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Linux Kernel Development Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Senior Platform Engineer

Orlando, FL · On-site

$94.40K - $128.40K/yr

... a strong Linux and Windows background to join our growing engineering team. You will be ... Work closely with development teams to understand their platform needs and provide guidance and ...

Senior Platform Engineer

Orlando, FL

$94.40K - $128.40K/yr

... a strong Linux and Windows background to join our growing engineering team. You will be ... Work closely with development teams to understand their platform needs and provide guidance and ...

Senior Wireless Firmware Engineer

Tampa, FL · Remote

$112.90K - $149.30K/yr

... development at chipset/SoC level - Strong understanding of Linux kernel and networking stack - Deep knowledge of IEEE 802.11 MAC and PHY layers - Experience with OpenWRT, RDK, or OpenSync - Strong ...

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

Cape Canaveral, FL · On-site

$48.25 - $64.25/hr

... developed into capable engineers. * Drive scripting, self-service and automation to develop ... Experience with the Linux shell as well as configuring and extending Linux instances (e.g. kernel ...

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

Cape Canaveral, FL

$110.20K - $141.60K/yr

... developed into capable engineers. * Drive scripting, self-service and automation to develop ... Experience with the Linux shell as well as configuring and extending Linux instances (e.g. kernel ...

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

Cape Canaveral, FL · On-site

$110.20K - $141.60K/yr

... developed into capable engineers. * Drive scripting, self-service and automation to develop ... Experience with the Linux shell as well as configuring and extending Linux instances (e.g. kernel ...

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Linux Kernel Development information

See Florida salary details

$75.5K

$111.4K

$131.5K

How much do linux kernel development jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel development in Florida is $111,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $123,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Linux Kernel Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Linux Kernel Developer, you need deep expertise in C programming, operating systems concepts, and a strong understanding of computer architecture, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, Linux kernel build tools, and debugging utilities such as GDB are essential technical requirements. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration are key soft skills for navigating complex codebases and working within open-source communities. These skills are crucial for developing reliable, efficient kernel code and contributing effectively to collaborative, large-scale projects.

What are some common challenges faced when working in Linux Kernel Development, and how can they be managed?

Linux Kernel Development often involves navigating a complex codebase and adhering to strict coding standards. Developers may face challenges such as debugging low-level system issues, managing hardware compatibility, and staying updated with rapid changes in the kernel. Collaborating with a global community and submitting patches for review can also be demanding, as feedback is thorough and expectations are high. To manage these challenges, it's helpful to engage with community resources, participate in mailing lists, and use robust debugging tools while maintaining clear, well-documented code.

What is Linux Kernel Development?

Linux Kernel Development involves designing, writing, and maintaining the core part of the Linux operating system known as the kernel. Developers working in this field contribute to features, fix bugs, improve performance, and collaborate with a global community to ensure stability and security. Kernel development requires strong C programming skills, understanding of operating system concepts, and familiarity with version control systems like Git. It's a collaborative process, often involving submitting patches and working through public mailing lists. Many contributors work for technology companies, while others participate as independent developers.

What is the difference between Linux Kernel Development vs Linux Device Driver Development?

AspectLinux Kernel DevelopmentLinux Device Driver Development
FocusDesigning, modifying, and maintaining the core Linux kernelCreating and optimizing drivers for hardware components
Required SkillsKernel architecture, C programming, system internalsC programming, hardware interface knowledge, kernel APIs
Work EnvironmentKernel source code, development tools, testing on Linux systemsHardware platforms, kernel modules, Linux environment
CertificationsLinux Foundation certifications, Linux kernel trainingLinux Foundation certifications, driver development courses

Linux Kernel Development involves working on the core system, while Linux Device Driver Development focuses on creating software that interfaces hardware with the kernel. Both roles require strong C skills and Linux knowledge, but kernel development is broader, whereas driver development is more hardware-specific.

