Principal Linux Kernel Developer

Zerto; Fort Collins (CO); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 303,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing benefits

Career development programs

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is seeking a Principal Linux Kernel Developer to lead architecture and design of core kernel components. The role involves optimizing performance, scaling storage stacks, and resolving complex kernel issues.

You will mentor engineers and drive engineering best practices across cross-functional teams. You will collaborate with storage, networking, firmware, and hardware groups to deliver integrated solutions and engage with upstream communities, shaping long-term

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 8–12+ years of experience in systems or kernel-level software development.
• Expert-level proficiency in C programming.
• Deep expertise in Linux kernel internals (memory management, filesystems, networking, block I/O).
• Strong experience debugging kernel using crash, perf, ftrace, and tracepoints.
• Experience with distributed systems or storage platforms.
• Proven technical leadership and ability to influence architecture.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of Linux kernel components including filesystems, memory management, networking, and I/O subsystems.
• Drive performance optimisation, scalability improvements, and reliability across the storage stack.
• Debug and resolve complex kernel-level issues including system crashes, memory corruption, and performance bottlenecks.
• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, mentoring, and establishing engineering best practices.
• Collaborate across storage, networking, firmware, and hardware teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Engage with upstream open-source communities and contribute patches and reviews.
• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of critical customer issues and escalations.
• Define and influence long-term architectural direction for storage platforms.

Skills

C programming

Linux kernel internals

Kernel debugging

Distributed systems

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS/CE

Tools

Crash

Perf

Ftrace

Tracepoints

CI/CD

Job description

Principal Linux Kernel Developer

This role has been designed as ‘Hybrid’ with an expectation that you will work on average 2 days per week from an HPE office.

Who We Are:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyse, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what’s next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of Linux kernel components including filesystems, memory management, networking, and I/O subsystems.


• Drive performance optimisation, scalability improvements, and reliability across the storage stack.


• Debug and resolve complex kernel-level issues including system crashes, memory corruption, and performance bottlenecks.


• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, mentoring, and establishing engineering best practices.


• Collaborate across storage, networking, firmware, and hardware teams to deliver integrated solutions.


• Engage with upstream open-source communities (e.g., Linux kernel, Lustre) and contribute patches and reviews.


• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of critical customer issues and escalations.


• Define and influence long-term architectural direction for HPE storage platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.


• 8–12+ years of experience in systems or kernel-level software development.


• Expert-level proficiency in C programming.


• Deep expertise in Linux kernel internals (e.g., memory management, filesystems, networking, block I/O).


• Strong experience debugging kernel using tools such as crash, perf, ftrace, and tracepoints.


• Experience with distributed systems or storage platforms.


• Proven technical leadership and ability to influence architecture and cross-functional teams.


• Strong collaboration and communication skills within global engineering organisations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with distributed storage systems such as Lustre, Ceph, or DAOS.


• Experience contributing to upstream Linux kernel or open-source projects.


• Knowledge of HPC environments and high-performance computing architectures.


• Familiarity with RDMA, InfiniBand, or high-speed interconnects.


• Experience with CI/CD, testing automation, and performance benchmarking.


• Experience handling customer escalations and production system issues.

What We Can Offer You:

Health & Wellbeing

We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programmes catered to helping you reach any career goals you have — whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

Let’s Stay Connected:

Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.

#unitedstates#compute

Job:

Engineering

Job Level:

TCP_05\"The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level.
– United States of America: Annual Salary USD 160,000 - 303,000 in Colorado // 152,000 - 349,000 in Minnesota
The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered.

Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html

The estimated job application period closure is August 28 2026; this timeline is provided for transparency and internal planning purposes.

HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.