GPU Software Development Engineer

Job Title

GPU Software Development Engineer

Role Summary

As a GPU Software Development Engineer in Intel's Data Center Group, you will develop, backport, and validate GPU software across the stack - firmware, kernel-mode drivers, user-space runtime, and application layers - on Linux platforms. The role focuses on driver stability, compatibility, and performance across diverse kernel versions and enterprise distributions.

You will collaborate with hardware, firmware, validation, and DevOps teams to enable new GPU capabilities, maintain compatibility with long-term-support kernels, and support high-quality releases.

Experience Level

Mid-level; typically requires 5+ years of hands-on experience in Linux kernel and system software engineering.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include design, implementation, debugging, integration, and validation of GPU kernel drivers and related tooling:

• Develop and validate GPU kernel drivers and graphics software across Linux distributions and kernel versions.
• Debug and resolve kernel panics, regressions, deadlocks, race conditions, and memory corruption issues.
• Design and implement driver features, enhancements, and performance optimizations within the DRM/KMD subsystem.
• Backport and adapt upstream Intel GPU drivers to LTS, enterprise, and custom kernels; maintain compatibility layers and out-of-tree packaging (e.g., DKMS).
• Collaborate with firmware, hardware, user-space runtime, validation, and DevOps teams to ensure robust integration and stability.
• Expand multi-kernel test matrices, regression suites, and automated build pipelines to detect compatibility breaks early.
• Participate in design and code reviews and enforce Linux kernel coding and quality standards.

Requirements

Required technical skills and experience:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in large-scale software product development with strong focus on Linux kernel and system software engineering.
• Expert-level C programming and deep understanding of Linux kernel internals: driver architecture, memory management, concurrency, locking primitives, and interrupt handling.
• Proven experience developing and debugging Linux DRM/KMD drivers and device driver debugging mechanisms.
• Practical experience backporting Linux kernel patches and drivers across kernel versions and handling API/ABI drift and compatibility wrappers.
• Proficiency with Linux kernel debugging tools such as ftrace, perf, kdump/crash, kgdb, gdb, dynamic debug, and interpreting stack traces and lockdep reports.
• Experience working across diverse kernel environments and enterprise distributions (for example RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu LTS) including kernel validation and issue resolution.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work with cross-functional teams (firmware, hardware, validation, DevOps).

Preferred (nice-to-have):

• Deep experience with the Linux DRM/KMS subsystem, GPU memory management (TTM, GEM), DMA-BUF, and modern graphics/compute stacks.
• Experience with out-of-tree module frameworks and multi-kernel packaging (DKMS, kbuild backport frameworks, RPM, DEB).
• Experience triaging kernel regressions caused by upstream changes in core subsystems (schedulers, memory allocators, power management, PCIe).
• Active patch submissions or contributions to the open-source Linux kernel or DRM/graphics community.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electronics/Electrical Engineering is required. A Master's degree in these fields is preferred.

About the Company

Company: Intel Corporation

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.