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Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Minneapolis, MN (NOW HIRING)

LRS

Senior Systems Engineer

Minneapolis, MN

$50 - $80/hr

Fulcrum Consulting, an LRS company, is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer with our client in ... Linux Kernel Systemd LVM File Systems (XFS, EXT4) Networking (TCP/IP, DNS, SSH, NFS) IT Service ...

NxT Level

C++ Developer

Eden Prairie, MN

$50 - $67.25/hr

... in Linux kernel development is a must - Strong familiarity with the software development life cycle, computer science fundamentals, and object-oriented design principles - Excellent communication ...

NxT Level

C++ Developer

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$50 - $67.25/hr

... in Linux kernel development is a must - Strong familiarity with the software development life cycle, computer science fundamentals, and object-oriented design principles - Excellent communication ...

Entrust Corp.

Senior Firmware Engineer

Shakopee, MN · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

Experience in Linux kernel development. * Experience in one or more of the following areas * Motor ... Exhibits good engineering judgment and decision making. * Proficiency using AI tools to assist with ...

Entrust Datacard

Senior Firmware Engineer

Shakopee, MN · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

Experience in Linux kernel development. * Experience in one or more of the following areas * Motor ... Exhibits good engineering judgment and decision making. * Proficiency using AI tools to assist with ...

All JobsLinux Kernel Engineer JobsLinux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Minneapolis, MN

Linux Kernel Engineer information

See Minneapolis, MN salary details

$11.4K

$118.6K

$134.2K

How much do linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel engineer in Minneapolis, MN is $118,632.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,800.00 and $129,500.00 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.

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

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Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in Minneapolis, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,527 per year, or $57.5 per hour.

Linux Infrastructure Engineer (Ansible & Automation)

Dahl Consulting

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

$60.15 - $75.18/hr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Title: Linux Infrastructure Engineer (Ansible & Automation)
Location: Minneapolis, MN (Hybrid)
Job Type: W-2 Contract (6 Months)
Compensation: $60.15 - $75.18/hr
Shift: M-F 8:00 AM – 5:00PM
Industry: Retail
Key Technologies: Linux, Ansible, Bash
About the Role
Our client, a large-scale national retail organization, is seeking a Linux Infrastructure Engineer to join their infrastructure team. This organization operates a complex, high-availability technology environment supporting retail operations at scale, and is looking for a hands-on Linux engineer to strengthen the reliability, automation, and modernization of its server infrastructure. This is an excellent opportunity for a technical professional who enjoys working directly in production environments and wants to have a visible, high-impact role in infrastructure automation and containerization initiatives.

Job Description
This role will focus on improving Linux server patching and reliability, resolving complex infrastructure issues, increasing automation, improving virtual machine lifecycle management, and helping prepare appropriate workloads for containerized deployment models.
The ideal candidate is a strong Linux engineer who is comfortable working directly in production environments, troubleshooting across multiple technology layers, building reusable automation, and partnering across infrastructure, application, network, security, and platform teams.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Linux Infrastructure & Patching: Assess Linux environments and drive operating system patching from planning and dependency validation through implementation, post-patch testing, rollback preparation, and remediation of failures.
  • Infrastructure Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve Linux OS, middleware, networking/connectivity, certificate, storage, performance, authentication, and integration-related issues.
  • Automation: Develop and improve reusable infrastructure automation using Ansible and support existing automation for server configuration, patching, deployment, and operational tasks.
  • VM Lifecycle Management: Improve visibility and management of the virtual machine footprint, including ownership, operating system support, configuration standards, capacity, upgrades, consolidation, and retirement opportunities.
  • Containerization: Evaluate workloads for containerization readiness and support practical container deployment patterns, pilots, and operational standards covering images, configuration, secrets, networking, observability, and security.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • 4+ years of hands-on Linux server administration and production infrastructure support, including patching, package/kernel management, troubleshooting, networking, storage, services, and production change practices.
  • Demonstrated infrastructure automation/configuration management experience, with strong hands-on Ansible skills.
  • Proficiency in Bash scripting.
  • Experience with automation.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with Python or other infrastructure scripting/tooling.
  • Prior exposure to container platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) or container readiness assessments.
  • Experience supporting large-scale, high-availability retail or enterprise production environments.

Benefits
Dahl Consulting is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees that will allow you to choose the best coverage to meet your family’s needs. For details, please review the DAHL Benefits Summary: https://www.dahlconsulting.com/benefits-w2fta/.
How to Apply
Take the first step on your new career path! To submit yourself for consideration for this role, simply click the apply button and complete our mobile-friendly online application. Once we’ve reviewed your application details, a recruiter will reach out to you with next steps!
Equal Opportunity Statement
As an equal opportunity employer, Dahl Consulting welcomes candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. If this position sounds like the right opportunity for you, we encourage you to take the next step and connect with us. We look forward to meeting you!


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