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Linux Driver Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Insilico

Linux Automotive Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Linux Automotive Engineer Location: San Diego, CA Duration: 6+ Months You will be joining ... Experience in bootloaders,Linux kernel and driver architecture is a plus * Experience in Multimedia ...

NIO

Staff Hypervisor Developer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$185K - $225K/yr

Software Developer with 10+ years of experience working in embedded systems * Experience developing ... Experience developing linux kernel / linux driver. * Experience developing Hypervisor, Xen/KVM/ACRN ...

Ultima Genomics

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Linux Systems Engineer to join our Computing Team! You ... Monitor and troubleshoot kernel, driver, and hardware issues; perform root cause analysis in ...

NIO

Staff Hypervisor Developer

San Jose, CA

$185K - $225K/yr

Software Developer with 10+ years of experience working in embedded systems * Experience developing ... Experience developing linux kernel / linux driver. * Experience developing Hypervisor, Xen/KVM/ACRN ...

NIO

Sr. Staff Hypervisor Developer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$192K - $249K/yr

Software Developer with 10+ years of experience working in embedded systems * Experience developing ... Experience developing linux kernel / linux driver. * Experience developing Hypervisor, Xen/KVM/ACRN ...

Brilliant

Linux Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Work on a variety of projects with custom built Linux on custom built hardware. Preferred candidate ... Kernel driver development experience preferred. Qualifications Additional Information All your ...

NIO

Sr. Staff Hypervisor Developer

San Jose, CA

$192K - $249K/yr

Software Developer with 10+ years of experience working in embedded systems * Experience developing ... Experience developing linux kernel / linux driver. * Experience developing Hypervisor, Xen/KVM/ACRN ...

SeeScan

Embedded Linux Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$105K - $155K/yr

About this position SeeScan is seeking a Software Engineer with strong experience in embedded Linux ... You will be responsible for a mix of driver, middleware and application development on a variety of ...

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All JobsLinux Driver Developer JobsLinux Driver Developer Jobs in California

Linux Driver Developer information

See California salary details

$36

$54

$70

How much do linux driver developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for linux driver developer in California is $54.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49.57 and $58.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Linux driver developer?

Linux Driver Developers are software engineers who design, implement, and maintain device drivers that enable hardware components to communicate with the Linux operating system. They work closely with hardware manufacturers and kernel developers to ensure that devices such as graphics cards, network adapters, and storage controllers are supported on Linux platforms. Their work involves writing code in languages like C, debugging hardware interactions, and contributing to open source kernel projects. Linux Driver Developers play a crucial role in expanding hardware compatibility and performance for Linux users.

What are some common challenges Linux driver developers face when integrating new hardware with the Linux kernel?

Linux Driver Developers often encounter challenges such as limited vendor documentation, ensuring compatibility across different kernel versions, and debugging complex interactions between the driver and user-space applications. Additionally, they must adhere to strict coding standards required by the Linux kernel community and handle frequent changes in kernel APIs. Collaborating closely with hardware engineers and the broader open-source community is also crucial to resolve issues efficiently and ensure robust, maintainable code.

What is the difference between Linux Driver Developer vs Linux Kernel Developer?

AspectLinux Driver DeveloperLinux Kernel Developer
Primary FocusDeveloping and maintaining device drivers for LinuxContributing to the Linux kernel core code
Required SkillsC programming, hardware interfaces, driver architectureC programming, kernel architecture, system internals
Work EnvironmentEmbedded systems, hardware vendors, device manufacturersOpen-source community, Linux kernel projects
CertificationsOften Linux or embedded system certificationsLinux Foundation certifications, kernel development courses

Linux Driver Developers focus on creating drivers for specific hardware components, while Linux Kernel Developers work on the core kernel itself. Both roles require strong C programming skills and familiarity with Linux internals, but Driver Developers typically work closer to hardware, whereas Kernel Developers contribute to the overall system architecture.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Linux driver developer?

To thrive as a Linux Driver Developer, you need a solid understanding of C programming, Linux kernel architecture, and device driver development, typically supported by a computer science or related degree. Familiarity with kernel debugging tools (such as GDB, ftrace, and perf), version control systems like Git, and experience with open-source collaboration are essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for building reliable, efficient drivers and collaborating within the Linux development community to ensure hardware and software compatibility.
What are the most commonly searched types of Linux Driver Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Linux Driver Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Linux Driver Developer jobs in California? For Linux Driver Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Linux Driver Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Linux Driver Developer jobs in California are:
Linux Driver Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux Driver Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $113,555 per year, or $54.6 per hour.

Senior Embedded Linux Engineer

Neros Technologies

Torrance, CA

$165K - $231K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America's drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

Neros builds first-person-view drones for the modern battlefield. As Senior Embedded Linux Engineer, you will own the embedded Linux platform underneath Neros products - the distribution, kernel, bootloader, and SDK that our flight, ground-station, and autonomy software teams build on. This is a platform-ownership role: your customers are other engineering teams, and your work is the foundation the whole product line stands on.

Responsibilities

  • Own our embedded Linux distribution and board support packages (Yocto/Buildroot) - from board bring-up on new compute platforms to safe, reliable field updates
  • Own kernel configuration, device drivers, and the bootloader, including secure boot and update/recovery paths
  • Design and maintain the common runtime and libraries other teams consume - logging, telemetry, IPC, configuration - and the cross-compile toolchain and SDK
  • Bring up new compute platforms: from first power-on to a production-ready OS image
  • Set Linux platform best practices and mentor engineers across teams that build on the platform

You should have the following

  • Deep embedded Linux experience - you have built and shipped products on custom Linux images (Yocto or Buildroot), owning the image rather than just using it
  • Kernel-level competence: device drivers, device tree, and debugging kernel or boot failures on real hardware
  • Bootloader experience (U-Boot or similar), including secure boot concepts and safe update/recovery design
  • Strong C, comfortable on both sides of the kernel/user space boundary; scripting (Python/shell) for platform tooling
  • Board bring-up experience - taking a new SoC/SoM from schematic review to a booting, stable OS
  • Platform-as-product mindset: you have designed libraries, SDKs, or interfaces consumed by other teams - and kept them stable while the platform evolved underneath

Nice to have

  • Radio/comms integration on embedded Linux
  • Real-time tuning - PREEMPT_RT, latency analysis
  • OTA/update systems - Mender, RAUC, SWUpdate, OSTree, or homegrown equivalents
  • Upstream contributions - kernel, Yocto/OpenEmbedded, U-Boot
  • Rust for systems work
  • You fly - FPV, RC, or drones generally

US Salary Range

$165,000 - $231,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We're an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Apply