Linux Firmware Engineer

About Keyo:

Keyo is pioneering the next generation of identity infrastructure—a network that enables seamless, secure, and privacy-first authentication for individuals worldwide. By combining privacy-centric palm recognition technology with a decentralized approach to identity, Keyo empowers users to prove who they are—anywhere, instantly, and without friction.

We take an integration-first approach, allowing businesses to seamlessly incorporate a secure, privacy-centric biometric solution into their services. Our platform unites hardware, software, and infrastructure to enable trustless identity verification, making payments, access control, and authentication effortless.

With a commitment to security and compliance, Keyo is redefining what it means to own and control your identity in both the digital and physical worlds.

Apply to this job if the above excites you—if you’re ready to join a team driven by a bold vision that will take time, dedication, and innovation to achieve. We are an intentionally international team, fostering a product culture of extreme ownership, strong teamwork, and technical excellence in problem-solving.

Overview

We are seeking a skilled Linux Firmware Engineer with hands-on experience in Yocto-based build systems as well as buildroot. In this role, you will focus on building the firmware level for our devices, handle fleet management, together with developing and maintaining the tools required by the software team while ensuring seamless integration with new hardware components. 

The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with hardware engineers to validate and interface with new devices, as well as maintain a strong emphasis on device security.

This is a highly collaborative position, where you will be instrumental in bridging the hardware and software teams to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage existing firmware as we transition to new generation - Pigen / Raspberry Pi based  
• Design, develop, and maintain firmware solutions for custom build hardware solutions using Yocto. 
• Build and enhance tools to support the software development team in managing a fleet of devices.
• Build and support OTA for our devices
• Work closely with the hardware team to validate new hardware components and ensure compatibility.
• Develop interfaces for hardware components to enable communication at the software level.
• Conduct thorough testing and validation of new hardware, ensuring reliability and functionality.
• Implement device security protocols, focusing on secure boot, data encryption, and system integrity.
• Monitor and improve the performance, scalability, and security of the firmware.
   

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience with Yocto Project / Qualcomm build systems.
• Experience with device drivers and kernel programming.
• Solid understanding of embedded Linux environments and development workflows.
• Experience in fleet management, including monitoring and maintaining device fleets at scale.
• Strong knowledge of hardware validation, troubleshooting, and diagnostics.
• Familiarity with developing communication protocols for hardware-software interaction.
• Good understanding of device security best practices, including secure boot and encryption.
• Proficient in scripting and programming languages such as C, Python, and Bash.
• Hardware experience 

Soft Skills

• Proactive and independent problem-solver.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills within a distributed team environment.
• Self-motivated with a strong ability to manage time and tasks effectively.

What We Offer:

• Remote-first Work Environment
• Growth Opportunities
• Competitive Compensation
• Work at a mission driven company with team members from around the world

How to Apply:

Start your application with the word banana 🍌—this helps us confirm that you’ve read the job description and understand the requirements.

To apply:

• Submit your resume.
• If you advance past the second interview, you’ll be asked to walk us through a project you’ve completed.
• All interviews require your camera to be turned on.

Important:

Reading from any AI agent during the interview will immediately end the call. We fully embrace AI as a tool for engineers, but we need critical thinkers. Show us that you’re a great fit by demonstrating extreme ownership, strong teamwork, technical excellence, and problem-solving skills.

Please note: Keyo is a SOC2 compliance and performs background checks, and provides security training to team members.