Principal Software Engineer - RHIVOS (Linux, C/Rust, Spoken English/Korean, Auto

Red Hat is leading the revolution of the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV). Rather than adding more compute nodes to an automobile, we are adding wheels to a Linux computer that we know how to ship!

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to act as the technical bridge between Red Hat’s global engineering teams and our key automotive partners in Korea. In this role, you will help major automotive players migrate from proprietary legacy systems to a modern, containerized, open-source architecture.

Why this role is different

• Work from home / Seoul: Unlike traditional automotive roles, you are not required to commute daily to R&D centers. You can work remotely, with only occasional travel to customer sites or the Red Hat office in Seoul for high-impact workshops.
• Pure Tech, Less Red Tape: We are looking for a Linux systems expert, not a compliance manager. You will focus on upstream contribution, kernel and onboard architectures, and solving hard technical problems, not just managing ISO paperwork.
• Global Impact: You won’t just be "local support." You will be an upstream contributor, helping shape the future of Linux in the automotive industry globally.

What you will do:

• Technical Advisory: Act as the trusted technical advisor to our automotive partners. You will explain complex open-source concepts to customer engineering teams and help them design their next-generation In-Vehicle architecture.
• Systems Engineering: Scope and decompose large, complex engineering tasks. You will dive deep into low-level system issues (Kernel, BSP, Performance) and provide hands-on solutions.
• The "Bilingual Bridge": Serve as the critical communication link between Korean automotive customers and Red Hat’s global, English-speaking engineering teams. You will translate customer requirements into technical engineering tickets and vice versa.
• Innovation & Upstream: Proactively advance the product by collaborating with upstream open-source communities. You will drive cross-functional projects to make better technical choices for the platform.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Recognize good industry practices and guide the team to innovate on product delivery. You will speak, present, and blog about technical changes to internal audiences and international experts.

What you will bring

• Deep Linux Roots: Extensive experience with Linux systems programming, debugging, and architecture. You understand how a Linux distribution is built and how the Kernel interacts with hardware.
• Language Fluency:
  - ​Korean: Native/Business Fluent (Able to navigate complex discussions with local automotive executives).
  - English: Advanced Business Fluency (CEFR C1+). You must be able to articulate complex technical ideas to global teams clearly and confidently.
• Coding Proficiency: Strong programming and debugging experience with C and Python.
• Container Expertise: Experience with Linux Containers (OCI) and understanding of how cloud-native paradigms apply to edge/embedded devices.
• Customer Presence: Ability to set and manage expectations with partners. You are comfortable presenting technical roadmaps in front of a business or engineering audience.
• Remote Autonomy: Ability to work with a geographically distributed team across multiple time zones without constant supervision.

Nice to have:

• Modern Systems Languages: Experience with Rust (especially Rust for Linux) is a massive plus.
• Embedded Build Systems: Familiarity with Yocto, OSTree, or how to build a custom Linux distribution.
• Virtualization: Understanding of Hypervisors (KVM) and VirtIO.
• Orchestration: Familiarity with Kubernetes or Red Hat OpenShift.
• Open Source DNA: Involvement in open source communities and a deep understanding of the "Upstream First" philosophy.
• CI/CD: Experience with Continuous Integration / Delivery pipelines in a systems context.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterpriseopen source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver h