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Kernel Jobs (NOW HIRING)

DigitalOcean

Staff Software Engineer, Kernel

Seattle, WA · On-site

$191K - $239K/yr

Deliver critical kernel fixes and security mitigations with kernel live patches * Investigate and resolve virtual machine downtime and kernel issues in our production environment * Implement ...

Nightwing

Windows Kernel Developer

Sterling, VA · On-site

Nightwing is seeking experienced Windows Kernel Developers to support the design, development, testing, and debugging of low-level Windows operating system software. The ideal candidates will bring ...

Nwis

Windows Kernel Developer

Sterling, VA · On-site

Nightwing is seeking experienced Windows Kernel Developers to support the design, development, testing, and debugging of low-level Windows operating system software. The ideal candidates will bring ...

Makora

Gpu Kernel Engineer

GPU Kernel Engineer Our R&D team is seeking expert level GPU kernel engineers to help build the world's best LLMs and Agents for GPU kernel generation. The goal is simple: design an AI agent that ...

Diverse Lynx

Windows Kernel Driver Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

Title -Windows Kernel Driver Engineer Location - Redmond, WA ( Hybrid) We re looking for a Windows Kernel Driver Engineer to build and debug high quality kernel mode and user mode drivers and system ...

Etched

Kernel Driver Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Design, develop, and maintain kernel-mode drivers ensuring high reliability, informative debug, and optimal performance. * Analyze and optimize driver performance for demanding AI workloads, focusing ...

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quadric, Inc

AI Kernel Engineer

Burlingame, CA · On-site

$110K - $270K/yr

Role The AI Kernel Engineer in Quadric plays the key role to enable a large number of AI kernels/operators to run efficiently on the Quadric platform. The AI Kernel Engineer at Quadric will [1] ...

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Etched

Kernel Driver Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Design, develop, and maintain kernel-mode drivers ensuring high reliability, informative debug, and optimal performance. * Analyze and optimize driver performance for demanding AI workloads, focusing ...

quadric.io

AI Kernel Engineer

Burlingame, CA · On-site

$110K - $270K/yr

Role The AI Kernel Engineer in Quadric plays the key role to enable a large number of AI kernels/operators to run efficiently on the Quadric platform. The AI Kernel Engineer at Quadric will [1] ...

quadric, Inc

AI Kernel Engineer

Burlingame, CA

$110K - $270K/yr

Role The AI Kernel Engineer in Quadric plays the key role to enable a large number of AI kernels/operators to run efficiently on the Quadric platform. The AI Kernel Engineer at Quadric will [1] ...

ThreatLocker

Senior Kernel Software Developer

Orlando, FL · On-site

$51 - $67.25/hr

POSITION OVERVIEW We are seeking a Windows Kernel Driver Engineer with extensive experience in filter driver development and Windows system internals to join our cybersecurity product team. In this ...

Sciforium

GPU Kernel Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$190K - $250K/yr

About the role We are seeking a highly skilled GPU Kernel Engineer who is passionate about pushing the limits of performance on modern accelerators. In this role, you will design and optimize custom ...

Wipro Limited

GPU Kernel Developer

Redmond, UT · On-site

$45K - $121K/yr

GPU Kernel Developer City: Redmond State/Province: Washington Posting Start Date: 6/29/26 Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading technology services and consulting company ...

Team Red Dog

Senior Linux Kernel Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$56 - $61/hr

Team Red Dog is hiring a Senior Linux Kernel Engineer for our client, a leading international cloud and software provider and industry-leading technology partner. This hybrid role (Hillsboro, OR ...

Sciforium

GPU Kernel Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$190K - $250K/yr

About the role We are seeking a highly skilled GPU Kernel Engineer who is passionate about pushing the limits of performance on modern accelerators. In this role, you will design and optimize custom ...

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Kernel information

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$92K

$155.5K

$229.5K

How much do kernel jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for kernel in the United States is $155,462.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,000.00 and $169,500.00 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 job?

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.

