Senior Principal Software Engineer - 5 (Linux Kernel Engineer)

Oracle; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 96,800 - 306,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match

Flexible Vacation

Paid parental leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Oracle is seeking experienced Linux Kernel Developers to enhance the Linux operating system for cloud environments in Santa Clara, California. The role involves contributing to substantial projects across networking, storage, and security kernel subsystems.

Candidates should possess a strong background in Unix/Linux development, proficiency in C programming, and familiarity with multiple kernel subsystems. Competitive compensation is offered ranging from $96,800 to $306,400 per year, accompanied by comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong background in operating systems development.
• Several years of hands-on Unix/Linux kernel development experience preferred.
• Proficiency in C programming and kernel-level debugging.
• Expertise in one or more Linux kernel subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize kernel features across networking and storage.
• Contribute to the upstream Linux kernel for cloud-scale deployments.
• Collaborate with hardware design teams.

Skills

Unix/Linux kernel development

C programming

Kernel-level debugging

Networking technologies

Open-source development practices

Tools

Python

Bash scripting

Job description

Job Description

The Oracle Cloud Linux team is seeking experienced Linux Kernel Developers to help advance the Linux operating system for large-scale cloud environments. This role involves contributing to the Linux kernel and working on innovative projects across multiple kernel subsystems, including networking, storage, security, performance optimization, virtual memory management, architecture enablement, and live patching technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize kernel features across areas such as:
• Networking (Ethernet, InfiniBand, OFED, RoCE, DPDK, and related technologies)
• Storage and Filesystems (iSCSI, Fibre Channel, NFS, ZFS, Btrfs, block layer, and filesystem layer)
• Virtual Memory Management and Performance Optimization, including large page management and container workload performance
• Security technologies such as encryption, TPM integration, signed kernels/modules, Secure Boot, and bootloader security
• Contribute to the upstream Linux kernel and drive enhancements for cloud-scale deployments.
• Collaborate closely with hardware design teams on processor bring-up and architecture enablement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Strong background in operating systems development.
• Several years of hands‑on Unix/Linux kernel development experience preferred.
• Proficiency in C programming and kernel‑level debugging.
• Expertise in one or more Linux kernel subsystems, including networking, storage, memory management, security, or processor architecture.
• Experience with open‑source development practices and upstream kernel contributions is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with Python and Bash scripting for development and automation tasks.

Preferred Experience

• High‑performance networking technologies such as RoCE, advanced Ethernet networking.
• Filesystem and storage technologies including XFS, ZFS, NFS, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and Linux block layer development.
• Virtual memory management, performance tuning, and container optimization.
• Security technologies including TPM, Secure Boot, kernel signing, and encryption frameworks.
• Live patching technologies and kernel maintenance.

Qualifications

Disclaimer: Certain U.S. based or U.S. customer or client‑facing roles may be required to comply with applicable requirements, such as immunization/occupational health mandates, and/or drug testing requirements.

Range and Benefit Information

US: Hiring Range in USD from: $96,800 – $306,400 per year. May be eligible for bonus, equity, and compensation deferral. Oracle maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions and locations, as well as reflect Oracle's differing products, industries and lines of business. Candidates are typically placed into the range based on the preceding factors as well as internal peer equity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion
• Short‑term disability and long‑term disability
• Life insurance and AD&DD
• Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
• Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Pre‑tax commuter and parking benefits
• 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match
• Paid time off: Flexible Vacation is provided to all eligible employees assigned to a salaried (non‑overtime eligible) position. Accrued Vacation is provided to all other employees eligible for vacation benefits. For employees working at least 35 hours per week, the vacation accrual rate is 13 days annually for the first three years of employment and 18 days annually for subsequent years of employment. Vacation accrual is prorated for employees working between 20 and 34 hours per week. Employees working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for vacation.
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave: 72 hours of paid sick leave upon date of hire. Refreshes each calendar year. Unused balance will carry over each year up to a maximum cap of 112 hours.
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption assistance
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Financial planning and group legal
• Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insurance

Career Level

IC5

Equal Employment Opportunity

Oracle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Oracle will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.

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