At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in kernel and systems engineering, driving innovation and collaboration.
- Company: Join Cloudflare, a leader in tech with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, professional growth opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant community that values curiosity and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on Linux Kernel development while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in engineering management with expertise in Linux Kernel and systems.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Requirements
- Systems Leadership: 5+ years of experience managing engineering teams, ideally in low-level systems, kernel development, or large-scale infrastructure environments.
- Low-Level Expertise: A deep understanding of Linux Kernel internals, x86/ARM architecture, and OS design fundamentals. You should be comfortable discussing memory management, schedulers, and network stacks.
- Automation Mindset: Experience building or managing CI/CD pipelines for foundational software. You believe that "toil" is a bug and automation is the feature.
- Open Source Pedigree: A proven track record of engaging with the open-source community. You understand the nuances of upstreaming and how to navigate community dynamics effectively.
- Operational Empathy: An understanding of the unique challenges of a global "reboot-limited" production environment. You prioritize stability and have experience with pre-production QA and synthetic workload evaluation.
- Strategic Communication: The ability to translate complex kernel-level obstacles into actionable business insights for stakeholders across the company.
- Resilience: You aren't intimidated by the "impossible." Whether it's a non-reproducible race condition or an unwelcoming upstream thread, you lead your team through the challenge with a pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset.
What the job involves
- Lead and Mentor: Manage a high-performing team of kernel and systems engineers, fostering a culture of "collaboration-first" and continuous knowledge sharing both internally and with the global open-source community.
- Own the OS Lifecycle: Oversee the end-to-end delivery of the Linux Kernel and core OS components. Your goal is a fully automated continuous delivery pipeline that moves from merge to 100% production in less than 30 days.
- Drive Technical Vision: Steer the Cloudflare kernel development roadmap. You will balance the need for cutting-edge features with the absolute requirements of production stability, security, and performance.
- Upstream Advocacy: Promote a "minimal patch" philosophy by ensuring your team is a top contributor to the Linux Kernel. You will support engineers in becoming upstream maintainers for critical subsystems.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a consultant to hardware and service teams, helping them onboard new hardware and optimize workloads for our OS. You’ll lead a "virtual team" environment where any engineer at Cloudflare can contribute to the kernel.
- Innovate Debugging: Tackle the "impossible" challenges of kernel-level debugging. You will lead the development of automated systems that collect critical telemetry when a system crashes, even when traditional debuggers cannot run.
- Measure Success: Use DORA metrics and team-specific capabilities - such as the "time to fix a kernel issue" and upstream commit volume - to track and improve team impact.
Engineering Manager (Linux Team) in London employer: CloudFlare
At Cloudflare, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions diversity and inclusion while fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. As an Engineering Manager for our Linux Team, you will not only lead a high-performing group of engineers but also have access to unparalleled growth opportunities in a supportive environment that values innovation and operational excellence. Join us in our mission to build a resilient infrastructure, where your contributions will directly impact the global community and where your passion for open-source can thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager (Linux Team) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. Engaging with others in the field can lead to unexpected opportunities and connections that might just land you that Engineering Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to Linux Kernel or CI/CD pipelines. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to systems leadership and kernel development. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager (Linux Team) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Linux:When you're writing your application, let your love for Linux shine through! Talk about your experiences with kernel development and how you've engaged with the open-source community. We want to see that you're not just skilled, but genuinely excited about what you do.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As an Engineering Manager, your ability to lead and mentor is key. Share examples of how you've managed teams in the past, especially in high-pressure environments. We’re looking for someone who can foster collaboration and drive a culture of continuous learning.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your technical expertise and how it aligns with our needs. Remember, we appreciate strategic communication, so make sure your message is easy to understand!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Cloudflare!
How to prepare for a job interview at CloudFlare
✨Show Your Curiosity
Make sure to express your eagerness to learn and grow. Share examples of how you've developed new skills in the past, especially in low-level systems or kernel development. This will resonate well with their focus on curious individuals.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss Linux Kernel internals and OS design fundamentals in detail. Brush up on topics like memory management and schedulers, and be ready to explain complex concepts in a way that’s easy to understand for non-technical stakeholders.
✨Highlight Your Automation Mindset
Talk about your experience with CI/CD pipelines and how you’ve approached automation in your previous roles. Emphasise your belief that reducing toil is essential and share specific examples of how you've implemented automation features.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Mentorship
Since the role involves leading a team, showcase your leadership style and how you foster collaboration. Discuss any mentoring experiences you have and how you encourage knowledge sharing within your team and the open-source community.
