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# Linux Kernel Engineer

- **Company:** Apple Inc.
- **Location:** Portsmouth, NH, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $142,300.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Bash Shell, Computer Programming, Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, Linux, Device Drivers, File Systems, Memory Management, Python (Programming Language), Linux Kernel, Linux Distribution, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, System Software, Perf (Linux), Information Technology
- **Published:** September 3, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.themuse.com/jobs/apple/linux-kernel-engineer-c7edda

## About the Role

Proven track record of upstream contributions to the Linux kernel project or similar upstreams., Bachelor of Computer Science or equivalent skills and work experience.

At least 5+ years experience developing or maintaining the Linux kernel or low-level system software (e.g., kernel modules, device drivers, or core OS components).

Proven ability to debug kernel level issues (panics, hangs, performance regressions) using tools such as perf, ftrace, bpftrace, crash, gdb, or similar.

Deep understanding of kernel tuning for stability and performance across many subsystem domains.

Hands-on experience developing CI/CD systems integrating operating system components and managing kernel releases.

Strong programming skills in C, plus proficiency in at least one of Rust, Go, Python, or Bash.

Solid understanding of operating system fundamentals: processes, memory management, filesystems, networking, scheduling, interrupts, and hardware/driver interactions.

Experience working in a RHEL based Linux environment, including RPM packaging and the RHEL kernel back port and release process.

Strong collaboration and communication skills; comfortable working with cross-functional teams (SRE, platform, hardware, security).

## Description

In this role, you will design, build, and operate CI and validation pipelines that compile, test, and release Linux kernels across multiple hardware platforms and Linux distributions.

You will lead triage of kernel regressions, investigate crashes and performance issues, drive fixes to resolution, and qualify new hardware at the kernel layer. You will collaborate with engineers across Apple to port, maintain, and upstream device drivers, shepherd kernel changes into production, and continuously raise the bar on kernel quality, automation, and release discipline. Your work will have direct impact on the stability, performance, and debuggability of systems that power critical Apple services.


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