Linux Kernel Engineer

Apple; Dublin; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple's Linux Kernel Engineering team seeks a seasoned Linux Kernel Engineer to own the kernel lifecycle from CI to production-quality releases.

You will design, build, and operate CI/validation pipelines across multiple platforms, triage regressions, and collaborate with SRE, platform, and hardware teams to ensure stability and performance.

Join us to impact Apple services with robust kernel infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Experience developing or maintaining the Linux kernel or low-level system software.
• Ability to debug kernel level issues (panics, hangs, performance regressions) with specialized tools.
• Deep understanding of kernel tuning for stability and performance across subsystems.
• Hands-on experience building CI/CD systems for OS components and kernel releases.
• Strong programming skills in C and proficiency in Rust, Go, Python, or Bash.
• Solid understanding of OS fundamentals: processes, memory management, filesystems, networking, and interrupts.
• Experience in RHEL-based Linux environment, RPM packaging and kernel backport/release processes.
• Excellent collaboration skills with SRE, platform, hardware, and security teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate CI and validation pipelines for Linux kernels across hardware and distributions.
• Lead triage of kernel regressions, investigate crashes, and drive fixes to resolution.
• Port, maintain, and upstream device drivers, shepherd kernel changes into production.
• Ensure kernel releases are robust, observable, and ready for real-world workloads at scale.

Skills

Linux kernel development

CI/CD systems

C programming

Rust/Go/Python/Bash

Debugging kernel issues

RHEL Linux experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Perf

ftrace

bpftrace

crash

gdb

RPM packaging

Job description

Summary

At Apple, we craft experiences that have transformed entire industries. The diversity of our people and ideas fuels innovation in everything we do. Imagine what you could build here.

Join our Linux Kernel Engineering team and play a central role in the reliability, performance, and evolution of Apple’s platforms. As a Linux Kernel Engineer, you will own the kernel lifecycle end to end, from CI infrastructure and automated validation to driver enablement, debugging, and production-quality releases.

You will partner closely with platform, infrastructure, and SRE teams to ensure every kernel we ship is stable, observable, and ready for real world workloads at scale.

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.

If you enjoy deep kernel debugging, building robust CI systems, and owning kernel releases from development through production, we would like to hear from you.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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).

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

Role Number: 200651433-0562