System Architect - Wireless Embedded

We are seeking an experienced System Architect - Wireless Embedded to lead architecture for a cloud-native Unified Connectivity Platform covering Enterprise Wi-Fi, NMS, ACS, Analytics, and Service Assurance. The role involves driving AP software, firmware, chipset/SDK, and AP–Controller architecture, while supporting the Discovery & Architecture phase to define the MVP, target architecture, and roadmap for connected network operations going forward. Responsibilities Lead AP software / wireless embedded architecture discovery efforts with engineering and product stakeholders, defining the target AP software and device architecture Architect AP–Controller–Cloud integration, encompassing communication, authentication, onboarding, provisioning, configuration, and policy synchronization Define device lifecycle, interoperability, and device-cloud interfaces throughout the platform Design the AP software stack spanning 802.11, drivers, embedded Linux/OpenWrt, EasyMesh/prplMesh/OpenWiFi, and chipset/SDK ecosystems Establish firmware lifecycle and OTA architecture, including versioning, compatibility, rollout, and rollback processes Set up diagnostics, telemetry, logging, health monitoring, and operational visibility mechanisms Assess Build vs. Reuse vs. Extend options across assets, OpenWiFi, chipset/vendor SDKs, and third-party components Pinpoint architecture, performance, security, and interoperability implementation risks Work with Enterprise Wi-Fi/WLC and Cloud/Platform Architects to align AP capabilities, RF/RRM, client intelligence, security, and roaming requirements Contribute to architecture decisions, prioritization, estimation, roadmap, and phased delivery Requirements 12-18 years of overall IT experience 12+ years of experience in AP software development, wireless embedded systems development, networking devices, gateways, or related product engineering Expertise in AP software/firmware architecture, embedded Linux, device architecture, and product engineering Background in AP onboarding, provisioning, configuration management, device lifecycle, firmware management, and OTA update mechanisms Knowledge of AP–Controller communication, control/data-plane interactions, WLAN management, and device lifecycle workflows Practical understanding of Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, and IEEE 802.11 technologies Background in Wi-Fi drivers development, middleware, and SDK integration, including 802.11 stack components, performance, and debugging Experience with Qualcomm, MediaTek, Broadcom, Intel, or similar Wi-Fi chipset platforms and SDK ecosystems Background in embedded Linux, drivers, BSPs, middleware, hardware abstraction, and device-level software development & architecture Capability to evaluate chipset/SDK constraints and convert them into architecture, integration, performance, and roadmap decisions Knowledge of MQTT, SNMP, NETCONF, gRPC/gNMI, Syslog, and streaming telemetry frameworks Experience connecting device software with cloud-native platforms, REST APIs, event-driven services, and SaaS/device-cloud architectures Ability to convert requirements into scalable device/software solutions while collaborating across Product, Architecture, Cloud, Firmware, Hardware, QA, and Operations teams Nice to have Familiarity with OpenWiFi / TIP OpenWiFi / uCentral / OpenWrt / EasyMesh / prplMesh or similar ecosystems