Linux Kernel Developer (Mid-to-Senior Level)
E-Space · Saratoga
$150,000–$225,000
Jul 15, 2026
Saratoga
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A hands-on Linux kernel engineering role at a LEO satellite startup, focused on writing and debugging kernel code, device drivers, and low-level subsystems for custom hardware platforms. Day-to-day work spans driver development across common interfaces, board bring-up, bootloader integration, and performance profiling, in close collaboration with embedded software and hardware teams. Best suited to a seasoned C developer with deep kernel internals knowledge who is comfortable working independently in a lean organization.
Senior level · 5+ years · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Full-time
Pay in the description: $150,000–$225,000
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
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How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 75 people in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area plausibly meet what this posting asks for (software developers). range 15–130
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.
What the occupation pays Median $217,796 (middle half $177,469–$231,052). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (7)
The role is office-based in Saratoga, CA (Santa Clara County), which falls within the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CBSA.
The title 'Linux Kernel Developer' carries no seniority modifier, so advertised seniority is Unspecified; the 5+ years of C experience and depth of kernel internals required support a Senior classification.
Hardware interface drivers (I2C, SPI, UART, USB, PCIe, Ethernet) are listed as a single illustrative set of examples for the same driver-writing requirement; I2C is used as the primary name with the others as alternatives.
Debugging tools (gdb, ftrace, perf, kgdb, crash dump analysis) are listed as a single 'such as' set for the same debugging requirement; gdb is used as the primary name with the others as alternatives.
Git and kernel patch workflows, PREEMPT_RT/RTOS experience, secure boot/kernel hardening, multi-architecture exposure, and CI/CD pipelines all appear under the 'Bonus points' section and are marked preferred.
Upstream Linux kernel contribution experience also appears under 'Bonus points' and is preferred; it is omitted as a standalone skill since it names no distinct technology, but the Git/patch-workflow skill captures the tooling aspect.
The posting mentions a preference for LEO satellite component development experience but frames it as a 'wow' factor rather than a hard gate.
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