Performance Engineer, Kernel, Memory

Cloudflare

. Diagnose and fix performance and scalability bottlenecks in the Linux kernel memory-management subsystem using production telemetry .

Posted 10/5/2026full-timeUnited StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates deep expertise in Linux Kernel Memory Management, including performance optimization and upstream contributions. Capable of clear communication and collaboration across engineering teams while owning complex problems and their outcomes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Linux Kernel Memory ManagementSystems Programming in CUpstream Linux ContributionsPerformance Troubleshooting in Distributed SystemsKernel Instrumentation Using BPF

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Linux Kernel Memory ManagementSystems Programming in CPerformance OptimizationMemory MappingConcurrency ManagementCodebase AnalysisKernel InstrumentationTelemetry AnalysisPatch ManagementConfiguration Management

Soft Skills

Clear CommunicationJudgment in High-Risk ChangesProblem Ownership

Tools & Technologies

BPFPerfTracepoints

Industry Keywords

Large-Scale Distributed SystemsProduction TelemetryCloudflareExport Control Laws

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsLinux

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Diagnose and fix performance and scalability bottlenecks in the Linux kernel memory-management subsystem using production telemetry
Land memory-management work upstream in the Linux mainline
Perform maintainership and review work in the Linux kernel community
Build and extend low-overhead kernel instrumentation using tracepoints, BPF, and perf
Measure system behavior before changes and prove impact afterward
Partner with kernel, networking, storage, and product engineers across the company
Set technical direction for Cloudflare’s use, tuning, and evolution of kernel memory management

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep expertise in the Linux kernel memory-management subsystem, including the page allocator, virtual memory and memory mapping, reclaim, locking, and concurrency
Track record of upstream Linux contributions, ideally including maintainership or sustained work in memory management or an adjacent subsystem
Strong systems programming in C
Judgment to make high-risk changes to shared infrastructure safely
Ability to analyze complex codebases while maintaining a fleet-wide perspective
Ability to own a problem and its outcome rather than a single patch
Clear communication with engineers across many teams
Experience troubleshooting and resolving performance issues in large-scale distributed systems
Experience with large-scale configuration/deployment management
May require authorization to receive technology controlled under U.S. export control laws without export-license sponsorship

Benefits

Comp & perks

Opportunity to work on Cloudflare’s global platform and Linux kernel performance at significant scale
Opportunity to contribute changes upstream to the Linux kernel mainline
Technical direction and ownership over kernel memory management
In-person interview at a Cloudflare office or hub may be available at the offer stage