Randstad is seeking a highly skilled Senior C/C++ Linux Engineer to support a mission-critical modernization initiative for a client in Philadelphia, PA. This role involves upgrading legacy Linux-based desktop applications by migrating them from outdated GUI frameworks (Motif/X11) to modern solutions like Wayland and GTK/Qt. The engineer will be responsible for building high-performance, real-time software with a focus on reliability, security, and low-latency responsiveness. This position is essential to platform stability, operational continuity, and long-term technology resilience. Key Responsibilities: Design, develop, and maintain real-time, fault-tolerant C/C++ applications on Linux platforms

Migrate legacy GUIs from Motif/X11 to modern toolkits (GTK, Qt, EFL) using Wayland protocols

Write Bash scripts for build automation, deployment routines, and system diagnostics

Optimize application performance using multithreading, memory management, and scheduling techniques

Debug and profile applications with tools like gdb, valgrind, perf, and strace

Implement secure coding practices and support audit-readiness for critical systems

Integrate GUI applications with enterprise middleware and backend services

Configure and maintain lightweight Linux desktop environments and custom window managers

Manage source code and CI/CD workflows using Git and Bitbucket

Develop and support IPC mechanisms (sockets, shared memory, DBus) for inter-process communication

Support containerized deployments using Docker in secure environments

Document system architecture, migration plans, and operational procedures

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (required)

10+ years of hands-on experience in C/C++ development on Linux systems

Expertise in event-driven programming and development of Linux desktop applications

Experience modernizing GUI applications from Motif/X11 to GTK, Qt, or Wayland

Proficiency in Bash scripting and build systems like Make, CMake, and Meson

Familiarity with Wayland protocols and compositor-client architecture

Experience with Git-based version control and CI/CD pipelines (Bitbucket, GitLab, etc.)

Strong understanding of Linux system internals, IPC, and GUI performance tuning

Exposure to low-level graphics APIs such as OpenGL or Vulkan (preferred)

Ability to develop custom Wayland protocols and implement IPC optimizations via shared memory (preferred)

Excellent documentation and communication skills

Required Skills : C++ Basic Qualification : Additional Skills :

Background Check : No Drug Screen : No