Principal Kernel & Device Drivers Engineer
SambaNova Systems · San Jose, California, United States
Posted about 3 months ago
or apply directly on SambaNova Systems's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 80 days SambaNova Systems's roles stay open a median of 69 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- No 0% of SambaNova Systems's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at SambaNova Systems
- high 57 stale, 2 reposted of 57 open
- Hiring momentum
- 68 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-10-23
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from SambaNova Systems's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for SambaNova Systems.
About this role
The Principal Kernel & Device Drivers Engineer at SambaNova will focus on kernel-level drivers and low-level software for high-speed IO, memory, and networking subsystems within the DataScale® platform. The role involves leading software bring-up for new silicon, delivering production drivers, debugging complex issues across kernel, firmware, and hardware, and mentoring team members. This hands-on position requires deep expertise in Linux kernel programming and strong collaboration with hardware teams.
- benefits
- 4/5
- freshness
- 1/5
- career value
- 4/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 0/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of SambaNova Systems as an employer.
What you need
- MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- 7+ years of experience in kernel or low-level system software development
- Deep expertise in Linux systems programming and kernel driver development
- Strong knowledge of Linux kernel networking, including network driver development and the RDMA protocol
- Strong C/C++ programming and debugging skills, with scripting in Python or shell
- Experience with two or more high-speed IO or interconnect technologies such as PCIe, Ethernet, or CXL
Nice to have
- Hands-on RDMA data-path or driver implementation experience
- Experience with virtual switching and data center networking at scale
- Experience writing test scripts to verify NIC behavior
- Firmware development experience
- Exposure to pre-silicon validation using FPGA or emulation platforms
What you get
- Competitive total rewards package including base salary and equity
- 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance
- 77% premium coverage for dependents
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
- Dental, Vision, Short/Long term Disability, Basic Life, Voluntary Life, and AD&D insurance plans
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options like Health Care, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care
Worth weighing
- No salary listed in the posting, but a range is provided
- Role is highly specialized and may require niche expertise
- Hands-on role may involve significant debugging and troubleshooting across multiple layers
Summarised from SambaNova Systems's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by SambaNova Systems on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-23. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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