Been doing backend API, some platform/infra work for most of my career. Had a team match call with prodkernel networking team, and the work/impact seems cool but I think I'd feel completely out of my element on this team. Closest I've come to this level is hacking my PSP ages ago, and flashing custom ROMs to my Android phones. The HM reassured me that their onboarding is strong, as they don't expect their engineers to have kernel/Linux experience. Another concern: My stereotype of kernel devs is computer nerds who've been interested since they were kids. Since I haven't done anything kernel related my entire life, I must not be the type of person who's interested or will succeed in this team. Or is this just imposter syndrome talking? Also, will I be pigeon-holing myself into low-level programming? Or is internal transfer within Goog really as easy as everyone else makes it out to be? edit - blind tax: 2.9 YoE $150k + options (series C) #kernel #google #gcp #linux #networking #prodkernel #C #Cpp
How much are they paying?
not sure yet, have to finalize team match first. but I'm considered for L3
Kernel programming can be very interesting - you will pick up great knowledge of OS internals. That knowledge will have a longer shelf life. Think of it as an opportunity (would you rather be translating protobufs)? Internal transfers to non kernel work wouldn’t really be an issue if you are meeting perf expectations.
Tc yoe
Take it. Networking is here to stay.
TC and YOE? Depends on level of position. If you’re young and it’s not a senior role this switch doesn’t matter. It’s a good learning opportunity. You can switch later.
updated post
You’ll probably have to work hard, read a lot and be proactive, that said, go for it!
You gotta read code a lot, reproduce/debug/benchmark a lot before making a one line change. If you enjoy that kind of work, then it's for you. I wouldn't mind doing it again if they pay well.
Being a kernel developer myself, I've come to realize that the demand for people with my experience is really high. Teams take months to find relevant candidates. So whenever they do, they try their best to hire them. Also since they invest more than a year(this is normal) just to familiarize you with the entire OS, they try their best to retain you later too. Personally I also find it really exciting since there are a lot of things to keep in mind when writing low-level code - good coding skills, good CPU and HW understanding, OS understanding. It can definitely be overwhelming in the beginning. But if you have a team that's willing to ramp you up, this might be a great opportunity. Also it's very easy to move from low-level to high-level since higher layers require only a subset of the skills you'll learn here. So you always have that option Good luck OP!
TC? What you said is true, but I found overall the number of opportunities are significantly less. And usually the position doesn't pay more than say "distributed system".
For Google Kirkland, my offer is for 273k for L4. I didn't have competing offers in Seattle that could beat this so they didn't agree to go beyond this. My Microsoft initial offer for the same role was 195k and Nvidia in bay area was ~260k which also I didn't negotiate since my final offer at Google was already more. Location played a role in my TC being low, but I guess high-level/the group I join could've helped increase my TC too
@op I just landed a kernel role. If u did take this job, could I dm you and ask some questions?
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My dream is to work in that kind of team. How did you get an offer without any low-level experience?! And if you couldn’t tell yet, I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all.
Agreed, sounds like a dream role.
I guess GCP must be really desperate HAH