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Linux Platform Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Maintain custom RT Linux Distribution for internally developed computers * Maintain and customize ... Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a ...

Platform Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$125.20K - $181.60K/yr

About the team : We're a small Platform Engineering team responsible for the core foundation that ... Cloud fundamentals (GCP/AWS/Azure); strong foundation in Linux, containers, and basic knowledge of ...

Advanced Linux systems administration experience * Experience with scripting languages such as Bash, Python, PHP, or Ruby * Strong understanding of CI/CD principles, infrastructure-as-code, and Git ...

Platform Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$72K - $85K/yr

NPI Server Platform Engineer Responsibilities: * This person will execute NPI builds and day to day ... Linux-based distributions is a bonus. * Comfortable in a fast moving, small team environment.

NPI Server Platform Engineer Responsibilities: * This person will execute NPI builds and day to day ... Linux-based distributions is a bonus. * Comfortable in a fast moving, small team environment.

OS Platform Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and ... Maintain custom RT Linux Distribution for internally developed computers * Maintain and customize ...

Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and ... Maintain custom RT Linux Distribution for internally developed computers * Maintain and customize ...

... years in platform, systems, or networking engineering. * Minimum 5-10+ years of experience in ... Familiarity with Linux environments (RedHat, SUSE, Debian) and scripting or automation tools ...

Staff Linux Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$135.80K - $169.80K/yr

Role Summary Our Linux Engineer will be responsible for owning and maturing Rivian's Linux platform across the enterprise and Joint Venture. This role requires not only strong technical execution but ...

... years in platform, systems, or networking engineering. * Minimum 5-10+ years of experience in ... Familiarity with Linux environments (RedHat, SUSE, Debian) and scripting or automation tools ...

Strong understanding of Linux networking fundamentals: iptables/nftables, routing, DNS, TCP/IP ... Go programming experience for operator maintenance and platform tooling development * CKA ...

Staff Linux Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$135.80K - $169.80K/yr

Role Summary Our Linux Engineer will be responsible for owning and maturing Rivian's Linux platform across the enterprise and Joint Venture. This role requires not only strong technical execution but ...

Staff Linux Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$135.80K - $169.80K/yr

Role Summary Our Linux Engineer will be responsible for owning and maturing Rivian's Linux platform across the enterprise and Joint Venture. This role requires not only strong technical execution but ...

Strong understanding of Linux networking fundamentals: iptables/nftables, routing, DNS, TCP/IP ... Go programming experience for operator maintenance and platform tooling development * CKA ...

Hardware Platform Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$133.10K - $175.60K/yr

Bring up Linux on new hardware platforms, including kernel configuration, device tree setup, and ... Systems Programming: Comfortable writing system-level tooling. You'll build hardware diagnostic ...

We have an opening for an experienced Linux Systems Administrator to help design, automate, secure ... This role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining hands-on operations, platform engineering, and ...

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How much do linux platform engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for linux platform engineer in California is $58.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.45 and $66.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Linux Platform Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Linux Platform Engineer, you need deep expertise in Linux system administration, scripting languages (such as Bash or Python), and a strong understanding of networking and security principles, usually backed by a relevant degree or certifications like RHCE. Familiarity with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet), virtualization platforms, and monitoring systems is typically required. Problem-solving, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you excel when collaborating with teams and troubleshooting complex issues. These skills ensure that critical infrastructure is secure, reliable, and efficiently maintained to support business operations.

How does a Linux Platform Engineer typically collaborate with development and operations teams?

Linux Platform Engineers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between development and operations teams. They often work closely with developers to ensure applications are optimized for Linux environments, assist with troubleshooting system-level issues, and help automate deployment processes. Additionally, they collaborate with operations teams to maintain system reliability, implement security best practices, and monitor infrastructure performance. This cross-functional collaboration is key to maintaining a stable, scalable, and secure platform.

What are Linux Platform Engineers?

Linux Platform Engineers are IT professionals who design, build, and maintain the infrastructure and systems that run on Linux-based operating systems. They are responsible for ensuring the stability, security, and scalability of Linux platforms within an organization. Their work often includes automation, scripting, system optimization, troubleshooting, and collaborating with development and operations teams to support applications. Linux Platform Engineers play a crucial role in supporting cloud environments, DevOps pipelines, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.

What is the difference between Linux Platform Engineer vs Linux Systems Administrator?

AspectLinux Platform EngineerLinux Systems Administrator
Primary FocusDesigning, building, and maintaining Linux infrastructure and platformsManaging and maintaining existing Linux systems and servers
Skills & CertificationsLinux certifications (e.g., RHCE, LPIC), scripting, automation, cloud knowledgeLinux certifications, system monitoring, troubleshooting, user management
Work EnvironmentDevOps teams, infrastructure projects, cloud environmentsData centers, enterprise IT, server management
Common TasksAutomating deployment, optimizing performance, infrastructure designSystem updates, backups, user support, issue resolution

The main difference is that a Linux Platform Engineer focuses on building and optimizing Linux infrastructure, while a Linux Systems Administrator manages and maintains existing Linux systems. Both roles require Linux certifications and share overlapping skills, but their responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What are popular job titles related to Linux Platform Engineer jobs in California? For Linux Platform Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Linux Platform Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Linux Platform Engineer jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Linux Platform Engineer job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 49% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,620 per year, or $59 per hour.

OS Platform Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA

$160K - $200K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

You will be responsible for architecting and evolving the core operating system capabilities of some of the largest spacecraft ever flown, ensuring a reliable boundary between SoC specific complexity and high-level flight software. You will write mission-critical code that maintains a secure boot chain and platform for safe operation of the vehicle. In your first 6 months you will develop core pieces of the software platform including tuning Linux to meet hard real-time requirements, and creating a shared sense of time across the vehicle. In your first year you will develop a strategy and tooling to ensure we can utilize the latest Kernel versions with confidence. In your first two years you will operate your code on multiple spacecraft, demonstrating robust performance in demanding missions.

Responsibilities 

  • Create software architecture for real-time, fault tolerant control of a 20kW+ spacecraft
  • Maintain custom RT Linux Distribution for internally developed computers
  • Maintain and customize UBoot to support a bullet-proof rollback system along with validation of authenticity at every step of the boot process
  • Curate device trees across various boards to allow easy use of hardware specific features
  • Create and utilize robust tools to allow for rapid deployment of quality code
  • Perform data analysis and anomaly investigation to identify and resolve software bugs
  • Support integration and testing of the spacecraft subsystems
  • Build and maintain infrastructure to increase reliability when developing and testing software  

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 5+ years of professional experience in software engineering 
  • Development experience in Rust, C/C++, Python, VHDL, SystemVerilog 

Nice to Have 

  • Fluency with Linux systems programming and driver development
  • Familiarity with building embedded Linux images (Buildroot, Bitbake, Yocto)
  • Experience building or working with hard real-time embedded systems (bare-metal or RT Linux)
  • Familiarity with Precision Time Protocol (IEEE1588 PTP)
  • Experience with spacecraft flight software development
  • Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery systems
  • Basic knowledge of electronics, computer architecture, and control systems
  • Experience with software verification and testing methods
  • Experience with software and network performance analysis and debugging
  • Experience with fault tolerant software design and implementation
  • Experience defining and creating test systems for both hardware-in-the-loop and hardware-out-of-the-loop 

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022