# Host Systems Software Engineer

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $266k – $445k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** C++, Python, Linux, Rdma, Pcie, Dma, Nic, Rust, Kernel Networking, Accelerator Software
**Posted:** 2026-06-03

> As a Host Systems Software Engineer, you will define and build the host software stack for next-generation AI systems, working on performance-critical software including Linux kernel drivers, high-throughput I/O paths, and system-scale networking. You will debug across hardware and software boundaries and optimize high-throughput, low-latency systems.

## Job Description

## About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced systems software engineer to help define and build the host software stack for our custom next-generation AI systems. You will work close to the hardware on performance-critical software, including Linux kernel drivers, high-throughput I/O paths, and system-scale networking and RDMA. This role spans architecture, implementation, platform bring-up, debugging, and performance optimization. You will work across hardware and software boundaries to make new systems usable end to end, from low-level device interfaces through userspace tooling and production validation.

In this role you will:

* Design, implement, and debug host-side systems software for AI infrastructure, including Linux kernel drivers and supporting userspace components.
* Build and optimize software paths for high-throughput, low-latency communication, including RDMA and related networking functionality.
* Develop software around PCIe, DMA, NICs, accelerators, memory movement, and device interaction.
* Bring up new hardware platforms and diagnose complex issues across kernel, firmware, networking, and hardware boundaries.
* Build tooling for integration, testing, diagnostics, observability, qualification, and performance characterization.
* Collaborate with hardware, networking, and platform teams to define interfaces and integrate new capabilities.
* Work with external vendors where needed to integrate technologies and drive issues to resolution.
* Contribute across the systems software stack as the platform and team evolve.
* Help shape the technical direction and engineering practices for a growing systems software stack.

You might thrive in this role if you have:

* Experience building low-level or performance-critical systems software.
* Strong programming skills in C or C++, with proficiency using Python and Linux tooling for automation and debugging.
* Strong Linux systems fundamentals and the ability to debug across hardware and software boundaries.
* Hands-on experience in at least one relevant area, such as Linux kernel drivers, kernel networking, RDMA, PCIe, DMA, NIC software, accelerator software, or high-performance I/O.
* Experience owning complex software projects from design through implementation, bring-up, and validation.
* Ability to thrive in ambiguity, work across subsystem boundaries, and build systems from scratch.
* Strong cross-functional communication skills.

### Preferred Qualifications

* Experience developing Linux kernel drivers or other OS-level performance-critical components.
* Familiarity with RDMA or RoCE, ibverbs, kernel networking, or congestion-control concepts such as ECN and DCQCN.
* Experience with PCIe, DMA, peer-to-peer communication, SR-IOV, IOMMU, dma-buf, or related accelerator and I/O subsystems.
* Experience bringing up accelerators, NICs, SoCs, or custom hardware platforms.
* Experience profiling and optimizing high-throughput, low-latency systems.
* Familiarity with Rust or experience using Rust for systems programming.

## Similar roles

- [SOC Architect](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/ea28efe0-e996-4f28-8936-049ecf001e88) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $266k – $445k/yr
- [Robotics Software Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cfb3f6c2-6272-4595-9864-166e78632b82) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $255k – $325k/yr
- [System Power Engineer, Consumer Devices](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/df5ef9e3-aa3e-452c-af0d-b9f2be6e2e2a) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $293k – $325k/yr
- [Camera Firmware Engineer, Consumer Products](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/3c839072-a0bd-4c81-9dbf-8700fecaa955) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $293k – $325k/yr
- [System Software Engineer, Consumer Products](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/9ea53ef4-8352-4602-a311-de8e79f18ef4) - OpenAI - San Francisco, CA - $293k – $325k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/1ccb7170-e689-450e-9c6c-f1f7a9a6a172
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/1ccb7170-e689-450e-9c6c-f1f7a9a6a172