Senior Software Engineer - Kernel & Device Drivers

SambaNova is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to develop kernel-level drivers and low-level software for high-speed IO and memory subsystems within the DataScale® platform and RDU architecture. The role enables system bring-up, debug complex cross-layer issues, and deliver production-quality software that scales across systems and deployments. Working across kernel, firmware, and hardware, the engineer builds robust, maintainable drivers and frameworks supporting validation, manufacturing, and system performance. This is a hands-on role for an engineer with strong low-level programming skills, solid hardware understanding, and a focus on reliability, performance, and code quality. Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain kernel-space drivers for high-speed IO and memory subsystems.
• Enable platform bring-up and support driver integration across new silicon and system configurations.
• Write clean, maintainable, production-quality code and lead code reviews.
• Support system bring-up from early silicon through production.
• Debug complex issues across kernel, firmware, and hardware layers and drive them to root cause and resolution.
• Support PHY initialization and validation across high-speed interfaces and debug related issues.
• Interpret hardware specifications and schematics to guide bring-up and debugging.
• Develop tools and frameworks for performance analysis, validation, and manufacturing test.
• Identify system bottlenecks and implement optimizations across driver and system layers.
• Enable post-silicon validation through software automation and infrastructure.

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in Kernel or low-level system software development.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Familiarity with Linux kernel, drivers, user-space libraries, and applications.
• Strong C/C+ programming and debugging skills; Scripting experience in Python and shell.
• Experience with high-speed IO or interconnects such as PCIe, Ethernet, or similar technologies.
• Experience with system bring-up and hardware-software co-debug.
• Experience with manufacturing test flows.
• Familiarity with development tools such as Git, Docker, Jenkins, or Bazel.
• Familiarity with build systems and toolchains (GCC, LLVM, Make, CMake).
• Strong ownership and ability to drive issues to resolution.
• Clear communicator with a collaborative, problem-solving mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PHY bring-up and initialization.
• Ability to read and understand hardware specifications and register-level documentation.
• Exposure to pre-silicon validation (FPGA, emulation) and post-silicon bring-up.
• Familiarity with board schematics and low-level hardware interaction.
• Solid debugging skills using logs, trace tools (GDB), JTAG, or hardware debuggers.
• Background in high-performance or accelerator-based systems.

Base salary range: $120,000-$200,000 USD., We offer a competitive total rewards package, including base salary, equity, and benefits. The benefits include 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance, 77% coverage for dependents, Health Savings Account with employer contribution, Dental, Vision, Disability (short/long term), Life, Voluntary Life, AD&D insurance, Flexible Spending Account options, and well-being benefits such as Headspace, Gympass+, One Medical membership, counseling services through an Employee Assistance Program, and more. EEO Policy