Linux Platform Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Company Description
Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.
Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.
Job Description
We have an opening for an experienced Linux Systems Administrator to help design, automate, secure, and support enterprise Red Hat Enterprise Linux services in a highly regulated environment. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining hands-on operations, platform engineering, and security compliance to support mission-critical computing services. This position is in the Information Technology Solutions (ITSD) Division within the Computing Directorate.
This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.
This position will be filled at eitherlevel based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.
You will

• Perform day-to-day operational support functions, including complex problem isolation and remediation, while exercising sound judgment and a moderate degree of independence.
• Contribute to the design, integration, and lifecycle management of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, including:
  • provisioning workflows, including Kickstart configurations and FIPS mode compatibility
  • integration of core applications and security configurations
  • integration with enterprise identity services, including PAM configuration, authentication, authorization, and access controls
  • integration with the broader IT environment
• Contribute to the development, implementation, testing, and validation of security benchmarks (DISA STIG), including compliance automation and assessment of operational impact and risk.
• Troubleshoot, configure, and maintain SELinux policies in support of secure enterprise Linux operations.
• Develop and maintain moderately complex Ansible roles and playbooks using Ansible Automation Platform.
• Create and maintain RPM packages for custom software deployment and updates.
• Develop and maintain scripts in Bash, Python, or similar languages to automate operational and administrative tasks.
• Maintain and update on-premises Red Hat Satellite services.
• Develop and maintain clear technical documentation to support system administration, integration, operations, and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with engineers, security teams, and other stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

• Independently diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve complex Linux operating system and platform issues in a regulated enterprise environment.
• Architect, develop, and maintain highly complex Ansible roles, playbooks, and automation workflows.
• Develop advanced scripts, tools, or small-scale programs to solve complex operational, integration, and security problems.
• Lead the technical design and implementation of complex Linux platform initiatives, including advising on architecture, security, automation, and operational best practices.
• Serve as a technical leader in areas of expertise, providing advanced guidance, mentorship, and technical assistance to a range of audiences.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's Degree in a Computer Science, Information Technology, or Engineering related field or equivalent combination of technical training and experience.
• Comprehensive experience administering Linux systems in command-line environments, including shell navigation, file editing, shell pipelines, SSH, and common text-processing tools such as grep, sed, or awk.
• Broad experience troubleshooting and configuring Linux security controls and applying computer security concepts and best practices.
• Proficient experience with Bash or Python scripting for system administration or task automation.
• Proficient ability to prioritize work, solve moderately complex technical problems, and operate effectively with limited supervision.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to collaborate effectively with engineers, security teams, and other stakeholders.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level

• Advanced experience administering Linux operating systems in complex enterprise environments.
• Significant experience leading technical projects or initiatives, including independently planning and executing complex technical work, coordinating with stakeholders, guiding others as needed, and driving work to completion.
• Advanced experience developing Bash or Python scripts, or software tools in higher-level programming languages, to solve complex administrative or operational problems.
• Significant experience developing complex regular expressions and using advanced text-processing techniques for system administration, automation, or data analysis tasks.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with the broader Red Hat ecosystem of enterprise management tools and services.
• Experience administering Linux operating systems in disconnected highly secure environments.
• Experience with infrastructure and operations technologies such as VMware, DNS, Git, firewalld, nftables, iptables, Splunk, Nagios, cloud technologies, or Podman and other container technologies.
• Advanced experience integrating Linux systems with enterprise identity and authentication services, such as Active Directory, Kerberos, Winbind/Samba, SSSD, or Realm.

Pay Range
$146,340 - $185,544 Yearly at the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Yearly at the SES.3 level
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.
Additional Information
#LI-Onsite
Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance
This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.
Pre-Employment Drug Test
External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.
Wireless and Medical Devices
Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.
Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.
How to identify fake job advertisements
Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.
To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.
Reasonable Accommodation
Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.
CaliforniaPrivacy Notice
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitlesjob applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .