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Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Anduril Industries

Embedded Linux Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Experience with Linux kernel development * Experience with uboot, EDK2, platform firmware, etc ... Familiarity with functional programming paradigms * Experience with one or more of the following ...

Witekio

Embedded Linux SW Engineer (Sr)

Bellevue, WA · On-site +1

$130/hr

Proficiency with Linux kernel and middleware development on ARM architecture. * Experience with ... MS or BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, and ...

CoreWeave

HPC Performance Engineer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

Linux Kernel (custom build), Ubuntu * Intel/AMD/ARM CPUs, Nvidia GPUs, DPUs, Infiniband and ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related ...

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All JobsLinux Kernel Engineer JobsLinux Kernel Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Linux Kernel Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$12.5K

$130.3K

$147.4K

How much do linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel engineer in Seattle, WA is $130,301.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $142,200.00 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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Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,301 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Senior Linux Kernel Systems Software Engineer - CSP Engagements

NVIDIA AI

Seattle, WA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Job Summary:
NVIDIA AI is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join their CSP Engagements team, focusing on system software for Datacenter products. The role involves designing and developing software solutions for data center servers, collaborating with Cloud Service Providers, and performing advanced system debugging and performance optimization.
Responsibilities:
• Design and develop software solutions for data center servers including Linux kernel modifications, device drivers, and system optimizations for GB200 and next-gen platforms.
• Lead hardware bring-up activities, BSP development, and hardware-software co-design for Cloud Service Provider deployments.
• Partner directly with CSPs to deliver technical solutions, co-develop & co-debug features and optimizations, and provide support during new product introductions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in designing end-to-end solutions spanning firmware, OS, middleware, and applications with focus on AI/ML and HPC workloads.
• Perform advanced system debugging, root cause analysis, and performance optimization for large-scale data center environments.
• Collaborate with AE, FAE, and Solution Architect teams to deliver integrated customer solutions and technical documentation.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Deep expertise in data center server architectures, HPC systems, and hardware-software co-design.
• Expert knowledge of Linux kernel internals, device drivers, communication protocols (PCIe, USB, Ethernet).
• Deep understanding of computer architecture, microprocessor concepts, and expert knowledge of ARM (aarch64) and x86 architectures.
• Ability to debug kernel crash dumps and all types of lock-up issues. Hands-on experience with GDB, kdump, and eBPF tracing to debug multiprocessor systems. Good understanding of ARM and Intel assembly.
• Strong understanding of PCIe virtualization and IOMMU.
• Deep understanding of NUMA architectures including memory topology, processor-memory locality, and performance optimization for multi-CPU systems in data center environments.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++, Python, plus experience with virtualization, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures.
• Skilled in complex system-level debugging, performance analysis, and test design.
• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience). 10+ years of system software development experience.
Preferred:
• Experience with GPU computing (CUDA), deep learning workloads.
• Expertise in Out of Band and In-band management architectures.
• Knowledge of Memory fabric and CXL architectures.
Company:
Explore the latest breakthroughs made possible with AI. Founded in , the company is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, US, , with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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