X4 Technology
Senior Linux Kernel Engineer (Multi-Core dev.) Fully Remote
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Senior Linux Kernel Engineer (Multi-Core dev.) Fully Remote
Senior Linux Kernel Engineer (Device Drivers / Embedded Linux) – Fully Remote
Fully Remote | Long-Term Contract | High Day Rate
We're looking for an experienced Senior Linux Kernel Engineer to join a highly technical team developing next-generation GPU and embedded Linux platforms.
This is an opportunity to work on challenging low-level software problems across embedded, industrial, networking, and high-performance hardware. You'll be involved throughout the full driver lifecycle—from bringing up brand-new hardware with drivers written from scratch to developing, optimising, and backporting Linux kernel functionality for production systems deployed at scale.
You'll also have the opportunity to work with modern AI-assisted engineering workflows, using AI tools to support specification-driven development, debugging, documentation, and code exploration within real embedded Linux development cycles.
If you enjoy working close to the hardware and solving problems inside the Linux kernel, this is a role where your work will have a genuine impact.
Why You'll Want This Role
- Fully remote, long-term contract
- High day rate
- Linux kernel and device driver development
- New hardware bring-up on cutting-edge platforms
- Opportunity to contribute to Linux mainline and other open-source projects
- Work alongside experienced Linux kernel and embedded engineers
- Flexible working hours
- Access to industry-leading hardware and development platforms
- Collaborative engineering culture focused on technical excellence
What You'll Be Doing
- Designing and developing Linux kernel device drivers from the ground up
- Bringing up new hardware platforms and peripherals
- Developing and maintaining kernel-space software for embedded Linux systems
- Backporting drivers and kernel functionality across multiple Linux kernel versions where required
- Debugging complex hardware and software interactions within the Linux kernel
- Working closely with hardware, FPGA, firmware, and systems engineering teams
- Optimising performance, stability, and reliability for production deployments
- Contributing fixes, enhancements, and new functionality to Linux kernel and open-source projects
- Supporting Linux kernel upstream submissions where appropriate
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Technologies You'll Work With
You'll have exposure to a broad range of technologies including:
- Linux Kernel
- Embedded Linux
- C
- ARM and RISC-V platforms
- PCIe
- SPI
- I2C
- UART
- USB
- Ethernet
- Yocto
- Buildroot
- Board Support Packages (BSP)
- SoCs and FPGA-based platforms
- Git and modern embedded development workflows
Essential Skills
We're looking for engineers with experience in most of the following:
- Strong C programming skills
- Commercial Linux kernel development experience
- Linux kernel device driver development
- Embedded Linux systems
- Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills
- Good understanding of Linux kernel architecture and subsystems
- Experience debugging hardware and software interactions
Desirable Experience
Any of the following would be beneficial but isn't essential:
- Backporting Linux drivers or kernel functionality between kernel versions
- Linux kernel upstream contributions
- ARM or RISC-V platforms
- Yocto, Buildroot, or custom Linux distributions
- FPGA or SoC development environments
- Real-time Linux
- Networking, storage, or industrial communication protocols
Modern Engineering Environment
We encourage engineers to make use of modern AI-assisted development tools where they add value. You'll have the opportunity to use AI to support planning, debugging, documentation, code exploration, and specification-driven development alongside traditional engineering practices. Previous experience with AI-assisted development isn't required.
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Why This Role Is Different
This role focuses on Linux kernel and low-level systems software rather than application development.
- You'll be working on new hardware before it reaches production, solving complex engineering challenges that require a deep understanding of operating systems, hardware architectures, and kernel internals.
- You'll have the opportunity to influence technical decisions, own significant pieces of work from concept through deployment, and collaborate with highly experienced kernel, firmware, and hardware engineers.
Open Source
We actively encourage engineers to contribute to open-source software.
- If you're interested, you'll have the opportunity to submit patches and contribute new functionality to the Linux kernel and other open-source projects. Previous upstream contribution experience is welcomed but isn't essential.
What You'll Get
- Challenging low-level engineering work on cutting-edge hardware
- Fully remote long-term contract
- High day rate
- Flexible working hours
- Opportunity to work on products used around the world
- Exposure to modern AI-assisted engineering workflows
- Time and support for open-source and upstream Linux kernel contributions
- A highly technical environment where engineering excellence is genuinely valued
Apply
If you're passionate about Linux kernel development and enjoy solving problems close to the hardware, we'd love to hear from you.
Whether your background is in embedded systems, semiconductors, networking, industrial automation, automotive, or platform software, you'll be joining a collaborative engineering team solving challenging problems that most software engineers never get the opportunity to work on.
This is a one-stage telephone interview process, with CVs being reviewed immediately for an ASAP start.
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