical WiFi hardware, drivers (frontend and backend), the hypervisor, Linux kernel, and Android operating system.
• Ensure robust and seamless WiFi access and full functionality for Android applications within the virtualized environment, meticulously addressing any virtualization-specific challenges and ensuring compliance with Android's networking stack and WiFi HAL.
• Contribute to the architectural design and evolution of the automotive WiFi software stack, identifying and implementing innovative solutions for future connectivity needs and challenging technical problems.
• Proactively engage with chipset suppliers to identify and integrate optimal solutions for specific platforms.
• Work closely with hardware, software, networking, security, and test teams to ensure successful integration and validation of WiFi features.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of progressive experience in WiFi driver development, embedded networking, or related wireless communication systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C programming for embedded systems and kernel-level driver development.
• Demonstrated expert-level understanding of WiFi standards (e.g., 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) and their practical implementation.
• Proven hands-on experience with embedded WiFi hardware bring-up and low-level driver development for high-performance embedded or automotive applications, preferably in a virtualized environment.
• Extensive experience with the Linux kernel, device drivers, and network stack development.
• Extensive experience with the Android WiFi networking stack, including HALs, services, and components like wpa_supplicant and hostapd.
• Solid theoretical understanding and practical experience with hypervisor.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with a proactive, self-starter approach, strong initiative, and a results-oriented mindset to engineering challenges.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor's/Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Bonus

• Prior experience in the automotive industry, specifically with in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) or telematics systems.
• Prior experience working on car projection (Android Auto / Apple CarPlay) connectivity.
• Knowledge of other wireless technologies (e.g., Bluetooth, Cellular, GPS) and their co-existence challenges in an embedded environment.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) concepts and their integration with WiFi drivers.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Shell) for automation, testing, and debugging.
• Familiarity with automotive communication protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, SOME/IP, or gPTP.
• Understanding of security aspects and best practices related to wireless communication in automotive environments.
• Demonstrated experience in performance optimization techniques for embedded and virtualized systems.

Compensation:

$60/hr to $80/hr.

Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education.

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.