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Linux Kernel Engineer, Tesla AI

Tesla Motors, Inc.
Palo Alto, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 4/14/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/11/2026
What to Expect
As a Linux Kernel Engineer within the Tesla AI Linux and Sensors team, you will be a key contributor to the system software that powers one of the most advanced and widely deployed AI solutions. You will collaborate closely with both AI silicon and AI software teams, to develop and deploy operating system features that enable a wide range of Tesla AI products, including vehicle autonomy, humanoid robotics, and next-gen inference platforms. Your work will influence both current and future generations of AI silicon and platforms.

What You'll Do
  • Pre/Post-silicon Linux bring up to mass production of the next generation AISOC

  • Develop andmaintainLinux device drivers for AI inference hardware accelerators, camera capture, Ethernet, UFS, and PCIE

  • Port andmaintainRTLinux Kernel for the custom AI system-on-chip

  • Define the hardware, software interactions for our next generation fully autonomous car platform, HumanoidRobotand the expanding AI inference use-cases

  • Develop and bring-up the system software stack that runs on the AI platform and interacts with various sensors in the car, robot

  • Develop features, system software tools in enhancing the functionality,performanceand power of the AI platforms

  • Write well-structured, testable, efficient, and maintainable code

  • Integrate software components into a fully functional software system


What You'll Bring
  • Engineering Degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience

  • Strong C-programming skills andLinux Kernel/RTOS experience preferred

  • 3 years of experience developing Linux device drivers for devices like CSI, Ethernet, PCIE or flash devices like UFS, eMMC,NVMe

  • Experience with board or SoC bring-up for ARM64, RISC-V, or x86 based platforms

  • Good software practices such as code review, clean codingstyleand documentation

  • Excellent problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills

  • Experience with performance analysis and tracing tools such as perf/ftrace

  • Experience with JTAG in any aspect of bring-up, profiling, or debugging

  • Experience with pre-silicon emulation/simulation environments

  • Experience with V4L2, Realtime-Linux is desirable


Compensation and Benefits
Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

  • Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
  • Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
  • Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
  • Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
  • Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
  • Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
  • Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
  • Tesla Babies program
  • Commuter benefits
  • Employee discounts and perks program
    Expected Compensation
    $140,000 - $360,000/annual salary cash and stock awards benefits

    Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.


    Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

     

    Salary : $140,000 - $360,000

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