Ask HN: How to build a career in systems-level open source tech?

> Some recent examples of such low-level work I can think of, are: Linux kernel development, sanitizers and static analysis in GCC and Clang, new languages and their compilers and tools (Rust, Go, WebAssembly, etc), regular improvements in web browser engines, databases features.

All that you have listed are available for contributions from beginners. Choose the field you like and start lurking on their mailing lists; download the source code, try to understand it and ask questions (let developers on the mailing list know that you are a beginner and want to contribute, and ask what is the best approach to get to speed with the codebase)

You'll probably get varying answers to your question based on who you ask, but I would recommend developing an expertise in one particular area -- perhaps in one individual project, or even a subcomponent of a project -- that you care about and will naturally develop an encyclopediac knowledge of simply because you find it fascinating enough to want to read everything about it (historic and ongoing).

So now you're an expert in that field - and it doesn't feel like work, because it's what you enjoy and want to see advance technologically. Now what you do is look around to see who benefits from experience in that area. If you're lucky, they've reached out to you already.

Worst case, you've learned about and perhaps developed and furthered a technology cause that you care about. Best case, you've found an employer (and team) who want to do the same.

What's your favourite example of a static analysis success story?

Thanks, I guess this is the only way.

No problem. My answer might not be the only way, though: I probably have a biased tendency to see "the hard, technical way" as the best option. There may be on-the-job training opportunities and/or apprenticeships possible too, or as another commentor suggests, starting with small contributions could make sense as a gradual entry.

If I wanted to do Linux Kernel development, I'd apply at Red Hat. I've got a buddy who interviews newish kernel developers out of school for them - it doesn't sound like he's looking for anything super specific either - he's often dismayed at how new graduates he talks to aren't even up on source control or other things he considers fundamental. He's US based but the teams are international (though I don't know if they'd hire from any country; maybe just specific ones).

Anyway, that's where I'd apply.

Thanks and I am aware that Red Hat is a heavy contributor to open source infrastructure. However, I have never been able to find a job posting from them for such roles outside the US.