A global technology company is seeking an Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer – Silicon Enablement to help optimise and enable Ubuntu Linux across next-generation System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms. This is a fully remote opportunity for South African professionals, offering the chance to work on cutting-edge hardware and kernel-level engineering projects with international teams and leading silicon vendors.
About the Role
This highly technical role focuses on integrating, optimising, and maintaining Ubuntu Linux kernel support across a wide range of modern silicon platforms. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of hardware and software, helping ensure that Ubuntu delivers strong performance, stability, and reliability on advanced SoC architectures.
The position involves close collaboration with global engineering teams, hardware vendors, and upstream Linux maintainers while contributing directly to kernel development and platform enablement.
What This Role Entails
Linux Kernel Development & Integration
The successful candidate will work with distributed engineering teams and silicon partners to integrate and optimise SoC support within the Ubuntu Linux kernel across multiple hardware platforms.
Debugging & Performance Optimisation
The role includes diagnosing and resolving complex kernel-level issues, identifying performance bottlenecks, and implementing optimisations to improve hardware efficiency across supported architectures.
Kernel Patching & Maintenance
The engineer will develop, review, submit, and maintain Linux kernel patches while collaborating with upstream maintainers and internal development teams.
Build, Test & Automation
The role also involves improving automation, tooling, and CI/CD systems used for kernel build, testing, and release workflows, ensuring reliable delivery of silicon-optimised kernel variants.
Hardware Collaboration
A key responsibility is maintaining close collaboration with hardware vendors to ensure seamless platform integration and successful enablement of next-generation devices.
What They Are Looking For
The ideal candidate is a low-level systems engineer with strong Linux and kernel development expertise who enjoys solving complex problems across hardware and software boundaries.
They should be comfortable working independently in a fully remote environment while collaborating effectively with globally distributed engineering teams.
A passion for operating systems, open-source development, and hardware performance optimisation will be highly beneficial.
Requirements for This Role
• Strong programming skills in C
• Deep understanding of Linux kernel architecture, device drivers, and BSPs
• Experience with low-level system software and hardware interaction
• Experience with RTOS, bare-metal systems, or kernel-level development
• Proficiency with Git and maintaining complex codebases
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across hardware and software layers
• Ability to collaborate effectively with global engineering teams
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment
Benefits
• Fully remote global work environment
• Annual performance-based compensation reviews and bonus opportunities
• Learning and development budget of approximately USD 2,000 per year
• Paid annual leave plus maternity and paternity leave
• Opportunities for international travel to technical events and company sprints
• Career growth within a leading open-source engineering environment
• Exposure to advanced silicon platforms and industry-leading hardware ecosystems
Location
Remote – South Africa.