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Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

Linux kernel driver development/modifications * Familiarity with to bare metal embedded device ... Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a related field * US citizenship and an active SECRET ...

Site Reliability Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$62.75 - $83.50/hr

The Site Reliability Engineer will be responsible for engineering infrastructure to support high ... and Linux Kernel internals • Ability to clearly communicate your thoughts, ask the right ...

Site Reliability Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$62.25 - $82.75/hr

We have attracted some of the best bioinformatics, engineering, and commercial talent, and we are ... Knowledge of virtualization, networking, and Linux Kernel internals * Ability to clearly ...

Site Reliability Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$62.25 - $82.75/hr

We have attracted some of the best bioinformatics, engineering, and commercial talent, and we are ... Knowledge of virtualization, networking, and Linux Kernel internals * Ability to clearly ...

Linux System Developer

Fall River, MA · On-site

$120 - $150/hr

This requires deep knowledge of Linux internals, including the boot process, system initialization ... and kernel modules. * Hyperconverged Cloud Infrastructure: Run, manage, and debug complex ...

Hybrid Software Engineer Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance- Must be US ... Work in a native Linux environment, including Linux kernel networking, OS networking configuration ...

Hybrid Software Engineer Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance- Must be US ... Work in a native Linux environment, including Linux kernel networking, OS networking configuration ...

Showing results 21-40

Linux Kernel Engineer information

See Massachusetts salary details

$12K

$125K

$141.4K

How much do linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel engineer in Massachusetts is $125,048.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,600.00 and $136,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Linux Kernel Engineer do?

A Linux Kernel Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing the core of the Linux operating system, known as the kernel. Their work involves writing and debugging low-level code, adding new features, fixing bugs, ensuring system security, and improving performance. They often collaborate with the open-source community and hardware manufacturers to ensure compatibility and stability across various platforms. This role requires strong programming skills, especially in C, and a deep understanding of operating system concepts.

What does a Linux Kernel Engineer do?

As a Linux kernel engineer, your responsibilities are to develop company or client operating systems that rely on Linux. Your duties involve writing code and working to test and debug the developments you make to the Linux kernel, which is the main component of a Linux operating system. You may check your code for security and ensure that the system interacts effectively and efficiently with software and applications. You may also work on the customization of the system to meet the needs of your employer or client.

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

To thrive as a Linux Kernel Engineer, you need deep expertise in C programming, operating systems concepts, and a strong understanding of Linux internals, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with version control systems (such as Git), kernel debugging tools (like GDB or ftrace), and experience contributing to open-source projects are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective written communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with global developer communities. These skills ensure high-quality kernel development, efficient troubleshooting, and successful integration with the broader open-source ecosystem.

What are some common challenges Linux Kernel Engineers face when working on upstream contributions?

Linux Kernel Engineers often encounter challenges such as navigating complex codebases, adhering to strict coding and documentation standards, and coordinating with a diverse global community of maintainers and contributors. Getting patches accepted upstream requires thorough testing, clear communication, and addressing feedback from reviewers, which can be a time-consuming process. However, this collaborative environment fosters strong professional growth and ensures that engineers are constantly learning from industry experts.

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

AspectLinux Kernel EngineerLinux Device Driver Developer
Required SkillsDeep understanding of Linux kernel internals, C programming, system architectureProficiency in C, hardware interfaces, kernel modules, and device-specific programming
Work EnvironmentSystem-level development, kernel debugging, performance optimizationHardware interaction, driver development, testing on embedded or hardware platforms
Industry UsageOperating system development, open-source projects, enterprise Linux systemsHardware manufacturers, embedded systems, IoT devices
CertificationsLinux Foundation certifications, Linux kernel development coursesSimilar certifications, hardware-specific training

While both roles involve Linux kernel-related work, Linux Kernel Engineers focus on overall kernel development and optimization, whereas Linux Device Driver Developers specialize in creating and maintaining drivers for hardware components. The roles often overlap but differ in scope and focus areas.

What are popular job titles related to Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in Massachusetts?

For Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in Massachusetts, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in Massachusetts look for?

The top searched job categories for Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:

What are popular job titles related to Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in MA?

For Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,048 per year, or $60.1 per hour.

Senior Principal Program Protection Engineer (Embedded Software Engineer)

Raytheon

Tewksbury, MA

$132K - $174K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago


Raytheon rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 99 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 544 rated manufacturers


Job description

Date Posted:

2026-05-04

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-MA-TEWKSBURY-TB3 ~ 50 Apple Hill Dr ~ CONCORD BLDG, Tewksbury Tb3 300 Concord

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. 

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Job Summary:

The Software Product Assurance Center’s Software Security Sensors and Effectors Department is seeking a highly skilled individual to join our software team where you will employ Agile development techniques on embedded targets to continuously develop and deploy critical capabilities to the warfighter. We strive for technical excellence by drawing upon a workforce whose knowledge base and experience covers the complete spectrum of modern computing languages and platforms.

As a professional embedded software engineer, the candidate will be involved with software and firmware design, development, integration, and testing of real-time embedded solutions with application software, with a focus on overall system integrity.

Working side by side with Systems engineering to support generation of design concept and system architectural documentation.  Support the decomposition of the architectural documentation in support of the generation and decomposition of requirements needed to support software development activities. The ideal candidate will also participate in Technical Integration Meetings with subcontractors to ensure selected hardware meets hardware and software requirements.

The ideal candidate then, working individually or as part of a team, will be responsible for applying embedded principles to the design and development of hardened software applications.  Software applications are developed using C and C++ on a variety of computing platforms running Linux and other real time operating systems.

Lastly, the ideal candidate will ensure consistency across teams and remove impediments as they arise.

Qualifications You Must Have:

·                     Requires a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or related field and 10 years’ experience.

·                     Experience in an Agile and DevSecOps environment developing and maintaining software on an embedded processors/microcontroller.

·                     Demonstrated ability to work closely across other engineering disciplines (Systems Engineering, Hardware Engineering, etc.) to debug system and board level issues using software tools

·                     Experience working in a Linux environment with ability to modify and maintain Linux Kernel root file systems

·                     Experience developing multithreaded applications.

·                     Strong knowledge of building up and maintaining a code base built with CMake and Google Test.

·                     The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Qualifications We Value:

·                     Proficiency with RTOS Systems, Linux device drivers, and/or embedded Linux

·                     Experience developing and troubleshooting on embedded targets

·                     Experience designing, implementing, testing, or deploying real-time embedded software solutions.

·                     Willingness to learn new techniques and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to diagnose customer issues.

·                     Knowledge of modern computer architectures and hardware technologies including:  x86, ARM Architectures

·         Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs

Working knowledge of the Linux Kernel development and device drivers for the Linux Kernel.

·         Experience with bare-metal software development.

·         Experience using version control systems such as Git or Subversion.

Learn More & Apply Now!

  • Please consider the following role type definition as you apply for this role. Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

  • This position requires a security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm 

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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