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Windows Kernel Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Magic AI Inc.

Member of Technical Staff, Kernels

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$225K - $550K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Magic's long-context windows create distinct kernel optimization challenges around memory utilization, data movement, and sustained throughput. What you'll work on * Design and implement kernels that ...

Fiery

Senior Software Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

Responsibilities : • Designing, developing, and maintaining system-level software across Windows ... internals, and kernel/user-mode interactions to solve complex engineering problems. • ...

Bolt Graphics

GPU Driver Lead

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$175K - $250K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead the development of User & Kernel Mode Drivers that can be executed on a host CPU running Windows or Linux, or embedded on a RISC-V CPU running Linux * Lead an internal team of driver engineers ...

Bolt Graphics

GPU Driver Developer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$175K - $250K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Play a key role in the development of User & Kernel Mode Drivers that can be executed on a host CPU running Windows or Linux, or embedded on a RISC-V CPU running Linux * Coordinate with the GPU ...

Bolt Graphics

GPU Driver Developer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$175K - $250K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Play a key role in the development of User & Kernel Mode Drivers that can be executed on a host CPU running Windows or Linux, or embedded on a RISC-V CPU running Linux * Coordinate with the GPU ...

Nvidia

System Software Engineer - CUDA Chips

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$203K - $240K/yr

Background with kernel mode development * Experience with Windows, Linux, or macOS driver development * Some familiarity with C++, CUDA experience Your base salary will be determined based on your ...

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All JobsWindows Kernel JobsWindows Kernel Jobs in California

Windows Kernel information

See California salary details

$10

$55

$66

How much do windows kernel jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for windows kernel in California is $55.13, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.45 and $60.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Windows Kernel position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Windows Kernel engineer, you need deep expertise in C/C++ programming, operating system internals, and computer architecture, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with debugging tools like WinDbg, experience with kernel-mode development, and knowledge of Windows hardware abstraction layers are valuable, as are certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication are key soft skills for diagnosing and addressing complex system issues. These abilities are crucial for developing reliable system-level code and collaborating efficiently with cross-functional engineering teams.

What is a Windows Kernel?

A Windows Kernel job involves working with the core of the Windows operating system, which manages hardware, processes, memory, and security. Professionals in this role typically develop, debug, or enhance kernel-mode drivers, system components, and low-level OS functionality. This requires expertise in C/C++, debugging tools like WinDbg, and a deep understanding of Windows internals. These roles are critical for ensuring system stability, performance, and security in various applications, including cybersecurity, virtualization, and hardware communication.

What are some typical challenges faced by Windows Kernel engineers, and how do they address them?

Windows Kernel engineers frequently encounter complex issues such as debugging low-level system crashes, resolving compatibility problems with hardware or drivers, and ensuring the security and stability of the operating system core. Addressing these challenges requires strong analytical skills, familiarity with specialized debugging tools, and the ability to work methodically under pressure. Collaboration with other engineers, hardware teams, and QA professionals is common to quickly isolate and resolve intricate problems. Continuous learning is also important, as kernel-level technology and security standards are constantly evolving. This dynamic environment provides opportunities to grow both technically and professionally.

What are popular job titles related to Windows Kernel jobs in California?

For Windows Kernel jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Windows Kernel jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Windows Kernel jobs in California are:

Windows Kernel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Windows Kernel job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $114,679 per year, or $55.1 per hour.

Member of Technical Staff, Kernels

Magic AI Inc.

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$225K - $550K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Magic's mission is to build safe AGI that accelerates humanity's progress on the world's most important problems. We believe the most promising path to safe AGI lies in automating research and code generation to improve models and solve alignment more reliably than humans can alone. Our approach combines frontier-scale pre-training, domain-specific RL, ultra-long context, and inference-time compute to achieve this goal.
About the role
As a Kernel Engineer, you will design, implement, and maintain high-performance kernels to optimize throughput and latency during training and inference.
Magic's long-context windows create distinct kernel optimization challenges around memory utilization, data movement, and sustained throughput.
What you'll work on
  • Design and implement kernels that support high-performance long-context behavior
  • Ownership of kernel design, implementation, deployment, and production reliability
  • Focus on robustness, extensive testing, and functional correctness, while pushing on performance
  • Evaluate porting Magic's compute kernels to alternative hardware options
  • Co-design kernels with understanding and interaction with training, inference, and RL teams
  • For a sample of our work, see Magic-Attention, presented at GTC 2026

What we're looking for
  • Low-level programming experience targeting AI accelerators such as NVIDIA Blackwell or Google TPUs
  • Develop and optimize GPU kernels in frameworks such as NCCL, MSCCLPP, CUTLASS, CuTeDSL, Triton, Quack, Flash-Attention, and similar frameworks
  • Experience in other kernel authoring frameworks such as Pallas/Mosaic (GPU or TPU), or Mojo also maps well to the work on Magic's kernel team
  • Strong depth over shallow breadth: for kernel engineering, we prefer candidates with deep expertise in computer architecture, low-level machine optimizations, and code generation, with breadth across ML
  • Agility, ownership mindset, and grit
Our culture
  • Integrity. Words and actions should be aligned
  • Hands-on. At Magic, everyone is building
  • Teamwork. We move as one team, not N individuals
  • Focus. Safely deploy AGI. Everything else is noise
  • Quality. Magic should feel like magic

Magic strives to be the place where high-potential individuals can do their best work. We value quick learning and grit just as much as skill and experience.
Compensation, benefits and perks (US)
  • Annual salary ranges between $225K - $550K based on experience
  • Equity is a significant part of total compensation, in addition to salary
  • 401(k) plan with 6% salary matching
  • Generous health, dental and vision insurance for you and your dependents
  • Unlimited paid time off
  • Visa sponsorship and relocation stipend to bring you to SF, if possible
  • A small, fast-paced, highly focused team

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