# Senior Staff Linux Kernel Engineer

**Company:** [Crusoe](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/crusoe)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA, Sunnyvale, CA
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $250k – $300k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** Linux Kernel, C, Kvm, Xen, Qemu, Virtualization, Device Drivers, Go, Rust, Python, CI/CD, CUDA, Rocm, InfiniBand, Roce
**Posted:** 2026-08-13

> Leads the Linux kernel team’s technical direction while designing virtualization and low-level systems for GPU-accelerated AI and HPC workloads. Requires 10+ years of systems software experience, deep kernel expertise, strong C skills, and technical leadership experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Set the technical direction and roadmap for the Linux kernel team.
- Architect and deliver critical kernel development projects through a combination of high-level design and hands-on coding.
- Design and implement virtualization technologies for GPU-accelerated AI and HPC workloads.
- Optimize hypervisors and device emulation for low latency and high scalability.
- Develop and maintain upstream-first Linux kernel code and device drivers.
- Optimize memory management, scheduling, and I/O subsystems for hardware accelerators and high-throughput computing.
- Perform root-cause analysis across operating-system and hardware layers.
- Lead triage and backporting for kernel CVEs.
- Build automated tooling for vulnerability analysis.
- Lead and grow a high-performing systems team through mentorship, code reviews, and collaboration with product and hardware teams.

## Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in systems software engineering.
- At least 3 years in a technical leadership role managing low-level systems or infrastructure teams.
- Expert knowledge of Linux kernel internals, including memory management, scheduling, and I/O.
- Experience with virtualization technologies such as KVM, Xen, or QEMU.
- Strong C programming skills.
- Fluency with the kernel development workflow, including patch submission and debugging security vulnerabilities.
- Proficiency in modern systems programming with Go, Rust, or Python.
- Familiarity with CI/CD and deployment automation tooling.

## Nice to Have
- Familiarity with GPUs, TPUs, CUDA, or ROCm.
- Experience with high-performance networking such as InfiniBand or RoCE.
- Experience tuning virtualization stacks for HPC workloads.

## Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation range of $250,000-$300,000 plus bonus.
- Restricted Stock Units included in all offers.
- Paid time off, paid holidays, and leave programs.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Employer HSA contributions.
- Paid parental leave.
- Paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Professional development and tuition reimbursement.
- Mental health and wellness support.
- Commuter benefits and cell phone stipend.
- 401(k) plan with company match up to 4% of salary.
- Volunteer time off.
- Global travel insurance and emergency assistance.
- Daily meals allowance.
- Location-specific perks and programs.

## Similar jobs

- [Software Engineer, Wireless Technologies](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/152f08ec-6f28-4668-8c45-4c1fc4d9747b) - Zoox - Foster City, CA - $220k – $265k/yr
- [Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/2c068dcb-5612-44e3-8655-2d5e021e58bc) - Shield AI - San Mateo, CA - $281k – $421k/yr
- [Senior Staff Firmware Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/7872682c-c525-469d-a504-d671660ea232) - Carbon - Sunnyvale, CA - $182k – $314k/yr
- [Sr. Staff Engineer, GNC](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/b413684e-a700-4112-97ac-d03fb634bcf9) - Shield AI - Remote - $173k – $250k/yr
- [Senior/Staff Systems Engineer, Platform Systems](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/8e02de37-5bf0-4be6-8a4b-8a8f0c3dae85) - Nuro - Mountain View, CA - $160k – $291k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/35b655ad-53b3-414b-950a-e96648a4a286
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/35b655ad-53b3-414b-950a-e96648a4a286