Kernel and operating systems engineer job description: template and real figures
A kernel and operating systems engineer works on operating systems, drivers and virtual machines: the layer between hardware and every other program. A template for hiring a kernel and operating systems engineer, with what employers in today’s 119 open postings for this work ask for and offer. Copy it, fill in the brackets, then post the job free.
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- Open postings today
- 119
- Experience asked, median
- 5 years
- Postings that state pay
- 52%
- Median advertised pay
- $238K
- Open to remote work
- 8%
Kernel and operating systems engineer [Company] · [City, or Remote and the countries it is open to] · [Full-time] About us [Two sentences: what the company does, for whom, and one number that shows where it is now.] About the role Our Kernel and operating systems engineer works on operating systems, drivers and virtual machines: the layer between hardware and every other program. You will report to [manager’s title] and work with [team]. What you will do - [The most important result of the first year, with a number] - [One more duty that is specific to this job] What we are looking for - [5]+ years of experience as a kernel and operating systems engineer - [One or two must-haves that are specific to this job] Pay and benefits - Pay range: $[lowest] – $[highest] a year, [plus equity or bonus if any] - Parental leave - Equity - Visa sponsorship - [Paid time off, health cover and the rest of your benefits] How to apply [What to send, the interview steps and how long they take. Name the date you will reply by.]
What today’s kernel and operating systems engineer postings say
| Experience asked | Median 5 years; the middle half ask 2–5 years (55 postings name a number) |
|---|---|
| Pay advertised | $205K – $300K for the middle half; median $238K (58 postings with a yearly US-dollar range) |
| Benefits named most | Parental leave (26%), Equity (20%), Visa sponsorship (8%) |
| Most common level | Lead (14% of postings) |
| Titles employers use | Member of Technical Staff, Kernel, Software Engineer, Linux Kernel (Starlink), Kernel Engineer, Software Engineer – Database Kernel, Product Owner - ARQ Operating System, Member of Technical Staff, Kernel Engineering |
Counted from the 119 open postings for this work on Nov 15, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages. Recounted on every update.
Questions about hiring a kernel and operating systems engineer
- What should a kernel and operating systems engineer job description include?
- What the person will achieve in the first year, the duties, the must-have experience, the pay range and how the hiring steps work. Use the words candidates search for, not internal team names.
- Should a kernel and operating systems engineer job posting show the salary?
- Yes, if you can: 52% of today’s 119 open kernel and operating systems engineer postings here do. A range filters out people who would turn the offer down, and several US states and EU countries now require it.
- How many years of experience should I ask for?
- The median in today’s kernel and operating systems engineer postings is 5 years. Ask for what the work needs: every extra year you require shrinks the pool of applicants.
- What does a kernel and operating systems engineer do?
- A kernel and operating systems engineer works on operating systems, drivers and virtual machines: the layer between hardware and every other program.
- Is a kernel and operating systems engineer an IT job?
- It sits in software development on Jobs Every Hour. Not in the narrow sense: it is its own field, though most postings here are at technology companies.
- Can I become a kernel and operating systems engineer with no experience?
- 2 of today’s 119 postings (2%) are junior roles or internships, and the median posting asks for 5 years. The steps, with today’s figures, are on the how-to-become page for this work.
- Can I learn kernel and operating systems engineer work in three months?
- Enough to start on the skills postings name first, and to build one or two projects to show; most employers still ask for a result you have delivered, so a first junior role or internship is the usual next step.
Everything about kernel and operating systems engineer work
See also: 119 open kernel and operating systems engineer jobs · kernel and operating systems engineer pay · how to hire a kernel and operating systems engineer · all job description templates