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Freelance Linux Kernel Developer Jobs in New York

CoreWeave

Systems Engineer, Kernel

New York, NY

$165K - $242K/yr

Linux Kernel (custom build), Ubuntu * Intel/AMD/ARM CPUs, Nvidia GPUs, DPUs, Infiniband and ... Strong C programming skills with the ability to write maintainable and upstream-quality code.

CoreWeave

Systems Engineer, Kernel

Livingston, NJ · On-site

$165K - $242K/yr

Linux Kernel (custom build), Ubuntu * Intel/AMD/ARM CPUs, Nvidia GPUs, DPUs, Infiniband and ... Strong C programming skills with the ability to write maintainable and upstream-quality code.

Elliot Partnership

Senior Linux Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

* Senior Linux Systems Engineer - (Kernel & Performance) * New York, NY (Hybrid, 3 days in office) * Highly competitive compensation package Join an elite technology and research group at the forefront ...

Carnegie Affiliates

Sr Linux Engineers

New York, NY · On-site

... kernel panics and system hangs Analyzing performance issues Fine-tuning processes to run with the ... Hat Linux systems Taking a role in researching, testing, recommending, implementing, and ...

Samsung

Senior Linux/Unix Engineer

Moonachie, NJ

Knowledge of the Linux kernel and kernel modules Familiarity with open source tools, monitoring systems Experience with Web server administration (Apache) Experience configuring Tomcat/JBoss ...

Samsung

Senior Linux/Unix Engineer

Moonachie, NJ · On-site

... Linux kernel and kernel modules • Familiarity with open source tools, monitoring systems • Experience with Web server administration (Apache) • Experience configuring Tomcat/JBoss • ...

CoreWeave

Senior Systems Engineer, Virtualization

New York, NY · On-site

$114K - $156K/yr

This is fundamentally a Linux systems engineering role where you'll work across the Linux kernel, KVM/QEMU, container runtimes, GPU drivers, and Kubernetes to solve problems that don't have off-the ...

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Freelance Linux Kernel Developer information

What is the difference between Freelance Linux Kernel Developer vs Linux Device Driver Developer?

AspectFreelance Linux Kernel DeveloperLinux Device Driver Developer
CredentialsExperience with Linux kernel development, possibly certifications in Linux or C programmingSimilar credentials, often with specialized knowledge in device driver development
Work EnvironmentFreelance projects, remote work, client-based assignmentsIn-house or freelance, focused on hardware-specific driver development
Industry UsageTechnology companies, startups, open-source projectsHardware manufacturers, embedded systems, specialized tech firms
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for freelance Linux kernel work or collaborationSeeking expertise in developing or maintaining device drivers

The main difference is that a Freelance Linux Kernel Developer works on overall kernel development projects on a freelance basis, while a Linux Device Driver Developer specializes in creating and maintaining drivers for specific hardware components. Both roles require similar technical skills and credentials, but their focus areas and work environments differ.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance Linux kernel developers when working with diverse client codebases?

Freelance Linux Kernel Developers often work with a variety of client codebases, which can present challenges such as adapting to different kernel versions, understanding custom modifications, and ensuring compatibility with client-specific hardware. Navigating disparate documentation and collaborating remotely with in-house teams also requires strong communication and problem-solving skills. Staying up-to-date with upstream kernel changes and maintaining high code quality are essential to deliver reliable, maintainable solutions for each project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance Linux kernel developer?

To thrive as a Freelance Linux Kernel Developer, you need deep expertise in C programming, operating systems concepts, and a strong understanding of Linux internals, often supported by a relevant computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), kernel debugging tools (such as GDB, perf), and contributing to open-source repositories is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, self-motivation, and clear written communication help developers stand out when collaborating remotely and engaging with the open-source community. These competencies are crucial for efficiently delivering robust kernel solutions and maintaining high standards in a distributed, collaborative environment.

What does a freelance Linux kernel developer do?

A Freelance Linux Kernel Developer specializes in writing, modifying, and maintaining the core of the Linux operating system, often for clients or companies on a project basis. Their responsibilities include debugging kernel code, developing new features, optimizing performance, and ensuring compatibility with hardware and software. Freelancers in this field work independently, offering their expertise to organizations that need custom Linux kernel solutions or support. They typically need strong programming skills in C, in-depth knowledge of operating systems, and experience with open-source collaboration.
What are the most commonly searched types of Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York? The most popular types of Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York? For Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in New York are:
What cities in New York are hiring for Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs? Cities in New York with the most Freelance Linux Kernel Developer job openings:
Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs near you

Systems Engineer, Kernel

CoreWeave

New York, NY

$165K - $242K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 hours ago

CoreWeave rating

9.8

Company rating: 9.8 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 223 rated it services

