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Senior Kernel Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NIO

Senior OS/Kernel Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $186K/yr

About the Position We are seeking a senior OS / kernel engineer to join our SkyOS team. The team is responsible for the design and development of NIO's full-domain vehicle operating systems. The ...

NIO

Senior OS/Kernel Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $186K/yr

About the Position We are seeking a senior OS / kernel engineer to join our SkyOS team. The team is responsible for the design and development of NIO's full-domain vehicle operating systems. The ...

Nvidia

Senior Linux Developer - Networking

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$64 - $84.50/hr

Craft and implement kernel drivers for our state or art network devices as well as userspace ... If you are a senior data engineer passionate about building largescale, highimpact data platforms ...

Nvidia

Senior Linux Kernel Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Linux Kernel Software Engineer to join the Linux networking drivers R&D ... developer testing, and post-GA support. * Drive complex technical issues to closure that may occur ...

Etched

Kernel Driver Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Kernel-Mode Driver Development: Design, develop, and maintain kernel-mode drivers ensuring high ... Implement driver support for device virtualization technologies, including SR-IOV, VFIO, and para ...

Kernel (yc S25)

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$1.0K/wk

... Kernel's culture. What you'll do * Design, develop, and scale new our product suite of developer ... Small, trusting team of senior + staff engineers * Default async with minimal bureaucracy, only one ...

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Senior Kernel Developer information

What is the difference between Senior Kernel Developer vs Kernel Engineer?

AspectSenior Kernel DeveloperKernel Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, experience in kernel developmentSimilar credentials, often with specialized Linux or OS certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch and development, debugging, code optimizationDesign, implementation, testing of kernel modules and components
Industry UsageTech companies, hardware manufacturers, OS developersEmbedded systems, OS vendors, hardware integration

Both roles require strong knowledge of operating systems and kernel architecture. A Senior Kernel Developer typically focuses on advanced development and optimization, while a Kernel Engineer emphasizes designing and implementing kernel components. The roles often overlap but differ mainly in scope and focus within kernel development projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Kernel Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Kernel Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Kernel Developer jobs in California? For Senior Kernel Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Kernel Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Kernel Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Kernel Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Kernel Developer job openings:
Senior Kernel Developer jobs near you

Senior OS/Kernel Engineer

NIO

San Jose, CA • On-site

$143K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

About NIO

NIO is a pioneer and a leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIO's mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle. NIO aims to build a community starting with smart electric vehicles to share joy and grow together with users.

NIO designs, develops, jointly manufactures and sells premium smart electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation technologies in autonomous driving, digital technologies, electric powertrains and batteries. NIO differentiates itself through its continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, such as its industry-leading battery swapping technologies, Battery as a Service, or BaaS, as well as its proprietary autonomous driving technologies and Autonomous Driving as a Service, or ADaaS.

NIO's product portfolio consists of the ES8, a six-seater smart electric flagship SUV, the ES7 (or the EL7), a mid-large five-seater smart electric SUV, the ES6, a five-seater all-round smart electric SUV, the EC7, a five-seater smart electric flagship coupe SUV, the EC6, a five-seater smart electric coupe SUV, the ET7, a smart electric flagship sedan, and the ET5, a mid-size smart electric sedan.

About the Position
We are seeking a senior OS / kernel engineer to join our SkyOS team. The team is responsible for the design and development of NIO's full-domain vehicle operating systems. The position will explore new ideas and designs that can make systems software faster, more dependable, and intelligent, from proof of concept to final production quality. You will have the opportunity to work on almost every layer of systems software, including kernel, networking, file system, drivers, hypervisor, libc, build system, etc, to optimize the system from high-level architecture down to the choice of assembly instructions, to bring high-impact innovations onto production systems by collaborating with engineering teams. If you enjoy building systems from scratch, writing high quality system code, optimizing performance, and shaping the future of systems software for intelligent EVs, the stage is ready for you.
Roles and Responsibilities
  • Prototype and evaluate advanced systems software concepts, including kernels, file systems, drivers, and networking, to improve system performance, safety, and dependability.
  • Design, implement, and optimize critical low-level system components to fulfill strict real-time performance and safety goals.
  • Contribute to the long-term systems software architecture and help guide technical decisions within the smart EV infrastructure.
  • Collaborate closely with broader engineering teams to transition prototypes and advanced concepts into highly reliable, production-ready deployments.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields.
  • Strong background and hands-on experience in operating system internals, virtualization, or system security.
  • Solid understanding of computer hardware architecture, with practical experience in at least one of the following: x86, Arm, or RISC-V.
  • Proficiency in C, assembly, and/or Rust. Proven ability to navigate, debug, and improve complex, low-level codebases.
  • Strong troubleshooting skills to diagnose and resolve complex system-level performance, memory, and stability issues.
  • Ability to work independently on ambiguous technical problems while remaining a strong, communicative team collaborator.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Familiarity with the latest academic research in systems (e.g., papers from SOSP, OSDI, ASPLOS) and a track record of applying these concepts to solve industry problems.
  • Experience modifying, extending, or building core system software components (such as custom kernel modules, hypervisors, real-time operating systems (RTOS), or network stacks).
  • Exposure to microkernel architectures or automotive/safety-critical operating systems.
  • Familiarity with formal verification methods or automotive safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262).

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $143,200.00 - $186,000.00.

  • Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

  • Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only. It does not include discretionary bonus, equity, or benefits.

Benefits:

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time NIO employee, you are eligible for the following benefits on the first day you join NIO:

  • Anthem Blue Cross, HSA, and Kaiser HMO medical plans with $0 for Employee Only Coverage.

  • Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plan. Both provide options with a $0 paycheck contribution covering you and your eligible dependents.

  • Company Paid HSA (Health Savings Account) Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Anthem Blue Cross medical plan

  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

  • 401(k) with Brokerage Link option

  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance

  • Employee Assistance Program

  • Sick and Vacation time

  • 13 Paid Holidays a year

  • Paid Parental Leave for first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)

  • Paid Disability Leave for first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment with NIO)

  • Voluntary benefits including: Voluntary Life and AD&D options for you, your spouse/domestic partner and dependent child(ren), pet insurance

  • Commuter benefits

  • Mobile Cell Phone Credit

  • Free lunch and snacks

  • Onsite gym

  • Employee discounts and perks program

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