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Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

Watershed Informatics

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 ...

Aquila Technology

Software Engineer

Lexington, MA · Hybrid

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 ...

Motional

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$134.70K - $176.50K/yr

If you are a software engineer and love the idea of working on embedded AI hardware and software ... Experience working directly with the Linux kernel or Device Drivers. * Experience with Simulation ...

Ciena

Embedded Software Engineer

Burlington, MA

$143.10K - $188.20K/yr

About the Role Ciena is looking for a Software Engineer to join the ONU firmware development team ... Linux (kernel drivers, device trees, init systems, cross-compilation). - Familiarity with OpenWrt ...

Ciena

Embedded Software Engineer

Burlington, MA · On-site

$143.10K - $188.20K/yr

About the Role Ciena is looking for a Software Engineer to join the ONU firmware development team ... Linux (kernel drivers, device trees, init systems, cross-compilation). - Familiarity with OpenWrt ...

Ciena Corporation

Embedded Software Engineer

Burlington, MA · On-site

$143.10K - $188.20K/yr

About the Role Ciena is looking for a Software Engineer to join the ONU firmware development team ... Linux (kernel drivers, device trees, init systems, cross-compilation). - Familiarity with OpenWrt ...

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Linux Kernel Engineer information

See Massachusetts salary details

$12K

$125K

$141.4K

How much do linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 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?

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.

More about Linux Kernel Engineer jobs
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:
Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in Massachusetts as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 80% In-person, 10% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,048 per year, or $60.1 per hour.
Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer

Watershed Informatics

Cambridge, MA • On-site

$62.25 - $82.75/hr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Watershed
Our vision is to become the leading biocomputing platform. The future of biology is in big data analysis, and we are on a mission to accelerate digital drug discovery with the Watershed platform. Watershed enables scientists to conduct all essential analysis - from lab data to plot - with a single software platform.
We have attracted some of the best bioinformatics, engineering, and commercial talent, and we are growing! Join a team that's intellectually curious with a bias for action, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, composed of people who have come together to enable outcomes while empowering the research of all those committed to changing lives - all while bringing transformational change to a $40 billion industry.
Role
Linux Systems Engineers at Watershed engineer infrastructure to meet the high-performance computing needs of modern biology. Designing systems that keep pace with the explosive growth in the kinds and size of biological data, you will work in a highly-customized bare metal environment where our biocomputing platform and analyses run at scale. You will be tasked with engineering a new cloud experience while enabling our technology evolution in a disciplined way.
Responsibilities
  • Build, manage, and deploy a large fleet of Linux servers
  • Research new technologies and solutions, implement them or build better
  • Be the connection between hardware and software
  • Monitor system performance and manage capacity.
  • Fix and analyze technical incidents, solve ad hoc technical problems.
Qualifications
  • Experience composing infrastructure-as-code for a modern environment
  • Demonstrate a software developer mindset, building tools when necessary
  • Knowledge of virtualization, networking, and Linux Kernel internals
  • Ability to clearly communicate your thoughts, ask the right questions, and defend your views
  • Responsibility and ownership over your domain.

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