Engineering and Certification Manager

The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) charity with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom, seeks a motivated and talented individual to be our new Engineering and Certification Manager. This position is ideally full-time and US-based, but exceptions can be made for a qualified candidate.

The Engineering and Certification Manager reports to the executive director and takes a leadership role in managing and growing the FSF’s Respects Your Freedom (RYF) program. This role will work in close collaboration with FSF management and the technology and licensing teams. The Engineering and Certification Manager serves as a senior technical authority for the organization and is responsible for evaluating, certifying, and guiding hardware product submissions under the RYF certification requirements and other free hardware design initiatives.

#### Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Developing technical and strategic direction for the RYF program and related initiatives;

Developing and maintaining key relationships with vendors, community members, and partner organizations to support responsible growth of the FSF;

Overseeing the RYF device submission queue, including conducting hands-on technical reviews and ensuring complete, well-documented certification decisions;

Representing the organization through clear technical communication, public engagement, and collaboration with FSF teams; and

Performing additional tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

#### Candidate profile

This role is intended for someone with approximately 7 to 10 years of relevant professional experience and a strong technical background. Deep hands-on proficiency in reverse engineering, firmware analysis, or low-level systems work is essential. The ideal candidate is comfortable working independently, managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, enjoys explaining technical ideas clearly in writing and in conversation, and is willing to engage publicly on behalf of the organization.

The ideal Engineering and Certification Manager is someone who understands how hardware systems actually behave in the real world. They have spent time examining devices beyond marketing claims: tracing the boot process, inspecting firmware, and identifying where user freedoms are limited or hindered. They are comfortable working with incomplete information and understand how to ask the right technical questions to evaluate whether the full software stack remains under the user’s control.

#### Core technical and program stewardship skills

Practical experience with, and understanding of:

hardware architecture and systems;

firmware and boot processes;

reverse-engineering and analysis;

free software principles and FSF licensing guidance;

skill in managing a queue of issues and tasks without sacrificing technical depth;

comfort coordinating across legal, licensing, and technical teams; and

ability to assess whether product software is buildable and/or reproducible using only free software tools.

#### About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software--particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants--and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its websites, located at <fsf.org> and <gnu.org>, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org.

#### Salary and benefits

This exempt, union position has a salary fixed at $83,034/year.

Other benefits include:

flexible and remote working;

full individual or family health coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts;

subsidized dental plan;

four weeks of paid vacation annually;

seventeen paid holidays annually;

public transit commuting cost reimbursement;

403(b) program through TIAA with employer match;

yearly cost-of-living pay increases (based on government guidelines)*;

healthcare expense reimbursement budget;

ergonomic budget;

conference travel and professional development opportunities; and

potential for an annual performance bonus.

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