Device Driver Developer
でばいすどらいばかいはつぎじゅつしゃ
Industry & Occupation
Classification
Summary
A technical role involving the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of device drivers that operate between hardware and the OS.
Description
Device driver developers handle the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of driver software that enables various hardware devices such as printers, displays, and network cards to be utilized by the OS and applications. They cover a wide range from embedded environments requiring real-time performance and safety to drivers for PCs and servers, interpreting hardware datasheets to implement memory mapping, interrupt handling, and synchronization mechanisms. They also perform troubleshooting and performance tuning, using debuggers and logic analyzers for defect analysis. Team collaboration and coordination with other departments are required.
Future Outlook
With the increase in IoT and AI-equipped devices, demand remains stable, and amid growing requirements for real-time performance and security features, the market value of highly specialized engineers is expected to further rise.
Personality Traits
Can pay attention to details / Has cooperativeness / Has logical thinking / Has patience
Work Style
Career Path
Junior Device Driver Engineer → Senior Device Driver Engineer → Embedded Software Architect → Tech Lead → Project Manager
Required Skills
Assembly Language / Build Systems / C Language / Debugger, Logic Analyzer / Hardware Protocol Knowledge / OS Kernel Knowledge / Version Control
Recommended Skills
C++ / English Document Reading / Real-time OS / Tool Development (Python) / WindowsDriverKit
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Analytical & Logical Thinking | To interpret hardware specifications and translate them into software design. |
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Because small errors can lead to hardware failures. |
| Learning Agility & Knowledge Acquisition | Required to acquire knowledge of new hardware and OS specifications. |
| Problem Solving | Essential for investigating causes of low-level problems. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Mainly desk-based work. |
Related Qualifications
- Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination
- Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination
- Linux Professional Institute Certification
Aliases
- Device Driver Engineer
- Driver Developer
- Firmware Engineer
Related Jobs
- Embedded Software Engineer
- Firmware Engineer
- OS Engineer
- System Programmer