What are the most commonly searched types of Linux Kernel Development jobs in Florida? The most popular types of Linux Kernel Development jobs in Florida are:
What job categories do people searching Linux Kernel Development jobs in Florida look for? The top searched job categories for Linux Kernel Development jobs in Florida are:
Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Development job openings in Florida as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 50% Physical, and 50% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $111,393 per year, or $53.6 per hour.
Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer

Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer

SpaceX

Cape Canaveral, FL

$48.25 - $64.25/hr

Other

Posted 16 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 142 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 59 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. LINUX SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEER
SpaceX is looking for an experienced engineer with deep working knowledge of Kubernetes and related containerized technologies. This employee will be a member of the Information Technology Linux Infrastructure team and will provide expertise in Kubernetes design, maintenance, scaling and optimization in support of critical business functions. The ideal candidate will be flexible and flourish in a fast paced and challenging environment. They should be a self-starter, self-motivator and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Build, install, manage, scale and optimize Kubernetes and RKE clusters using Ansible, Terraform and adjacent technologies in production environments.
  • Work closely with other SpaceX engineers to gather requirements, research, evaluate, design, plan, deploy, and support software platforms and related technologies running in Kubernetes within a world-class environment that meets the needs of the demanding SpaceX engineering teams. Build highly resilient, high-performance, scalable, and robust systems.
  • Exercise a high degree of personal responsibility for the processes, systems, and tools you create and manage; all supporting the goal of making humanity an interplanetary species.
  • Make recommendations, justify, and implement improvements using an accepted change control methodology.
  • Work within a diverse group to design and deliver creative solutions and resolve problems in a timely and proactive manner by interacting with internal business units.
  • Define, document and follow standards and best practices for systems design, testing, and implementation.
  • Foster an environment of collaboration and cross-training, upskilling the team in Kubernetes expertise and ensuring peers are developed into capable engineers.
  • Drive scripting, self-service and automation to develop solutions to reduce administrative overhead and TOIL.
  • Participate in on-call rotation to handle urgent after-hours work when necessary.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a STEM discipline and 5+ years of systems engineering experience; OR 7+ years of systems engineering experience in lieu of a degree.
  • Experience deploying and supporting Linux servers in physical and virtualized environments (e.g. VMware via automation).
  • Experience with the Linux shell as well as configuring and extending Linux instances (e.g. kernel modules, cgroups, pki, iptables, interfaces).
  • Experience supporting and scaling containerized applications in Linux environments.
  • Experience using automation frameworks (e.g. Ansible, Terraform) to manage provisioning and post-provisioning lifecycles of infrastructure and Kubernetes installations.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Expertise in creating repeatable, reliable, scalable systems architectures, with high availability, fault tolerance, performance tuning, monitoring, and statistics/metrics collection.
  • Expertise in source code version control tools such as Git and Subversion and collaborating on source code via Pull Requests and other Git-based workflows.
  • Strong understanding of Linux Container Runtime.
  • Experience implementing configuration management provisioning and workflow automation solutions via Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD and GitOps (e.g. Ansible, AWX/Tower, Vagrant, Puppet, Redfish, Jenkins, cloud-init, ArgoCD, etc).
  • Experience writing test automation to ensure backwards compatibility of feature and change development for automation processes and Kubernetes deployments.
  • Experience with programming and scripting languages such as Python and Golang to develop software solutions and integrate with external systems to implement automation against RESTful API services.
  • Experience installing, configuring and troubleshooting Kubernetes internals, CNI, CRI and CSI plugins (e.g. Docker, Cri-O, Ceph, Cilium), load balancing (e.g. MetalLB), Service Mesh (e.g. Istio) and software-defined storage (e.g. rook-ceph) in cloud or on-premise environments.
  • Experience developing solutions using Kubernetes patterns to extend system functionality and solve custom use cases (e.g. webhooks, controllers, operators, sidecars).
  • Experience implementing proactive alert/monitoring workflows and dashboards for Linux systems and Kubernetes deployments using Prometheus, Grafana, InfluxDB or similar technologies.
  • Experience with dynamic system configuration templating using Jinja, Jsonnet, YAML and Helm.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
  • Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

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