Senior II Software Engineer – Linux Kernel Development

Akamai Technologies

. Develop new features improving Akamai Cloud Platform performance, reliability, and security .

Posted 9/30/2026full-timeRemote • Massachusetts • United StatesSenior💰 $146,400 - $263,600 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in Linux kernel development, including debugging and performance optimization. Proficient in C programming and familiar with scripting languages such as Perl and Python, with a solid understanding of concurrent programming and network protocols.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Linux Kernel DevelopmentC ProgrammingDebugging Linux KernelContinuous Testing AutomationNetwork Protocols

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

C ProgrammingLinux Kernel DevelopmentDebuggingMemory ManagementFilesystemsBlock IOTCP/IP StackKVMPerl ScriptingPython Scripting

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication Skills

Tools & Technologies

Akamai Cloud PlatformLinuxConcurrent Programming

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree

Industry Keywords

Open Source ContributionsUpstream Linux KernelEmerging Industry TrendsData StructuresComplexity Analysis

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudLinuxOpen SourcePerlPythonShell ScriptingTCP/IP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop new features improving Akamai Cloud Platform performance, reliability, and security
Port Akamai modifications to newer Linux kernel versions
Debug and fix issues in complex test and production environments
Enhance build and test automation for Continuous Testing
Collaborate with platform, application development, test, and hardware development teams
Work with the open source community to upstream contributions
Stay current with upstream Linux kernel and operating system changes and emerging industry trends
Build, maintain, and improve Akamai's custom Linux kernel

Requirements

What you’ll need

8 years of relevant experience
Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
3+ years of software development experience in C, focused on Linux kernel development
Experience with Perl, Python, or Shell scripting
Solid understanding of Linux kernel internals
Experience with Linux kernel debugging
Experience with at least two of: memory management, filesystems, block IO, TCP/IP stack, KVM
Familiarity with x86 and ARM CPU architectures
Working knowledge of concurrent programming, data structures, algorithms, complexity analysis, and network protocols including TCP/UDP/IP, Ethernet, QUIC, and HTTP/TLS
Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual bonus or incentives
Equity awards
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Healthcare
401K savings plan
Company holidays
Vacation in the form of PTO
Sick time
Parental leave
Employee assistance program
Mental and financial wellness support
FlexBase work options: at home, in an office, or a combination of both