Linux Kernels Software Engineer
About the Team The Scaling team builds and optimizes large-scale infrastructure to enable next-generation AI workloads. About the Role We’re looking for a founding/lead Linux kernel developer to join our Scaling team.
What this role actually needs.
About the Team The Scaling team builds and optimizes large-scale infrastructure to enable next-generation AI workloads. About the Role We’re looking for a founding/lead Linux kernel developer to join our Scaling team. Responsibilities: - Lead and bootstrap the development of our Linux kernel stack to support high-performance systems. - Design and implement kernel drivers, including for functionality related to DMA, PCIe, NICs, and RDMA. - Drive end-to-end development of system-scale networking, including required kernel and other low-level software. - Collaborate with vendors to integrate their technologies within our systems. - Bring up and debug the kernel on new platforms. - Build userspace software to support integration, testing, diagnostics, and performance validation. Requirements: - Proven experience leading development within the Linux kernel. - Deep knowledge of subsystems relevant to high-performance systems: PCIe, dma-buf, RDMA, P2P, SR-IOV, IOMMU, etc. - Knowledge of subsystems and frameworks related to scale-out networking: ibverbs, ECN/DCQCN, etc. - Strong programming skills in C, C++, Python, and Linux shell scripting; Rust experience is a strong plus. - Experience working directly with engineering teams to define interfaces and tooling. - Track record of managing vendor deliverables and technical relationships. Company context: OpenAI builds frontier AI systems, research infrastructure, and applied products for developers, enterprises, and global users.
Day-to-day expectations
OpenAI lists these responsibilities for the Linux Kernels Software Engineer role.
- Lead and bootstrap the development of our Linux kernel stack to support high-performance systems.
- Design and implement kernel drivers, including for functionality related to DMA, PCIe, NICs, and RDMA.
- Drive end-to-end development of system-scale networking, including required kernel and other low-level software.
- Collaborate with vendors to integrate their technologies within our systems.
- Bring up and debug the kernel on new platforms.
- Build userspace software to support integration, testing, diagnostics, and performance validation.
What a strong candidate brings
These requirements are extracted from the source listing and normalized for UpJobz readers.
- Proven experience leading development within the Linux kernel.
- Deep knowledge of subsystems relevant to high-performance systems: PCIe, dma-buf, RDMA, P2P, SR-IOV, IOMMU, etc.
- Knowledge of subsystems and frameworks related to scale-out networking: ibverbs, ECN/DCQCN, etc.
- Strong programming skills in C, C++, Python, and Linux shell scripting; Rust experience is a strong plus.
- Experience working directly with engineering teams to define interfaces and tooling.
- Track record of managing vendor deliverables and technical relationships.
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Source: jobs.ashbyhq.com · Source ID: e5691162-4e45-4dc6-a6bf-64f60ebf1ac4 · Confidence: 97/100 · Last checked: May 7, 2026
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