More about Kernel jobs
What cities are hiring for Kernel jobs? Cities with the most Kernel job openings:
What states have the most Kernel jobs? States with the most job openings for Kernel jobs include:
Kernel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Kernel job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,462 per year, or $74.7 per hour.
Staff Software Engineer, Kernel

Staff Software Engineer, Kernel

DigitalOcean

Seattle, WA • On-site

$191K - $239K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Dive in and do the best work of your career at DigitalOcean. Journey alongside a strong community of top talent who are relentless in their drive to build the simplest scalable cloud. If you have a growth mindset, naturally like to think big and bold, and are energized by the fast-paced environment of a true industry disruptor, you'll find your place here. We value winning together-while learning, having fun, and making a profound difference for the dreamers and builders in the world.
We are looking for a Staff Engineer who is passionate about the Linux kernel.
As a Staff Engineer at DigitalOcean, you will work as a high-level technical leader responsible for designing, optimizing, and maintaining Linux kernels for our compute and GPU fleets. You will optimize and enhance core system performance, resiliency, and security, ensuring our products consistently exceed customer expectations. You will bridge hardware and software, driving system-level architecture, debugging performance bottlenecks, and mentoring senior engineers.
What You'll Do:
  • Optimize kernels for performance and resiliency across the DigitalOcean fleet for storage, networking, and virtualization
  • Drive cross-functional engineering initiatives and influence hardware roadmaps without direct authority
  • Define low-level software architecture
  • Tune kernels for low latency, high throughput, and power efficiency
  • Diagnose and resolve issues in the kernel
  • Deliver critical kernel fixes and security mitigations with kernel live patches
  • Investigate and resolve virtual machine downtime and kernel issues in our production environment
  • Implement monitoring and alerting of key metrics to drive resiliency of compute infrastructure
  • Improve tooling and automation for testing and deployment of Linux kernels
  • Lead initiatives to enhance shared infrastructure, balancing performance optimization with rigorous security standards
  • Work cross-functionally to harness new performance capabilities from evolving hardware architectures
  • Participate in on-call rotations as needed to support system reliability
  • Work with Linux kernel community to push changes upstream
What You'll Add to DigitalOcean:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Computer/Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience
  • Experience maintaining Linux kernels for large-scale cloud infrastructure, with a deep understanding of operating system internals
  • Broad knowledge of the Linux kernel and kernel subsystems
  • Demonstrated experience with kernel patching and debugging
  • Debugging skills with Linux kernel and kernel drivers
  • Expertise in C/C++ programming and one or more scripting languages
  • Familiarity with compiler toolchains, build environments
  • Experience with Linux virtualization using KVM, QEMU
  • General understanding of Linux kernel security mechanisms and common security concepts
  • Familiarity with x86_64 and/or ARM architectures
  • Experience contributing patches to the upstream Linux kernel community is highly preferred
  • Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems at scale
  • Excellent cross-team collaboration and communication skills
  • Professional-level written and spoken English with strong presentation abilities
Compensation Range:
  • $191,200 - $239,000

*This is a hybrid role
JR: 2026-7920
#LI-Hybrid
Why You'll Like Working for DigitalOcean
  • We innovate with purpose. You'll be a part of a cutting-edge technology company with an upward trajectory, who are proud to simplify cloud and AI so builders can spend more time creating software that changes the world. As a member of the team, you will be a Shark who thinks big, bold, and scrappy, like an owner with a bias for action and a powerful sense of responsibility for customers, products, employees, and decisions.
  • We prioritize career development. At DO, you'll do the best work of your career. You will work with some of the smartest and most interesting people in the industry. We are a high-performance organization that will always challenge you to think big. Our organizational development team will provide you with resources to ensure you keep growing. We provide employees with reimbursement for relevant conferences, training, and education. All employees have access to LinkedIn Learning's 10,000+ courses to support their continued growth and development.
  • We care about your well-being. Regardless of your location, we will provide you with a competitive array of benefits to support you from our Employee Assistance Program to Local Employee Meetups to flexible time off policy, to name a few. While the philosophy around our benefits is the same worldwide, specific benefits may vary based on local regulations and preferences.
  • We reward our employees. The salary range for this position is based on market data, relevant years of experience, and skills. You may qualify for a bonus in addition to base salary; bonus amounts are determined based on company and individual performance. We also provide equity compensation to eligible employees, including equity grants upon hire and the option to participate in our Employee Stock Purchase Program.
  • DigitalOcean is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

Application Limit: You may apply to a maximum of 3 positions within any 180-day period. This policy promotes better role-candidate matching and encourages thoughtful applications where your qualifications align most strongly.

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