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Senior Kernel Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Career Renew

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$165K - $225K/yr

Career Renew is recruiting for one of its clients a Senior Machine Learning Engineer - this is a ... kernel engineering, TensorRT/ONNX export, and inference serving frameworks such as Triton ...

Ubiety

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$133K - $163K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, test, and support our next ... Solid experience with bare-metal development, RTOS, and embedded Linux (BSP, device drivers, kernel ...

Gallagher

Sr. AI Engineering Lead

Rolling Meadows, IL · On-site

Establish patterns for agentic development, evaluation, testing, CI/CD (Azure DevOps), and ... Kernel, or LangChain), and prompt/evaluation pipelines. * API and Integration Skills: Designing ...

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All JobsKernel Developer JobsSenior Kernel Developer JobsSenior Kernel Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Senior Kernel Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$25.8K

$82.7K

$168.4K

How much do senior kernel developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior kernel developer in Chicago, IL is $82,707.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,800.00 and $106,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does a kernel make?

A senior kernel developer typically earns between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the company. Skilled developers with expertise in C, Linux, and system architecture are in high demand and may receive higher compensation packages.

How much does a kernel developer make?

A senior kernel developer typically earns between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the company. Skilled developers with expertise in C, Linux, and system architecture may earn higher salaries, especially in competitive tech markets.

How much do kernel developers make in the US?

Kernel developers in the US typically earn between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, with experienced professionals and those working for large tech companies earning higher salaries. Compensation can vary based on experience, location, and expertise in low-level programming and operating system architecture.

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.

Are Linux kernel developers in demand?

Linux kernel developers are in high demand due to the widespread use of Linux in servers, cloud infrastructure, and embedded systems. Skilled developers with expertise in C, kernel architecture, and debugging tools are sought after by technology companies, open-source projects, and hardware manufacturers, often offering competitive salaries and opportunities for remote work.
What are the most commonly searched types of Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Senior Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Kernel Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Senior Kernel Developer jobs near you
Senior Software Engineer - Yocto platform

Senior Software Engineer - Yocto platform

FEV North America Inc

Oak Brook, IL • On-site

$123K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Description:

FEV North America, Inc. is seeking a Senior Software Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring overall form, fit, and function of new or current products when integrated into a single, complete system.


Key responsibilities:

  • Develop and Maintain Yocto Builds: Create and customize Yocto-based embedded Linux distributions, including writing and maintaining recipes, layers, and configuration files.
  • System Integration: Integrate hardware and software components, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance for embedded systems.
  • Kernel and Driver Development: Customize Linux kernels and develop device drivers to support specific hardware platforms.
  • Optimization and Debugging: Optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure stability and reliability of Linux-based platforms.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with hardware engineers, application developers, and QA teams to deliver end to-end solutions.
  • Documentation: Maintain clear and comprehensive documentation for build processes, configurations, and system designs.
  • Continuous Improvement: Stay updated on Yocto advancements, Linux kernel updates, and industry best practices to enhance platform capabilities.
Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field with 4 years of software engineering experience (relevant research work and internships considered as experience)
  • Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
  • Knowledge of security practices for embedded Linux systems.
  • Contributions to open-source projects related to Yocto or Linux.

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities