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

Blue Origin LLC

Sr. Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$248K - $348K/yr

Develop and maintain Linux kernel modules and device drivers to support custom hardware and ... Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related STEM discipline, or 10+ ...

Blue Origin, LLC

Sr. Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$248K - $348K/yr

Develop and maintain Linux kernel modules and device drivers to support custom hardware and ... Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related STEM discipline, or 10+ ...

Apple

Compute Runtime Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$142K - $263K/yr

The Apple Services Engineering (ASE) team builds the container and virtualization runtime ... Cloud security, Container / Linux Kernel security and API security Experience troubleshooting and ...

Blue Origin

Software Engineer III - TeraWave

Seattle, WA · On-site

$164K - $230K/yr

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join our Dataplane team and design the high-performance, fast ... Knowledge of eBPF, XDP, or Linux Kernel networking internals * Experience working with Mellanox ...

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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 Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for linux kernel engineer in Seattle, WA is $130,304.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $142,300.00 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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The top searched job categories for Linux Kernel Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,304 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Software Dev Engineer, AWS Elastic Container Service

Seattle, WA

Amazon
IT Services • 10K+ employees
Learn more about Amazonexternal

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,177 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

AWS Elastic Container Service (ECS) is forming a new team in Seattle with a bold mission: dramatically reduce the time it takes for containerized workloads to become ready to run on Fargate. The vast majority of customer tasks are short-lived, making launch speed one of the most impactful levers for customer experience - and we're going after a step-function improvement.
As an SDE on the Workload Optimization team, you'll work at the intersection of container runtimes, operating systems, and networking to optimize the end-to-end launch path. This is deep systems work with direct, measurable customer impact at enormous scale.
Key job responsibilities
- Build and optimize container startup and runtime systems using Linux kernel, containerd/runc, and Bottlerocket
- Design and implement solutions across the container networking and instance preparation stack
- Work on one of the highest-scale container orchestration platforms in the world
- Join a founding team with greenfield ownership and the opportunity to shape technical direction from day one
About the team
Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) makes it easy for customers to run, scale, and secure containerized applications on AWS

ECS powers some of the most demanding workloads on the planet - from startups launching their first container to enterprises running millions of tasks across global infrastructure.
The Workload Optimization team is a brand-new team within ECS, based in Seattle, with a focused mission: fundamentally reduce the time it takes for a containerized workload to become ready to run on AWS Fargate. For the vast majority of Fargate customers, launch latency is one of the biggest factors in their end-to-end experience - and we believe a step-function improvement is achievable.
This is a greenfield team, which means you won't be inheriting legacy systems or processes - you'll be building from scratch. You'll work deep in the systems stack (Linux kernel, container runtimes, OS, networking) alongside a small, senior group of engineers who care deeply about performance, correctness, and customer impact at scale.
We value engineers who think from first principles, are comfortable with ambiguity, and are energized by hard problems that don't have obvious solutions

Our culture is direct, low-ceremony, and high-ownership - you'll have real influence over what we build and how we build it from day one.

What Amazon employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate, computer and electronic product manufacturing and software development

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US

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