Job description

CoreWeave is The Essential Cloud for AI™. Built for pioneers by pioneers, CoreWeave delivers a platform of technology, tools, and teams that enables innovators to build and scale AI with confidence. Trusted by leading AI labs, startups, and global enterprises, CoreWeave combines superior infrastructure performance with deep technical expertise to accelerate breakthroughs and turn compute into capability. Founded in 2017, CoreWeave became a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: CRWV) in March 2025. Learn more at www.coreweave.com.
What You'll Do:

CoreWeave is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Systems Kernel Engineer to join our HAVOCK Team, reporting into the Manager of Systems Engineering. In this role, you will be a key contributor to the stability, performance, and evolution of CoreWeave's Linux based infrastructure. As a kernel generalist, you will be responsible for debugging kernel-level issues, analyzing and fixing crashes, panics, dumps, and upstreaming fixes and features that improves the performance and reliability of our stack.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in low-level systems engineering, and understands how modern workloads stress kernels, and is excited to work across a diverse hardware/software ecosystem including CPUs, GPUs, DPUs, networking, and storage.

Kernel Hardware - Acceleration - Virtualization - Operating Systems - Containerization - Kubelet

Our Team's Stack:

  • Python, Go, bash/sh, C
  • Prometheus, Victoria Metrics, Grafana
  • Linux Kernel (custom build), Ubuntu
  • Intel/AMD/ARM CPUs, Nvidia GPUs, DPUs, Infiniband and Ethernet NICs
  • Docker, kubernetes (k8s), KubeVirt, containerd, kubelet

Focus Areas:

  • Kernel Debugging – Analyze kernel crashes, oopses, panics, and dumps to identify root causes and propose fixes.
  • Upstream Contributions – Develop patches for the Linux kernel and upstream them where applicable (networking, storage, virtualization, GPU/DPU enablement).
  • Stack-Wide Support – Ensure kernel support and stability across:
    • Virtualization (KubeVirt, QEMU, vFIO)
    • Container runtimes (containerd, nydus, kubelet)
    • HPC/AI workloads (CUDA, GPUDirect, RoCE/InfiniBand)
  • Kernel-Hardware Enablement – Support new hardware bring-up across Intel, AMD, ARM CPUs, NVIDIA GPUs, DPUs, and NICs.
  • Performance & Stability – Tune kernel subsystems for latency, throughput, and scalability in distributed HPC/AI clusters.
About the role:
  • Triage and fix kernel crashes and performance regressions.
  • Develop, test, and upstream kernel patches relevant to CoreWeave's hardware/software environment.
  • Collaborate with hardware vendors and the Linux community on feature enablement.
  • Implement diagnostics and tooling for kernel-level observability.
  • Work closely with HPC and Fleet teams to ensure kernel readiness for production workloads.
  • Provide kernel-level expertise during incident response and root-cause investigations.
Who You Are:
  • 5+ years of professional experience in Linux kernel engineering or systems-level development.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Deep understanding of kernel internals (memory management, scheduling, networking, storage, drivers).
  • Experience debugging kernel crashes, dumps, and panics using tools like crash, gdb, kdump.
  • Strong C programming skills with the ability to write maintainable and upstream-quality code.
  • Experience working with kernel modules, drivers, and subsystems.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities with a "full-stack" systems perspective.

Preferred:

  • Contributions to the Linux kernel or related open-source projects.
  • Familiarity with virtualization (KVM, QEMU, VFIO) and container runtimes.
  • Networking stack expertise (InfiniBand, RoCE, TCP/IP performance tuning).
  • GPU/DPU bring-up and driver experience.
  • Experience in HPC or large-scale distributed systems.
  • Familiarity with QA/QE best practices
  • Experience working in Cloud environments
  • Experience as a software engineer writing large-scale applications
  • Experience with machine learning is a huge bonus

The base salary range for this role is $165,000 to $242,000. The starting salary will be determined based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location. We strive for both market alignment and internal equity when determining compensation. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package includes a discretionary bonus, equity awards, and a comprehensive benefits program (all based on eligibility).

What We Offer

The range we've posted represents the typical compensation range for this role. To determine actual compensation, we review the market rate for each candidate which can include a variety of factors. These include qualifications, experience, interview performance, and location.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits to support your needs. The benefits below reflect our US-based offerings for full-time employees; for roles in other locations, benefits vary and are shared during the hiring process. These include:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance - 100% paid for by CoreWeave
  • Company-paid Life Insurance
  • Voluntary supplemental life insurance
  • Short and long-term disability insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Health Savings Account
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Ability to Participate in Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
  • Mental Wellness Benefits through Spring Health
  • Family-Forming support provided by Carrot
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Flexible, full-service childcare support with Kinside
  • 401(k) with a generous employer match
  • Flexible PTO
  • Catered lunch each day in our office and data center locations
  • A casual work environment
  • A work culture focused on innovative disruption

California Applicants

California Consumer Privacy Act

Equal Opportunity & Accommodations

CoreWeave is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. All qualified applicants and candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

As part of this commitment and consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), CoreWeave will ensure that qualified applicants and candidates with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact: careers@coreweave.com.

Export Control Compliance

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. CoreWeave may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.

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