Linux Kernel Development Engineer - Live Patching

CIQ; United States; Remote; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Stock options

Remote work

Flexible PTO

Job summary

CIQ is seeking a Linux Kernel Development Engineer to design, implement, and maintain the kernel for Rocky Linux-based products. You will work across embedded and virtualization, lead live patching initiatives, and collaborate with hardware teams to ensure robust integration.

You will write high-quality C code, review submissions, and help drive performance optimization across kernel components while mentoring junior engineers in a collaborative, remote-friendly US setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in CS or Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of Linux kernel development.
• Experience with process management, memory management, IPC.
• Experience with Git and collaborative workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and maintenance of Linux kernel components for CIQ.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate requirements into kernel designs.
• Write high-quality, modular C code following standards and best practices.
• Develop and maintain kernel live patching infrastructure and tools.
• Debug and resolve complex kernel-level issues including memory and scheduling.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure kernel/hardware integration.
• Review code submissions and provide constructive feedback to maintain quality.
• Conduct performance analysis and optimization of kernel components.

Skills

C programming

Linux kernel internals

Device drivers

kpatch

Debugging

x86

ARM

Git

Team collaboration

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent Experience.

Tools

Git

kpatch

Kernel live patching

Job description

CIQ OVERVIEW

CIQ builds the enterprise infrastructure that powers the world's most demanding workloads. From the operating system layer through AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, and cloud-native orchestration, CIQ delivers the speed, security, scalability, and sovereignty that major enterprises, government agencies, and research institutions depend on.

CIQ is the founding support and services partner of Rocky Linux and the developer of the RLC Pro family of Enterprise Linux distributions, Fuzzball workload orchestration, Warewulf Pro cluster provisioning, and Ascender Pro automation. Our customers include some of the largest and most technically sophisticated organizations in the world, working across HPC, AI/ML, defense, and regulated industries.

We are a company of builders, operators, and open source practitioners. If you want to do work that matters, at a company that is genuinely changing how enterprise infrastructure gets built and run, we want to talk.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Linux Kernel Development Engineer, you will produce and maintain the Linux Kernel for Rocky Linux. You need to be familiar with various aspects of kernel support, including embedded and virtualization. You will work with the Development team to define software requirements and lead operational and technical projects. You will help to build and maintain a kernel live patch process. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of Linux kernel components for our products/services at CIQ.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and translate them into efficient and scalable kernel designs.
• Write high-quality, modular, and well-documented code in C and other relevant languages, adhering to coding standards and best practices.
• Develop and maintain kernel live patching infrastructure, automation, and tools to improve how we build, test, and release kernel live patches.
• Debug and resolve complex kernel-level issues, including memory management, process scheduling, and inter-process communication.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of kernel components with hardware platforms.
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in the Linux kernel community and relevant technologies, evaluating their potential impact on our products and services.
• Review code submissions from team members and provide constructive feedback to maintain code quality and consistency.
• Conduct performance analysis and optimization of kernel components to meet specified performance targets.
• Document design decisions, APIs, and processes for future reference and knowledge sharing.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior developers, fostering their growth and development.

NEEDED TO SUCCEED

Successful candidates will have:

• A passion for Linux and open source software, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable products.
• Proficiency in C programming and a deep understanding of low-level system programming concepts.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve complex kernel-level issues.
• In-depth knowledge of Linux kernel internals, file systems, device drivers, kernel module development, and kpatch operation.
• Familiarity with hardware platforms and architectures, including x86 and ARM, and their interactions with the Linux kernel.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to propose innovative solutions to technical challenges.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, manage priorities, and meet project deadlines.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent Experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Linux kernel development, with a strong focus on system-level programming and device driver development.
• Extensive experience in designing and developing Linux kernel components, including process management, memory management, and inter-process communication.
• Experience with version control systems, preferably Git, and collaborative development workflows.

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Employee stock options.
• Remote work; no travel required for most positions.