Senior Android Platform Engineer
This position is onsite: Sterling, VA. You must have active or obtainable US government security clearance.
Application that do not have thorough responses to all screener questions will not be evalutated and disqualified for consideration.
About the Role
A fast-growing defense-technology company is building a hardened, custom Android platform deployed across managed device fleets for public safety, defense, federal, and commercial customers. We''''re hiring a founding Senior Android Platform Engineer to own this platform end to end — from AOSP-derived OS builds and the secure boot chain to OTA delivery, kernel maintenance, and fleet-management infrastructure.
This is a build-from-the-ground-up role for an engineer who works below the app layer. You''''ll define the architecture, set the engineering standards, and provide technical leadership as the platform and the team scale. If you''''ve taken Android platforms from the chipset up and want real ownership over a mission-critical product, this is that seat.
What You''''ll Do
- Own the design, build, and maintenance of an AOSP-derived Android platform — framework, system services, and core OS components — across a managed device fleet.
- Lead board bring-up and BSP integration on target hardware, working with SoC vendors and hardware engineers to enable the platform from the chipset up.
- Design and maintain the verified boot chain, SELinux policy, and platform hardening required for defense, federal, and regulated commercial deployments.
- Develop and maintain Linux kernel components, device drivers, and HALs, along with the native and framework interfaces that connect them.
- Own the platform build system (Soong and Make), image signing, and over-the-air A/B update delivery for devices in the field.
- Build the platform-side infrastructure for remote provisioning, configuration, monitoring, and lifecycle management of deployed devices.
- Set architecture and engineering standards, run code reviews, and mentor as the team grows.
What You Bring
- 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including demonstrated hands-on ownership of Android platform (AOSP) work — framework, system services, and HAL — rather than application-layer development alone.
- Systems-level programming in C and C++ for native and platform code, plus Java and Kotlin for framework development.
- Direct experience with the Android build system (Soong / Android.bp and Make) and source workflows such as repo and Gerrit, or equivalent.
- Hands-on Linux kernel and device-driver development — building, configuring, patching, and debugging kernel and driver code on target hardware, and working across the native-to-framework (JNI / Binder) boundary.
- Hands-on device bring-up on physical hardware — flashing, debugging, and board-level troubleshooting.
- Able to work on-site in Sterling, VA.
Nice to Have
- Qualcomm Snapdragon (or comparable) SoC platforms and vendor board support packages, including device bring-up.
- Full-stack device experience — from tablet or device integration down to the chipset — including x86 Android platforms (e.g., Intel N100 / N200 class).
- Android Automotive OS (AAOS) and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) / head-unit platforms, including the vehicle interface layer (Vehicle HAL), data management, and core OS integration.
- Systems or platform development in Rust.
- Platform security depth: verified and secure boot, TrustZone / TEE, remote attestation, Treble / VINTF, and SELinux policy authoring.
- Performance and power analysis tooling (e.g., Perfetto, systrace) and the Android compatibility suites (CTS / VTS).
- Prior delivery of Android platforms for managed, enterprise, or regulated device fleets (defense, federal, public safety, or healthcare).
Eligibility
This role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required as a condition of clearance eligibility. Employment is contingent on successful completion of the required background screening. This position is performed on-site in Sterling, VA.
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