Senior Software Engineer | Router Firmware | OpenWRT | Gurgaon

This role is suited for a Senior Software Engineer with deep expertise in embedded networking and router firmware development. The position focuses on building and optimizing OpenWRT-based systems that power large-scale, real-world connectivity. The work is close to the hardware, kernel, and networking stack, with clear ownership of firmware that runs in production environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain custom firmware based on OpenWRT for embedded networking devices such as routers and access points.
• Customize and optimize the Linux networking stack, kernel modules, and hardware drivers, including integration of third-party services, SDKs, and packages.
• Collaborate with hardware and QA teams on board bring-up, debugging, system validation, and performance tuning.
• Monitor and improve system performance, memory utilization, and boot times.
• Contribute to firmware security through firewall configurations, secure boot implementation, and regular patching.
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks for firmware builds and deployments.
• Produce clear documentation covering firmware configurations, system architecture, and release notes.

Technical Skills

• Strong experience developing firmware using OpenWRT, LEDE, or custom Linux-based router platforms.
• Proficiency in C and Shell scripting, with hands-on experience using Makefiles and build systems such as Buildroot or Yocto.
• Experience working with the Linux kernel, device trees, and kernel modules.
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, VLAN, DHCP, DNS, NAT, and firewalling.
• Familiarity with the UCI configuration system, LuCI web interface, and system logging tools.
• Experience with cross-compilation toolchains and hardware debugging using JTAG or serial consoles.
• Knowledge of wireless networking standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax and WiFi chipsets such as Atheros, Broadcom, and MediaTek.

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving ability with close attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environments.
• Clear communication skills with the ability to document technical concepts effectively.

Nice to Have

• Experience with security protocols such as IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and WPA3.
• Exposure to cloud or device management integrations like MQTT, TR-069, or IoT platforms.
• Familiarity with hardware design fundamentals including PCB layout and SoC integration.
• Contributions to OpenWRT or other open-source networking projects.

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Electronics, Communications, or a related field.