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Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Tines

Staff Software Engineer (backend)

OR · On-site +1

Linux systems expertise in namespaces, file descriptors, Unix sockets, mounts, networking, and ... Strong debugging skills: able to build focused reproducers for complex kernel, runtime, and storage ...

Redhat

OpenShift Infrastructure - Senior Consultant

OR · Remote

We offer cloud, Linux, middleware, storage, and virtualization technologies, together with award ... Logging and Alerting functions for SRE operations available from VMware and how they integrate with ...

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All JobsLinux Kernel Engineer JobsLinux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Oregon

Linux Kernel Engineer information

See Oregon salary details

$11.6K

$121.1K

$136.9K

How much do linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel engineer in Oregon is $121,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $132,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 is the salary of Linux kernel engineer?

The salary of a Linux kernel engineer typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior engineers with specialized skills in kernel development and performance tuning can earn higher compensation, often including benefits and bonuses.

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.

How much do kernel engineers make?

Kernel engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in C, assembly, or device drivers can command higher salaries, especially in competitive tech markets.

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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A senior Linux Kernel Engineer with extensive experience, specialized skills in kernel development, and often working in high-demand industries or companies can earn $500,000 or more annually. Such roles typically require advanced knowledge of C programming, system architecture, and often involve leadership or critical system responsibilities.

Are kernel engineers in demand?

Kernel engineers are in high demand due to the critical role they play in developing and maintaining operating system kernels, especially in areas like embedded systems, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Skills in C programming, Linux, and system architecture increase employability, and many organizations seek professionals with experience in kernel development and debugging tools.
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Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you

Senior Software Engineer, Connected Devices

Rapta, Inc

Portland, OR • On-site

$140K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

Be an early applicant

Job description

Senior Software Engineer Connected Devices

Full-Time Position | Portland, Oregon

About Us

Rapta is revolutionizing precision US manufacturing with an agentic native AI Platform trusted by the nation's top defense primes. Backed by top investors and growing 521% year-over-year, we're a Portland-based team building computer vision and robotics technology that keeps America's most critical production lines running flawlessly. If you want to do meaningful work at the intersection of AI and advanced manufacturing, we'd love to meet you.

Position Overview

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer who writes production software for hardware. You'll own the software layer that connects Rapta's AI platform to the physical world industrial cameras, smart tools, motion stages, and edge GPUs deployed on real factory floors. This is a software engineering role first; the differentiator is that you're fluent in the protocols, timing constraints, and failure modes of industrial hardware, and you write clean, testable code that talks to it reliably.

You'll work directly with the CTO and partner closely with our Feature Engineering and Platform teams to build the hardware abstraction layer that the rest of the product depends on.

What You'll Do

  • Design and build the software interfaces between Rapta's AI platform and industrial hardware cameras, smart wrenches, motion stages, and edge compute
  • Implement and maintain device drivers and integration libraries for industrial protocols: Modbus TCP, Open Protocol, OPC-UA, GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, RS-232/485, CAN
  • Define clean, versioned hardware abstraction APIs (gRPC/protobuf, contract-first) that decouple application code from device specifics
  • Own peripheral integration end-to-end: vendor SDK evaluation, driver implementation, error handling, observability, and field debugging
  • Write the software that brings up new hardware in the lab and qualifies it for deployment calibration routines, self-test, diagnostics, telemetry
  • Build and maintain hardware-in-the-loop test infrastructure so device integrations have real test coverage
  • Debug across the full stack when things go wrong on a customer floor from Python application code through gRPC, through the protocol layer, down to a misbehaving device

What We're Looking For

  • 10+ years writing production software, with significant time spent on systems that talk to hardware
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals: you write clean, tested, maintainable code and care about API design
  • Deep familiarity with at least two or three major industrial protocols and significant experience with real time protocol analyzers and debugging from first principals
  • Comfortable in a factory, a lab, and a terminal often in the same day
  • Pragmatic about the line between "what the hardware can do" and "what the software should expose"

Required Technical Skills

  • Expert-level Python; strong fluency in at least one of C#, C++ or Go, for performance-critical or driver-adjacent work
  • Hands-on experience implementing Modbus TCP/RTU clients and servers in production code
  • Experience integrating industrial smart tools via protocols like Open Protocol (Atlas Copco/Desoutter), Kolver, or equivalent vendor protocols
  • Working knowledge of OPC-UA, GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, RS-232/485, and CAN you don't need all of them, but you should have shipped code against several
  • Experience with industrial camera SDKs (Basler/pypylon, FLIR Spinnaker, GenICam, or similar) including AOI/ROI, triggering, and lens control
  • Strong Linux fundamentals udev rules, systemd services, kernel module basics, USB and network device debugging
  • gRPC/protobuf or equivalent contract-first API design experience
  • Infrastructure-as-code fluency: Ansible or equivalent for repeatable provisioning of hardware-attached systems
  • Comfort writing integration tests, hardware-in-the-loop tests, and diagnostic tooling

Highly Competitive Candidates Will Also Bring

  • Experience deploying software in DOD, defense industrial base, or CMMC-regulated environments
  • Familiarity with edge computing constraints air-gapped networks, deterministic startup, thermal and power limits
  • Bazel monorepo experience
  • Familiarity with manufacturing quality standards (ISO, Six Sigma, IPC)

Why Join Us?

  • Foundational role building the hardware integration layer at a high-growth AI company
  • Meaningful early-stage equity at a late seed-stage company
  • Competitive compensation and benefits package

Location Requirements

This position requires full time, 5 days per week in-office presence at our Portland headquarters. Candidates must be local to the Portland, Oregon metro area or willing to relocate at their expense prior to start. Remote-only applicants need not apply.