Job Description: Linux Application Engineer

Work Type/Locations: Hybrid in either Jersey City, NJ/Phoenix, AZ/Fairfax, VA/Panama City, FL

About goTenna

goTenna is the world's leading mobile mesh networking company, providing off-grid connectivity solutions for smartphones and other devices, as well as augmenting traditional communications networks. This technology enables mobile, long-range connectivity without cell, Wi-Fi, or satellite connectivity. goTenna's products are currently in use by law enforcement, military, and public safety agencies worldwide. goTenna is a subsidiary of Forterra, a leading provider of ground autonomy solutions for the US Department of Defense and other organizations.

About the Role

As a Linux Application Engineer, you will develop user-space applications, APIs, and services that sit between firmware, radio hardware, mobile devices, and cloud/portal systems. Your work will directly impact fielded devices used by public safety, federal, and mission-critical operators in fully disconnected environments.

Primary Responsibilities:

Develop, test, and maintain Linux user-space applications running on x86/ARM edge compute modules.
Implement device-side APIs (REST/gRPC) that interface with firmware, radio services, mobile apps, and the cloud portal.
Integrate networking protocols, messaging patterns, and data flows across on-device components.
Package, deploy, and manage containerized applications for edge devices.
Participate in cross-team debugging involving OS, firmware, networking, and cloud components.
Write unit/integration tests and contribute to system-level test automation for the SmartEdge platform.
Support OTA update systems, diagnostics, telemetry, and observability for deployed devices.
Contribute to design reviews and document system behavior, interface contracts, and architecture.

Required Experience:

3–6 years of professional software engineering experience.
Strong experience with Linux user-space development in C/C++, Go, or Rust (C/C++ preferred).
Hands-on experience with embedded/edge compute development (ARM/x86 SBCs or similar).
Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, UDP, sockets, routing, pub/sub).
Experience working with REST/gRPC APIs and integrating with backend services.
Basic containerization experience (Docker/Podman).
Ability to debug system-level issues spanning OS, networking, APIs, and hardware interfaces.
Comfortable working in a hybrid environment with cross-functional teams (firmware, mobile, cloud).

Preferred Experience:

Experience with Linux kernel, drivers, or low-level systems work.
Familiarity with Kotlin or JVM-based services.
Exposure to radio systems, mesh networking, tactical communications, or distributed systems at the edge.
AWS experience or knowledge of cloud-device integration patterns.
Experience with secure boot, device hardening, or embedded security.
Experience building telemetry or observability systems for remote devices.

ITAR: U.S. Citizen or Green Card Required

Placement at the appropriate job level (entry, senior, etc.) will be determined by a combination of years of experience, demonstration of proficiency in this field, and other qualifications.

goTenna is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

goTenna Benefits:

Equity
401(k) plan
Unlimited PTO
Parental Leave with Pay
Holiday pay (including December recess)
Medical, Dental, Vision and life insurance
Pre-tax benefits
Short- and Long-term disability plans
Professional Development Stipend

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If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by selecting the appropriate category(ies). The hiring employer is subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended by the Jobs for Veterans Act of 2002, 38 U.S.C. 4212 (VEVRAA) and requests this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts it undertakes pursuant to VEVRAA.

DISABILITY STATUS Learn more about disability statuses

We are required by law to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We are also required to measure our progress toward having at least 7% of our workforce be individuals with disabilities. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had a disability. Because a person may become disabled at any time, we ask all of our employees to update their information at least every five years.

Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions. Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self-identified in the past. For more information about this form or the equal employment obligations of federal contractors under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.