Windows Kernel Driver Engineer

TechStar Group; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

TechStar Group in Redmond, WA is seeking a Windows Kernel Driver Engineer to develop and sustain kernel-mode and user-mode drivers. You will debug hardware/firmware/OS interactions, drive quality and release readiness, and add telemetry to enable rapid remote issue resolution.

The role requires strong C/C++ skills, kernel debugging and dump analysis, and experience with HLK/HCK and release pipelines. Collaboration across hardware teams is essential in this contract role.

Qualifications

• Professional experience with Windows drivers or system software.
• Proven kernel debugging and dump analysis.
• Experience supporting release quality or validation.
• Comfortable working across hardware and firmware boundaries.
• Strong collaboration and ownership mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and sustain Windows kernel mode and user mode drivers and system services.
• Debug complex hardware / firmware / OS interactions.
• Drive quality, validation, and release readiness (HLK, LKG, PST).
• Add telemetry and diagnostics to enable fast, remote issue resolution.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, IHVs, and internal Windows teams.

Skills

Windows kernel drivers

C/C++

Kernel debugging

Telemetry / observability

Release validation

Hardware/firmware boundary

Git / low-level tooling

Tools

HLK/HCK

Diagnostics tooling

Job description

Job Title: Windows Kernel Driver Engineer

Location: Redmond, WA

Mode of Hire: 6+ months contract

Windows Kernel Driver Engineer

Best fit signals (look for these on resumes):

Kernel mode driver work (WDM/KMDF), debugging, dumps, lab bring up

Device interaction debugging (hardware/firmware/software boundary) , ACPI/Power

Drivers + Windows services + telemetry instrumentation + AI diagnostics

Diagnostics pipelines / "make it observable" mindset

HLK/HCK experience, release validation, build/release coordination

Proven habits around quality gates and automation

Core: Windows drivers, kernel mode, user mode, system integration, telemetry, automation, debugging tools

Delivery environment: HLK compliance, build/release coordination, troubleshooting

Hardware edge: bring up, debug hardware/firmware/software interaction

Programming: C/C++ (explicitly called out), plus tool ecosystems like Git (and common low-level debug ecosystems)

What This Engineer Will Do

Develop, test, and sustain Windows kernel mode and user mode drivers and system services

Debug complex hardware / firmware / OS interactions

Drive quality, validation, and release readiness (HLK, LKG, PST)

Add telemetry and diagnostics to enable fast, remote issue resolution

Collaborate with hardware, firmware, IHVs, and internal Windows teams

Required Candidate Capabilities

Professional experience with Windows drivers or system software

Proven kernel debugging and dump analysis

Experience supporting release quality or validation

Comfortable working across hardware and firmware boundaries

Strong collaboration and ownership mindset

Highly Desired Experience

HLK / driver signing / release pipelines

Telemetry, diagnostics, or automation tooling

Device bring up or early hardware validation