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Internship Kernel Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Workato

Intern, AI Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... Interns in San Francisco. You'll work on fundamental problems in LLM-based agentic systems and ... Optimize inference pipelines through systems-level innovations, kernel development, and deployment ...

Qualcomm

#Senior Engineer - Product Debug Team

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

... internship or academic projects in Linux kernel development or debugging preferred). • Strong ... programming; familiarity with Assembly is a plus. • Solid understanding of Linux internals ...

Nutanix

Senior Engineer - Product Debug Team

San Diego, CA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

... internship or academic projects in Linux kernel development or debugging preferred). • Strong ... programming; familiarity with Assembly is a plus. • Solid understanding of Linux internals ...

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Internship Kernel Developer information

What is an internship kernel developer?

Internship Kernel Developers are students or entry-level professionals who work on the core components of an operating system, known as the kernel, during an internship. Their responsibilities often include debugging, writing, and optimizing low-level code that communicates directly with hardware. These internships are typically offered by companies or organizations involved in operating system development, and they provide hands-on experience with system programming, device drivers, and kernel modules. This role is valuable for those looking to build a career in systems software, embedded systems, or operating system development.

What does an internship kernel developer do?

As an Internship Kernel Developer, you will typically assist with tasks such as debugging kernel modules, developing or improving device drivers, and contributing to the implementation of new kernel features. You may also be involved in writing and reviewing code patches, participating in code reviews, and collaborating with senior developers on performance optimization. Interns often work closely with other software engineers and may interact with hardware teams to ensure kernel compatibility and stability. This hands-on experience is invaluable for understanding low-level system operations and can serve as a foundation for advanced roles in systems programming.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an internship kernel developer?

To thrive as an Internship Kernel Developer, you need a solid understanding of operating systems, C programming, and computer architecture, often supported by coursework or projects in systems programming. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, Linux kernel development tools, and debugging utilities is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn from feedback distinguish successful candidates. These skills ensure you can contribute effectively to kernel development tasks, quickly adapt to complex system environments, and collaborate with experienced engineers.

What is the difference between Internship Kernel Developer vs Software Engineer Intern?

AspectInternship Kernel DeveloperSoftware Engineer Intern
Required CredentialsBasic programming skills, understanding of OS concepts, possibly some coursework in computer scienceSimilar; often includes programming, data structures, and software development fundamentals
Work EnvironmentHands-on kernel development, low-level programming, working closely with OS componentsApplication development, testing, and debugging in various software projects
Industry UsagePrimarily in OS, hardware, and systems software companiesAcross tech, finance, startups, and software firms

Internship Kernel Developer roles focus on low-level OS and kernel programming, requiring knowledge of system internals. Software Engineer Intern positions are broader, covering application-level development. Both roles are valuable entry points but differ in technical depth and focus area.

What are popular job titles related to Internship Kernel Developer jobs in California?

For Internship Kernel Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Internship Kernel Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Internship Kernel Developer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Internship Kernel Developer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Internship Kernel Developer job openings:

Internship Kernel Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Kernel Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 56% Internship, and 44% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Kernel Engineer - New Grad

Cerebras Systems

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Help design and implement machine learning and linear algebra kernels for the Cerebras Wafer-Scale Engine.

  • Develop and debug high-performance kernel routines using low-level programming techniques and the Cerebras Software Language.

  • Apply parallel programming algorithms to map computational workloads efficiently onto the Cerebras architecture.

Job description

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.
This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.
Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.
About the Role
As a Kernel Engineer at Cerebras, you will develop high-performance software at the intersection of hardware and software for cutting-edge artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads.
You will help implement, optimize, and validate machine learning and linear algebra operations for the Cerebras Wafer-Scale Engine, our custom massively parallel processor architecture. Working alongside experienced kernel, compiler, performance, and hardware engineers, you will learn how algorithms are mapped to specialized hardware and contribute to software that maximizes compute utilization and system performance.
You will be part of a team responsible for the design, development, performance tuning, and validation of foundational ML and HPC kernels. This is an excellent opportunity for a new graduate who is interested in computer architecture, parallel programming, low-level software, and machine learning systems.
Responsibilities
  • Help design and implement machine learning and linear algebra kernels for the Cerebras Wafer-Scale Engine.
  • Develop and debug high-performance kernel routines using low-level programming techniques and the Cerebras Software Language, a custom C-like language.
  • Apply parallel programming algorithms to map computational workloads efficiently onto the Cerebras architecture.
  • Use mathematical analysis, performance data, and profiling tools to evaluate kernel behavior and inform design decisions.
  • Identify and investigate correctness, performance, and hardware utilization issues.
  • Develop unit tests and system-level validation methodologies to verify the functionality and performance of kernel libraries.
  • Collaborate with kernel, compiler, performance, and hardware engineers to improve software and system performance.
  • Study emerging machine learning workloads and contribute to the evolution of the kernel library.
  • Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and software development processes.
  • Build an understanding of the Cerebras architecture, instruction set, memory system, and communication model.
Minimum Skills & Qualifications
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field.
  • Strong programming fundamentals in C++ and familiarity with Python.
  • Understanding of foundational computer architecture concepts such as processors, memory hierarchies, instruction execution, or data movement.
  • Knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and software development fundamentals.
  • Experience debugging software through coursework, internships, research, co-op placements, or technical projects.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Interest in low-level software, parallel computing, performance optimization, or hardware/software co-design.
  • Ability to learn unfamiliar systems and collaborate effectively within a technical team.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
  • Research, internships, or projects involving kernel development, compilers, computer architecture, HPC, or systems programming.
  • Familiarity with parallel algorithms, multithreaded programming, or distributed memory systems.
  • Exposure to programming accelerators such as GPUs, FPGAs, or other specialized processors.
  • Experience with low-level programming, assembly language, CUDA, OpenCL, or a domain-specific language.
  • Familiarity with machine learning concepts, neural networks, or frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Exposure to numerical computing, linear algebra, or HPC kernels.
  • Experience using profiling, benchmarking, or performance analysis tools.
  • Familiarity with library or API development practices.

Why Join Cerebras
People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we've reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:
  1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
  2. Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.
  3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
  4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
  5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here!
Apply today and become part of the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in AI!
Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.
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