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Freelance Linux Kernel Developer Jobs in Pennsylvania

Principal CNO Software Engineer

State College, PA ยท On-site

$132K - $177K/yr

Highly experienced in systems software development (Linux/Windows kernel drivers) * Successfully ... Reverse engineering experience (gdb, Binary Ninja, IDA Pro) * Familiar reading assembly / compiled ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

State College, PA ยท On-site

$132K - $177K/yr

Highly experienced in systems software development (Linux/Windows kernel drivers) * Successfully ... Reverse engineering experience (gdb, Binary Ninja, IDA Pro) * Familiar reading assembly / compiled ...

Sr. Storage Software Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site +1

$53 - $70/hr

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Storage Software Developer with deep expertise in C/C ... Experience developing Linux or BSD kernel-level code is a plus. Location: We strongly prefer ...

Sr. Storage Software Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site +1

$53 - $70/hr

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Storage Software Developer with deep expertise in C/C ... Experience developing Linux or BSD kernel-level code is a plus. Location: We strongly prefer ...

Sr. Storage Software Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$53 - $70/hr

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Storage Software Developer with deep expertise in C/C ... Experience developing Linux or BSD kernel-level code is a plus. Location: We strongly prefer ...

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท Hybrid

$120K - $157K/yr

... Linux with pthreads, QNX, VxWorks, or RTEMS). * Experience with MCU bootloaders, device drivers ... Familiarity with kernel internals and low-level OS concepts. * Experience with deterministic timing ...

Staff Site Reliability Engineer

Crum Lynne, PA

$54.50 - $72.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

... DevOps Director. The Site Reliability Engineering team drives reliability strategy, elevates ... Deep Linux expertise - from kernel internals and system performance tuning to hardening and ...

Staff Site Reliability Engineer

Crum Lynne, PA ยท On-site

$54.50 - $72.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

... DevOps Director. The Site Reliability Engineering team drives reliability strategy, elevates ... Deep Linux expertise - from kernel internals and system performance tuning to hardening and ...

Sr. Systems Engineer

Philadelphia, PA ยท Hybrid

$105K - $144K/yr

Collaborate with network, security, and application DevOps teams to design, deploy, and maintain ... Experience with containerization and Linux operating systems a plus * Ability to work independently ...

Sr. Systems Engineer

Philadelphia, PA ยท Hybrid

$105K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Collaborate with network, security, and application DevOps teams to design, deploy, and maintain ... Experience with containerization and Linux operating systems a plus * Ability to work independently ...

Sr. Systems Engineer

Philadelphia, PA ยท On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Collaborate with network, security, and application DevOps teams to design, deploy, and maintain ... Experience with containerization and Linux operating systems a plus * Ability to work independently ...

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$120K - $157K/yr

... Linux with pthreads, QNX, VxWorks, or RTEMS). * Experience with MCU bootloaders, device drivers ... Familiarity with kernel internals and low-level OS concepts. * Experience with deterministic timing ...

Showing results 21-38

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 Pennsylvania?

The most popular types of Linux Kernel Developer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in Pennsylvania?

For Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in Pennsylvania, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in Pennsylvania look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

What cities in Pennsylvania are hiring for Freelance Linux Kernel Developer jobs?

Cities in Pennsylvania with the most Freelance Linux Kernel Developer job openings:

Senior / Staff Software Engineer (Observability / SRE)

Waabi

Pittsburgh, PA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$148K - $249K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech.
With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, Waabi is growing quickly and looking for diverse, innovative and collaborative candidates who want to impact the world in a positive way. To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai
You will..
- Design and lead the architecture and development of Waabi's monitoring and observability stack, used to monitor the health and performance of cloud and on-prem environments.
- Develop and extend workloads and benchmarks (compute, storage, network, ML/AI) and integrate stress, chaos, and regression tests to validate hardware and platform choices.
- Analyze and optimize end-to-end performance across hardware, firmware, Linux kernel, runtimes, and distributed services using advanced profiling tools (perf, eBPF, flamegraphs, tracing frameworks).
- Build automation and observability tooling (Go/Python/Java, Kubernetes/Docker) for CI/CD-based performance regression detection, telemetry, alerting, and anomaly detection.
- Work with client teams to support their applications' observability requirements.
- Influence system architecture and tooling decisions that improve how Waabi builds, monitors, and scales its infrastructure.
- Drive execution and quality, writing design docs, setting milestones, mentoring ICs, and communicating insights and results to stakeholders and leadership.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years software engineering or systems/performance engineering experience (BS in CS/EE or related), with demonstrated end-to-end ownership of complex projects.
- Proficient in at least one of: Python, Rust, C/C++; strong CS fundamentals and system design skills.
- Hands-on with Linux internals (CPU scheduling, memory, I/O, networking) and perf tooling (perf, eBPF, flamegraphs, tracing frameworks).
- Experience with Kubernetes, microservices, and distributed systems; comfort building production services and pipelines.
- Proven track record of clear communication, writing design docs, and leading cross-functional efforts.
Bonus:
- Experience deploying and managing observability platforms (OpenTelemetry, Grafana OSS).
- Performance tuning for databases/streaming/batch/ML platforms; GPU/xPU or Arm performance exposure.
- Experience tuning stream processing, batch or ML platforms (e.g. Argo Workflows, PyTorch).
- Familiarity with microservices debugging and distributed tracing (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus).
The US yearly salary range for this role is: $148,000 - $249,000 USD in addition to competitive perks & benefits. Waabi (US) Inc.'s yearly salary ranges are determined based on several factors in accordance with the Company's compensation practices. The salary base range is reflective of the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Note: The Company provides additional compensation for employees in this role, including equity incentive awards and an annual performance bonus.
Perks/Benefits:
- Competitive compensation and equity awards.
- Health and Wellness benefits encompassing Medical, Dental and Vision coverage (for full-time employees only).
- Unlimited Vacation.
- Flexible hours and Work from Home support.
- Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals (when in office).
- Regularly scheduled team building activities and social events both on-site, off-site & virtually.
- As we grow, this list continues to evolve!
Waabi is a technology start-up building technologies to transform the way the world moves. Join our talented team to be a part of the future and to make an impact!
Waabi is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible workplace for all our employees. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, caregiver status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We make workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.