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Kernel Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Kernel Scheduler Engineer, Core OS

Cupertino, CA · On-site

The team focuses on key kernel technology areas such as CPU scheduling, power management, and threading models which are central to delivering industry-leading performance and battery life. We are ...

Anthropic

TPU Kernel Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the Role As a TPU Kernel Engineer, you'll be responsible for identifying and addressing performance issues across many different ML systems, including research, training, and inference. A ...

Apple

Kernel Scheduler Engineer, Core OS

Cupertino, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

The team focuses on key kernel technology areas such as CPU scheduling, power management, and threading models which are central to delivering industry-leading performance and battery life. We are ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsKernel JobsKernel Jobs in California

Kernel information

See California salary details

$90.1K

$152.2K

$224.7K

How much do kernel jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for kernel in California is $152,233.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,299.00 and $165,979.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a kernel engineer?

Kernel Engineers typically spend their days designing, implementing, and maintaining low-level components of an operating system’s kernel, such as device drivers, process schedulers, or memory management subsystems. They often review and refactor code, troubleshoot and resolve bugs, and collaborate closely with hardware engineers, application developers, and QA teams. Participation in code reviews and contributing to open source communities or internal repositories are also common activities. This role requires staying up to date with the latest kernel developments and ensuring code changes are performant and stable, directly impacting the reliability and efficiency of the broader system.

What is a kernel?

A Kernel job typically refers to a role focused on developing, maintaining, or optimizing an operating system's kernel—the core component that manages system resources, hardware interaction, and process scheduling. Kernel developers work with low-level programming languages like C and Assembly to improve system performance, security, and stability. These roles often involve debugging kernel crashes, implementing new features, and collaborating with hardware and software teams to ensure seamless integration.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the kernel position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Kernel Engineer, you need strong expertise in operating system fundamentals, C/C++ programming, and kernel module development, often supported by a degree in computer science or equivalent experience. Familiarity with Linux kernel source code, debugging tools like GDB, and version control systems such as Git is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective communication distinguish outstanding professionals in this field. These skills are crucial for maintaining system stability, ensuring high performance, and collaborating on complex, low-level software projects.

What cities in California are hiring for Kernel jobs?

Cities in California with the most Kernel job openings:

Kernel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Kernel job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $152,233 per year, or $73.2 per hour.

Kernel Scheduler Engineer, Core OS

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

The Darwin Scheduler team within Apple's Core OS organization is responsible for the delivery of a high-quality and performant kernel for every Apple product. Our software runs on your wrist in watchOS; in your pocket with iOS; on your desk in macOS; and on the high-performance systems driving the creative industry. The team focuses on key kernel technology areas such as CPU scheduling, power management, and threading models which are central to delivering industry-leading performance and battery life.
We are looking for a highly skilled Systems Engineer to join us in designing the next generation of Apple's kernel scheduler. As one of the few vertically integrated systems shops remaining, our engineers have the unique opportunity to influence the entire stack-from silicon design to the behavior of the world's most advanced applications.
Description
As a Kernel Engineer on the Scheduler team, you will drive the evolution of the XNU kernel to support the expanding capabilities of Apple Silicon. You will work on the heart of the operating system, designing scheduling policies that balance extreme performance with aggressive power efficiency.
We are looking for a self-driven engineer who thrives on navigating complex system interactions. You will be responsible for identifying bottlenecks in highly parallel workflows, optimizing the interaction between hardware and software, and ensuring our OS scales gracefully from low-power embedded devices to massive high-performance workstation architectures.
Minimum Qualifications
BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
Technical Proficiency: Fluency in C and C++
Problem Solving: Proven track record of debugging complex system issues (deadlocks, race conditions, performance regressions) and driving ambiguous problems to resolution.
Preferred Qualifications
Systems Expertise: 2+ years of experience in Operating Systems development, with deep knowledge of kernel internals, and process/thread scheduling.
Concurrency: Strong understanding of SMP/AMP architectures, synchronization primitives, lock-free algorithms, and cache coherency.

What Apple employees say

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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