David Hildenbrand, a prominent Linux kernel engineer, is leaving Red Hat after a decade of significant contributions to memory management, virtual. His recent update to kernel.org maintainer information signals his departure, though details about his new role remain undisclosed. Hildenbrand has been instrumental in shaping core Linux kernel features, including memory management, virtualization technologies, and VirtIO drivers. His work has influenced over a thousand mainline Linux kernel patches in 2025 alone.
At Red Hat, Hildenbrand has been based in Munich, focusing on QEMU/KVM virtualization, Linux kernel memory management, and related low-level areas. He has served as a reviewer for key code modules such as the HugeTLB code, s390 KVM code, and memory management reclaim code. Additionally, he has been an upstream maintainer for several critical kernel components, including the core memory management code, Get User Pages (GUP), KSM, RMAP, THP, MADVISE, VirtIO memory driver, and VirtIO balloon driver.
Hildenbrand’s departure raises questions about the future of Red Hat’s kernel development efforts, particularly in areas where his expertise has been pivotal. While his new role has not been publicly disclosed, his contributions have left a lasting impact on the Linux kernel community. The open-source community is likely to miss his guidance as they continue to evolve Linux kernel technologies.
Phoronix reported that Hildenbrand’s exit follows a pattern of talent loss in the open-source space, highlighting the challenges faced by companies in retaining key contributors. Red Hat, which has long been a major player in Linux development, may need to reassess its strategies to attract and retain top talent in the future. As the Linux ecosystem continues to expand, the loss of experienced engineers like Hildenbrand could have long-term implications for the direction of kernel development.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Hildenbrand’s new position, his impact on the Linux kernel is undeniable. His work has helped shape the modern Linux operating system, and his absence will be felt in the ongoing evolution of kernel technologies. The Linux community will undoubtedly continue to benefit from his contributions, even as he moves on to new challenges elsewhere.