Freelance Linux Kernel Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Linux Kernel DeveloperThis role has been designed as 'Hybrid' with an expectation that you will work on average 2 days per week from an HPE office.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of Linux kernel components including filesystems, memory management, networking, and I/O subsystems.
• Drive performance optimization, scalability improvements, and reliability across the storage stack.
• Debug and resolve complex kernel-level issues including system crashes, memory corruption, and performance bottlenecks.
• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, mentoring, and establishing engineering best practices.
• Collaborate across storage, networking, firmware, and hardware teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Engage with upstream open-source communities (e.g., Linux kernel, Lustre) and contribute patches and reviews.
• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of critical customer issues and escalations.
• Define and influence long-term architectural direction for HPE storage platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 8-12+ years of experience in systems or kernel-level software development.
• Expert-level proficiency in C programming.
• Deep expertise in Linux kernel internals (e.g., memory management, filesystems, networking, block I/O).
• Strong experience debugging kernel using tools such as crash, perf, ftrace, and tracepoints.
• Experience with distributed systems or storage platforms.
• Proven technical leadership and ability to influence architecture and cross-functional teams.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills within global engineering organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with distributed storage systems such as Lustre, Ceph, or DAOS.
• Experience contributing to upstream Linux kernel or open-source projects.
• Knowledge of HPC environments and high-performance computing architectures.
• Familiarity with RDMA, InfiniBand, or high-speed interconnects.
• Experience with CI/CD, testing automation, and performance benchmarking.
• Experience handling customer escalations and production system issues.

Health & Wellbeing

We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have - whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

#unitedstates#compute

Job:

Engineering

Job Level:

TCP_05"The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level.
- United States of America: Annual Salary USD 160,000 - 303,000 in Colorado // 152,000 - 349,000 in Minnesota
The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered."

Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html

The estimated job application period closure is August 28 2026; this timeline is provided for transparency and internal planning purposes.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.

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All legitimate job opportunities will come through official company channels, and candidates are responsible for verifying the credentials of any third party claiming to represent the company. Any reliance on fraudulent communication is at the individual's own risk, and HPE disclaims legal liability for any resulting damages. If you suspect recruitment fraud, do not share personal information or make any payments and report the incident to your local authorities immediately.