Senior Linux Kernel & Systems Performance Engineer

Crusoe Energy Systems LLC; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity packages

Paid time off

Health insurance

HSA contributions

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Crusoe Energy Systems LLC is seeking a highly skilled Senior performance engineer to tackle deep technical challenges in Linux kernel optimization and low-level performance work.

The role involves benchmarking, tuning, and hands-on development to improve Crusoe's compute operations used in AI workloads.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Deep expertise in Linux system internals and kernel-level programming.
• Experience writing high-performance Go, C, C++, or Rust code.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute rigorous benchmarks to analyze system behavior and identify bottlenecks.
• Develop and implement low-level optimizations within the Linux kernel to maximize throughput.
• Write and maintain high-performance code in Go, C, C++, or Rust to drive infrastructure improvements.
• Tune data plane performance to meet high-speed AI workloads.
• Collaborate with Software Infrastructure, Product, and other engineering teams on performance initiatives.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues with analytical approaches for reliability and scalability.
• Share knowledge and best practices across the team.

Skills

Linux kernel mastery

Go

C

C++

Rust

Systems performance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Crusoe is on a mission to accelerate the abundance of energy and intelligence. As the only vertically integrated AI infrastructure company built from the ground up, we own and operate each layer of the stack — from electrons to tokens — to power the world's most ambitious AI workloads. When you join Crusoe, you join a team that is building the future, faster.

We're in the midst of the greatest industrial revolution of our time. The demand for AI compute is boundless, and power is a bottleneck. We're solving that — with an energy-first approach that makes AI infrastructure better for the world and faster for the people innovating with AI.

We're looking for problem-solving, opportunity-finding teammates with a sense of urgency, who believe in the scale of our ambition and thrive on a path not fully paved — people who want to grow their careers alongside a team of experts across energy, manufacturing, data center construction, and cloud services.

If you want to do the most meaningful work of your career, help our customers and partners advance their AI strategies, and be part of a high-performing team that believes in each other, come build with us at Crusoe.

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly skilled, hands-on Senior level performance engineer who thrives on deep technical challenges. The ideal candidate possesses a mastery of Linux kernel systems and low-level optimization, with a collaborative mindset to drive cross-functional projects. This is a full-time position where you will roll up your sleeves to perform direct performance benchmarking and system tuning, making a tangible impact on Crusoe’s global compute operations.

What You'll Be Working On:

• System Performance Benchmarking: Design and execute rigorous benchmarks to analyze system behavior, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for performance enhancement.

• Kernel Optimization: Develop and implement low-level optimizations within the Linux kernel to maximize efficiency and system throughput.

• Hands-on Development: Write and maintain high-performance code using Go, C, C++, or Rust to drive infrastructure improvements.

• Data Plane Tuning: Focus on data plane performance, ensuring our cloud architecture meets the high-speed requirements of modern AI workloads.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Software Infrastructure, Product, and other engineering teams to align performance initiatives with broader organizational goals.

• Technical Problem-Solving: Actively troubleshoot complex system issues, applying an analytical approach to ensure reliability and scalability.

• Strategic Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to team documentation and best practices, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring to the Team:

• Linux Kernel Mastery: Deep expertise in Linux system internals and kernel-level programming is essential for this role.

• Programming Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Go, C, and C++ (Rust is also a strong asset).

• Systems Performance Mindset: A proven track record of hands-on performance tuning, benchmarking, and optimization in complex environments.

• Educational Foundation: A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Collaborative Spirit: Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, communicating complex technical concepts clearly to stakeholders.

• AI Ecosystem Familiarity: Experience or exposure to the Artificial Intelligence/Cloud ecosystem and standard industry tooling.

Bonus Points:

• Hands-on experience with Rust development.

• Prior experience working in high-scale cloud or infrastructure engineering environments

• Deep familiarity with performance-critical infrastructure components beyond the kernel layer.

• Experience with specific low-level performance analysis and tracing tools.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation and equity packages

• Restricted Stock Units

• Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs

• Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance

• Employer contributions to HSA account

• Paid parental leave

• Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability

• Professional development & tuition reimbursement

• Mental health & wellness support

• Commuter benefits (parking & transit)

• Cell phone stipend

• 401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary

• Volunteer time off

• Global travel insurance & emergency assistance

• Daily meals allowance

• Additional perks & programs specific to location

Compensation Range

Compensation will be paid in the range of up to $170,000 - $205,000. + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation to be determined by the applicant's knowledge, education, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Crusoe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship, marital status, sex/gender, sexual preference/ orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, national origin, or any other status protected by law or regulation.