Foster City , CA
|Onsite
|Contract
Foster City, CA
|Onsite
|Contract
Join a hands-on embedded security team working to harden a next-generation Linux platform with a strong focus on secure boot, device integrity, and production-ready system protection. This role is ideal for an experienced systems engineer who enjoys bridging hardware security, kernel hardening, trusted execution environments, and secure manufacturing workflows.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement hardware root of trust and secure boot solutions from early boot through the Linux kernel
- Build and maintain storage integrity protections such as verified read-only root file systems and encryption at rest
- Develop, integrate, and support trusted execution environment components and secure applications within the TEE
- Apply strong user-space isolation controls using tools such as SELinux, AppArmor, cgroups, namespaces, and seccomp
- Automate cryptographic signing workflows for bootloaders, kernels, and OTA artifacts within CI/CD pipelines
- Partner with manufacturing teams to create secure provisioning processes, including fuse programming and end-of-line security validation
- Design resilient multi-slot boot and recovery strategies to help devices recover safely from failed updates or boot issues
- Collaborate across engineering, build, and production teams to ensure security is implemented reliably at scale
Skills
- 6+ years of experience in embedded Linux development, board bring-up, or BSP customization
- 3+ years of practical experience deploying security controls on physical hardware
- Strong understanding of bootloader security and verified boot concepts
- Experience with Linux storage and security technologies such as dm-crypt and dm-verity
- Solid knowledge of ARM TrustZone and modern embedded processor security architecture
- Proficiency with C and scripting in Python or Bash
- Experience with embedded Linux build systems such as Yocto or Buildroot
- Ability to work effectively across hardware, software, and manufacturing functions
Preferred Skills
- Background in cryptography, including hashing, public key infrastructure, and symmetric/asymmetric methods
- Experience working with HSMs or secure key vaults
- Prior collaboration with contract manufacturers or factory operations on secure provisioning
- Experience with lightweight container or sandboxing tools for embedded systems
- Knowledge of anti-rollback strategies for firmware and OTA updates
- Experience authoring secure/trusted applications for a TEE such as OP-TEE
Horizontal is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can do their best work. We value equity, belonging, and collaboration, and we encourage qualified candidates to apply even if they do not meet every preferred qualification.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.Horizontal is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or participate in the interview process, click here to request accommodation assistance.
All applicants applying must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment.