About This Role
Build open source graphics drivers that run on real hardware. You will work directly in the Vulkan driver stack, contributing upstream to Mesa and the Linux DRM subsystem, and solving problems that affect how GPUs are used across the Linux ecosystem.
This isn't just maintenance work. You will be debugging real hardware behaviour, reading GPU specs and kernel internals and writing code that ends up in distributions used by millions of people. The work is technically deep and the feedback loop is direct.
The role combines low-level systems programming with open source collaboration. You will work alongside experienced graphics engineers, develop genuine expertise in how modern GPUs work from the kernel up, and grow into a contributor that the broader open source graphics community knows by name.
Location: Fully remote
Travel: Optional conference attendance
What You'll Actually Do
Upstream First: Contribute directly to Mesa and the Linux DRM subsystem, writing Vulkan driver code that lands in mainline and ships to users worldwide
Real-World Impact: Work on graphics drivers for hardware used across Linux desktops, embedded devices and consumer products that people depend on every day
Solve Hard Problems: Debug GPU behaviour that has no documentation, reverse engineer hardware quirks and fix rendering issues that manifest as a corrupted frame with no obvious cause. The GPU did something unexpected and it is your job to find out why
Community Collaboration: Work with Mesa and kernel maintainers, participate in code review across the open source graphics community and represent Collabora at conferences like XDC and FOSDEM
Client Partnership: Translate hardware vendor and client requirements into upstream-compatible solutions while advocating for approaches that benefit the broader ecosystem. Help clients understand why investing in open source driver quality serves their long-term goals
Navigate Constraints: Balance upstream correctness with real-world pressures: hardware bring-up timelines, vendor NDAs, performance targets and client deadlines, while keeping code quality high enough to pass maintainer review
Be a Technical Advisor: Explain complex driver and GPU architecture decisions to product teams, provide honest assessments of what is and isn't possible and build trust through transparent communication
What we’re looking for
Vulkan - solid understanding of the core spec; command buffers, render passes, synchronisation, memory management and pipelines. Familiarity with Vulkan validation layers and debugging workflow
Basic understanding of GPU hardware concepts - queues, tilers vs IMR, memory hierarchies
Linux kernel basics - comfortable reading and navigating kernel code
DRM fundamentals - GEM/buffer management, dma-buf/prime buffer sharing, fence and sync objects, GPU job submission paths
Mesa architecture awareness - Gallium, driver structure
Basic understanding of how userspace drivers interact with kernel
C and C++ - comfortable with pointer arithmetic, memory management, kernel-style coding
Required
Nice to have
Git - mailing list patch workflow (not just GitHub PRs)
Comfortable reading specs and documentation independently
Not afraid of large unfamiliar codebases
Open source contribution mindset - code review, public communication, upstream first
Existing Mesa or kernel patch history
Experience with a specific GPU family (ARM/AMD/Intel)
Python for tooling/scripting
Rust programming skills
Understanding of KMS fundamentals or Wayland clients
What We Offer
Competitive salary based on experience and location
Office setup budget
Sabbatical/Retention of Services - after five years continuous service
Co-working policy - support for working outside home
Wellness assessments - biannual wellbeing assessments with a trained mental health specialist
Conference attendance -we cover expenses and encourage speaking opportunities
Open source time - contribute to projects you care about
Fully remote - work where you’re most productive
Global team - engineers across Europe, Americas and Asia
No on-call rotations - this isn't support work
Sustainable pace - we're here for the long term
Flexible hours - manage your own schedule
Upstream contributions - your work shapes Linux, not just client products
Technical leadership track - path to principal engineer, subsystem expertise or technical architecture roles
Consulting track - develop deeper client relationships, lead customer engagements or shape service offerings
Mentorship opportunities - both receiving and providing guidance
Conference speaking - we support presentation submissions and provide coaching
Recognition - your contributions are public, building your professional reputation
Upstream first - we believe the best solutions benefit everyone
Transparency - open discussion about technical decisions, business constraints and project challenges
Pragmatism - perfect is the enemy of good; we ship quality code that solves real problems
Respect for expertise - we trust engineers to make technical decisions
Collaborative - we succeed by working together, internally and with the community
Sustainable pace - we're here for the marathon, not the sprint
Review overnight Mesa GitLab discussion on your patch series
Triage a rendering corruption report from a client - identify whether it is a driver bug or a spec interpretation issue
Respond to maintainer feedback on a Vulkan extension implementation
Pair debug session with a colleague on unexpected GPU hang behaviour
Deep work: implement a missing feature in the Vulkan driver, cross-referencing the spec and hardware documentation
Quick video call with client team to walk through your proposed fix and explain the trade-offs
Review a colleague's DRM buffer management patch before they send it upstream
Help a colleague debug an issue to identify whether it is GPU related
Reproduce a client issue locally using RenderDoc and Vulkan validation layers - narrow it down to a specific draw call
Update client on timeline, discuss whether a quick workaround or a proper upstream fix is the right move for their schedule
Join optional team discussion on how to handle a tricky synchronisation edge case
Write a clear commit message explaining not just what changed but why the hardware requires it
Compensation & Benefits
We offer a competitive benefits package tailored to each country in which we have employees, plus a core global benefit offering accessible to all Collaborans. Our core benefits include:
Work Environment
Growth & Impact
Culture & Values
A Day in the Life
Morning (your timezone):
Midday:
Afternoon:
Some days are heads-down driver work with hours spent in a debugger. Others involve more client communication and architectural discussion. You will find a balance that suits the project and your strengths.
Our Interview Process
Application Review (within 1 week) - we look at your code and contributions
Initial Chat (30 min) - casual conversation about your experience and our work
Technical Interview (2 - 3h)
Technical Deep-Dive - discuss kernel architecture, past debugging challenges and how you approach problem-solving (no whiteboard coding)
Code Review Session - review real patches together, discuss trade-offs
Client Scenario Discussion - talk through a realistic customer situation: balancing technical debt, timeline pressure and upstream goals (we want to see your thought process, not a "right answer")
Head of Open Source Software Consulting team Discussion (60 min) - meet the Head of Open Source Software Consulting team, ask about day-to-day work and how Collabora works, discuss compensation and benefits.
Offer (within 1 week of final interview)
Initial response within 1 week
Even if we don't move forward, we'll tell you why
We respect your time and provide a clear, structured process:
Total timeline: 3-4 weeks from application to offer
We provide feedback at every stage, and you'll always know where you stand.
What Happens Next
Collabora's Commitment
We're committed to building a diverse team and inclusive environment. We encourage applications from people underrepresented in tech.
We evaluate candidates based on skills and contributions, not pedigree. If you're unsure whether you qualify, apply anyway —imposter syndrome is real and you might be exactly who we're looking for.
We recognise that the combination of deep kernel expertise and consulting skills is rare. If you're strong in one area and interested in developing the other, we want to hear from you.
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