Six Figure Work

Senior System Engineer - Core Kernel

Aptiv

Company websiteaptiv.com (Aptiv, opens in new tab)

Base salary $130K  to $160K

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Wr, CA +1 more

Apply (opens in new tab)

You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.

  • LocationWr, CA +1 more
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (8 min ago) · observed since
All places named
  • Wr, CA
  • USA Walnut Creek

About this job

Senior System Engineer - Core Kernel

ABOUT WIND RIVER 

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability.  

Wind River helps customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications industries solve complex technology challenges on their journey toward the new intelligent machine economy. The company’s software powers generation after generation of the safest, most secure systems in the world.  Examples include playing a key role in NASA space missions such as Artemis I, the James Webb Space Telescope, and multiple Mars rovers. We’ve achieved recent 5G milestones including the world’s first successful 5G data session with Verizon and building one of the largest Open RAN networks in the world with Vodafone. 

The company has received industry recognition for its technology innovation and leadership, and for its workplace culture, including global Great Place to Work certification and being named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years. If you want to be part of a unique culture where the lived experience is based on our cultural attributes of growth mindset, customer-focus, and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, come join us and help advance the future software defined world. 

 
YOUR ROLE

As a Core Kernel Engineer, you will support the development of kernel components for the VxWorks operating system, assisting in implementation, testing, and debugging while working closely with experienced engineers to build your skills in system-level development.

In your daily job you will:

  • Support the development of Core OS technologies for our embedded VxWorks OS

  • Contribute to coding, testing, and validation following a CI/CD model and agile methodology

  • Assist in investigating and resolving issues found during product verification and testing

  • Contribute to documentation and participate in code reviews

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support hardware and software integration

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE 

Key skills and competencies for succeeding in this role are:

  • +5 years of relevant experience in OS Kernel level

  • Strong experience of operating systems concepts

  • Strong experience with RTOS software development, including core OS kernel functionality

  • Strong experience in C programming with hands-on experience in embedded systems development

  • Strong experience with assembly, C++, Python, and other development languages is a plus

  • Experience with low-level device drivers, BSP board bring-up.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Self-motivated, fast learner with a demonstrated ability to adopt and master new technologies

BENEFITS 

  • Hybrid work model for workplace flexibility 

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance 

  • Short and long-term disability coverage 

  • RRSP matching for financial security 

  • Flexible time-off policies for work-life balance 

  • Employee assistance program for mental well-being 

  • Learning benefits, including a LinkedIn Learning subscription and seminars 

Compensation

This role is compensation range is between $130,000 to $160,000 USD plus annual incentive plan bonus. Compensation is determined through interviews and a review of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities of the applicant, and equity with other team members. Employees in this role are also eligible for the following benefits in accordance with the terms of the Company's plans: health, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, flex time off, eligibility to enroll in 401k, and 12 paid holidays.

APPLICANT PRIVACY NOTICE:  

Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. At Wind River, we strictly adhere to all applicable data privacy laws. Please review Wind River's Applicant Privacy Notice, which can be found here.   

Wind River is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other legally protected status.

#LI-AL3

Join us at Wind River, where we're not just shaping technology; we're shaping the future of a safer, more connected world. Your journey to make a meaningful impact begins here. 

Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates

Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Source: Aptiv on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($130,000) is above 18% of the 10,395 Software Engineering roles nationwide listed on this site; 157 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $160,000; the middle half runs from $140,000 to $191,000.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 7, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live Aptiv roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live Aptiv roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Senior System Engineer - Core Kernel (this listing)$130K - $160K
Software Quality Assurance & Compliance Engineer - DO-178C$140K - $170K
Sr Financial Analyst$110K - $140K
Associate Strategy$100K - $125K
Associate, Strategy$100K - $125K
Market Development Specialist– AI and Incubation TeamFrom $170K
Data Platform Architect$176K - $210K

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All Aptiv roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-08-31
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: USA Walnut Creek, CA - WR

This role is compensation range is between $130,000 to $160,000 USD plus annual incentive plan bonus. Compensation is deter

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.