Description :

Job Title : Senior Linux Kernel Engineer (Enterprise Linux)

Experience : 5 - 10 Years

Location : Bangalore / Chennai

Domain : Enterprise Linux / Kernel Development

Job Summary :

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Linux Kernel Engineer with deep expertise in kernel development, debugging, and performance optimization. The role involves working on enterprise-grade Linux distributions, kernel lifecycle management, security patching, and low-level hardware integration.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Kernel Lifecycle & Maintenance :

- Lead kernel upgrade strategies (e.g., LTS migrations such as 5.15 ? 6.x) while ensuring stability and compatibility.

- Perform patch porting across kernel versions, resolving API and dependency conflicts.

- Track and mitigate security vulnerabilities by monitoring CVEs and upstream sources (e.g., LKML).

- Backport critical fixes to production kernels without impacting system stability.

2. Debugging & System Stability :

- Act as an escalation point for kernel panics and system crashes.

- Perform post-mortem analysis using kdump, crash, and gdb.

- Debug early boot issues (UEFI, initramfs, kernel initialization).

- Conduct performance analysis using eBPF, ftrace, and perf to optimize system behavior.

3. Driver Development & Hardware Integration :

- Design, develop, and maintain device drivers (network, storage, GPU, or character devices).

- Work closely with hardware through DMA, interrupts (MSI-X), and register-level programming.

- Maintain out-of-tree drivers using DKMS or similar frameworks.

- Ensure compatibility of drivers across kernel updates.

Required Technical Skills :

- Programming : Strong expertise in C (mandatory) and C++

- Kernel Internals : Deep understanding of :

1. Virtual File System (VFS)

2. Memory Management (MMU, Paging)

3. Process Scheduler

4. Linux Networking Stack

Debugging Tools :

- kdump, crash, gdb

- kprobes, trace-cmd, ftrace

- perf, valgrind

- Hardware debugging tools (JTAG, Serial Console)

Build Systems :

- Kbuild, Makefiles

- Kernel packaging (RPM/Debian)

Security :

- Experience with CVE patching and backporting

- Knowledge of SELinux/AppArmor

- Kernel hardening (FIPS, KSPP)

Preferred Skills :

- Experience contributing to open-source kernel projects

- Familiarity with Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML) workflows

- Exposure to enterprise Linux distributions (RHEL, Ubuntu, SUSE)

- Experience with performance tuning and system optimization at scale

1. Core Programming (C Language) :

- Must have strong hands-on experience in C programming

- Comfortable with pointers, memory management, and low-level concepts

2. Kernel Internals Expertise :

- Should have worked in at least one subsystem :

a. VFS / File Systems

b. Memory Management

c. Scheduler / Networking

3. Debugging & Crash Analysis :

- Experience handling kernel panics

- Hands-on with vmcore analysis tools

4. Security & Patching :

- Understanding of CVE fixes and backporting

5. Driver Development :

- Experience in writing or maintaining device drivers

6. Performance & Advanced Debugging :

- Exposure to eBPF, ftrace, perf

7. Hardware-Level Understanding :

- Knowledge of DMA, interrupts, hardware interaction

Soft Skills :

- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

- Excellent communication skills

- Ability to work independently and in collaborative environments

- Quick learner with adaptability to new technologies