Linux Kernel Consultant (Remote/Anywhere) at Collabora

Remote

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Mid-level (3 to 4 years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Technology, Open SourceIndustries

Requirements

3+ years of Linux kernel development experience
Strong C programming skills and deep understanding of kernel internals
Proven debugging abilities - diagnose issues from vague bug reports and limited reproduction steps
Communication skills - good English language skills both spoken and written for patch reviews, documentation and client discussions
Self-directed work style - thrive in a remote, asynchronous environment

Responsibilities

Contribute directly to mainline Linux kernel development: schedulers, power management, device drivers and core subsystems
Support and optimise Linux for extremely popular consumer devices used by millions of people
Solve hard problems: make Linux do things it can't currently do, push boundaries for new use cases, tackle device failures without stack traces
Work with upstream maintainers and represent company at conferences
Translate customer needs into technical solutions while advocating for upstream-first approaches
Help clients understand benefits of investing in upstream for long-term goals
Balance technical excellence with real-world pressures: customer deadlines, hardware limitations, business priorities, while keeping code quality high
Explain complex kernel decisions to product teams, provide honest timelines and build trust through transparent communication
Mentor and lead: share knowledge with the team and help shape kernel engineering practices

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Linux KernelCDevice DriversSchedulersPower ManagementUpstream DevelopmentKernel Debugging

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this position remote?

Yes, the position is fully remote with flexibility for any timezone, though preference is given for overlap with EU/US hours.

What are the required skills for this role?

Candidates need 3+ years of Linux kernel development experience, strong C programming skills with deep understanding of kernel internals, proven debugging abilities, good communication skills in English, and a self-directed work style for remote environments.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the company culture like?

The culture emphasizes collaborative consulting, upstream-first approaches, community collaboration, transparent communication, and mentoring while balancing technical excellence with client priorities in a remote, asynchronous environment.

What makes a strong candidate for this role?

A strong candidate has 3+ years of Linux kernel development, strong C skills, debugging expertise, communication abilities, and self-directed remote work style, with nice-to-haves like open source contributions, experience in specific kernel subsystems, CI/CD familiarity, BSP development, or consultancy background.

Collabora

Consultancy for Open Source software solutions

About Collabora

Collabora specializes in helping businesses utilize Open Source software effectively. They assist clients in developing tailored solutions, whether it involves writing code or creating long-term software strategies. By leveraging community-driven Open Source projects and reusing existing components, Collabora helps clients speed up their product development and enhance their unique offerings. Founded in 2005, the company has been a leader in Open Source technology, contributing to major projects like the Linux Kernel and LibreOffice, which are used in millions of devices globally. Their team of nearly 100 engineers and developers are passionate Open Source contributors, dedicated to both client projects and community involvement. Collabora's goal is to guide organizations in adopting Open Source technologies and methodologies, ensuring they can thrive in a rapidly changing tech landscape.

Cambridge, United KingdomHeadquarters

2005Year Founded

VENTURE_UNKNOWNCompany Stage

Consulting, Enterprise SoftwareIndustries

51-200Employees

Benefits

Remote Work Options

Conference Attendance Budget

Risks

Increased competition from Red Hat and Canonical in open-source consultancy.

Potential challenges in AI and IoT sectors due to investments by Google and Amazon.

Over-reliance on partnerships with hardware companies like MediaTek and Renesas.

Differentiation

Collabora specializes in open-source software for automotive, OEM, silicon, and digital TV industries.

The company has nearly 100 engineers who are active open-source contributors globally.

Collabora offers comprehensive services from planning to training in open-source projects.

Upsides

Collabora's collaboration with MediaTek enhances its position in the growing IoT market.

The DRM-CI pipeline boosts Collabora's capabilities in high-performance graphics testing.

NVK graphics driver conformance with Vulkan 1.0 strengthens Collabora's gaming industry position.

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