Staff Software Engineer & Operating Systems & Performance Analysis

Arm; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading tech company in Cambridge is seeking a Staff Software Engineer specializing in operating systems and performance analysis. The successful candidate will lead the design and optimization of components within the Linux kernel, conduct workload analysis, and enhance system performance. This role offers a hybrid working environment, promoting both productivity and personal wellbeing, along with opportunities for professional growth within a diverse and innovative team.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of operating systems internals, including task scheduling, power & thermal management.
• Hands-on experience with Linux kernel development, debugging, or performance tuning.
• Proficiency in workload and benchmark analysis (e.g., profiling, tracing, instrumentation, statistical evaluation).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize components within the Linux kernel or related OS layers.
• Analyze complex workloads and benchmarks to identify performance bottlenecks.
• Develop methodologies, tools, and automated workflows for workload characterization.

Skills

Operating systems internals

Linux kernel development

Workload analysis

Performance tools proficiency

Open-source contributions

Tools

perf

ftrace

BPF frameworks

perfetto

Job description

Staff Software Engineer – Operating Systems & Performance Analysis

CambridgeBristol

Overview

We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer with deep expertise in operating systems, particularly the Linux kernel, and strong analytical capability in workload performance and benchmarking. In this role, you will work across kernel subsystems, performance tooling, and open-source ecosystems to deliver insights and improvements that enhance system efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize components within the Linux kernel or related OS layers.
• Analyze complex workloads and benchmarks to identify performance bottlenecks, scalability limits, and optimization opportunities.
• Develop methodologies, tools, and automated workflows for workload characterization and performance evaluation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to guide architectural decisions and influence software/hardware co-design through data-driven insights.
• Review, contribute to, and maintain open-source software, including participation in upstream discussions and patch submission.
• Stay current with OS advancements, emerging benchmarks, and evolving open-source community practices.
• Produce clear documentation, technical reports, and presentations that communicate findings and recommendations.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of operating systems internals, including task scheduling, power & thermal management.
• Hands-on experience with Linux kernel development, debugging, or performance tuning.
• Proficiency in workload and benchmark analysis (e.g., profiling, tracing, instrumentation, statistical evaluation).
• Familiarity with common performance tools (e.g., perf, ftrace, BPF frameworks, perfetto).
• Experience reviewing and contributing to open-source projects, including understanding of upstream workflows and coding standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with modern CPU architecture concepts (caches, memory hierarchy, NUMA).
• Knowledge of virtualization technologies or container runtimes.
• Prior contributions to the Linux kernel or major open-source performance tools.
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows and automated benchmarking frameworks.

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Accommodations at Arm

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [e-mail]. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working at Arm

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities at Arm

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.