Software Engineering Manager, Kernel Development

Google•Sunnyvale, CA

6d•$207,000 - $300,000

About The Position

The Software Engineering Manager for Kernel Development leads systems software engineers working on foundational Linux kernel software that powers Google Cloud and internal infrastructure. The role drives technical architecture and execution roadmaps for core subsystems, including memory management, CPU scheduling, BPF, and file systems. It also advocates fleet efficiency, security milestones, and modernization of the development stack. The manager provides technical leadership for major projects, manages and develops a team of engineers, and oversees large-scale deployments across multiple sites internationally. The position partners with technical leads, cross-functional teams, and platform infrastructure and Google Cloud leadership to align roadmaps, obtain strategic and architectural approvals, and deliver platform features. The role emphasizes engineering excellence, robust testing, performance profiling, and preventing system regressions and data integrity risks. The Linux Kernel team optimizes large-scale compute and storage infrastructure and develops foundational software. Work includes implementing and enhancing the Linux kernel in areas such as low-overhead virtualization, memory capacity and tiering, advanced CPU scheduling, and security. Individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The stated US compensation is $207,000–$300,000, plus a 20% bonus target, equity, and benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
8 years of experience in software development.
3 years of experience in a technical leadership role.
Experience in people management, including guiding technical teams, resource allocation, and mentoring.
Experience in computer architecture and low-level system software development in C.
Experience with operating systems, including CPU scheduling and memory management.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science or related technical fields.
3 years of experience working in a complex, matrixed organization.
Experience with Linux kernel programming and kernel internals, such as the scheduler, memory management, virtualization/KVM, BPF tracing, and PMU.
Experience with modern systems programming languages, particularly C++ or Rust.
Track record of executing complex technical migrations, such as moving legacy systems to modern architectures or languages.
Knowledge of CPU architectures (x86_64, arm64) and memory models.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and grow a team of systems software engineers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance engineering culture.
Drive the architectural design, implementation, and optimization of core Linux kernel components to meet Google’s compute infrastructure demands.
Partner with other tech leads and cross-functional partners to align execution roadmaps, set technical boundaries, and deliver critical milestones.
Advocate engineering excellence, robust testing methodologies, and performance profiling to eliminate system regressions and data integrity risks.
Work with platform infrastructure and Google Cloud leadership, including obtaining strategic and architectural approvals from executive leadership to launch new platform features.