Linux System Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are:
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aerospace. At Venus, we're looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.
The Role: Linux Systems Engineer
As a Linux Systems Engineer at Venus Aerospace, you will be part of the team building and scaling the enterprise infrastructure that powers our engineering, manufacturing, and mission-critical operations. In close collaboration with IT, security, and engineering partners, you will help design, deploy, secure, and maintain our on-premises and cloud environments to ensure reliability, resilience, and performance across the organization.
This role is central to operational excellence. You will contribute to the architecture and support of secure systems across Windows and Linux platforms, virtualization environments, identity services, and core IT infrastructure. Success in this position requires strong technical depth, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to operate confidently in regulated environments where security and uptime are critical.
If you're motivated by working alongside a high-performing team to build robust, scalable systems that enable real-world hardware development and mission execution, you'll thrive in this role.
What You'll Get To Do

• Administer, maintain, and troubleshoot Linux servers and workstations in a production environment
• Integrate Linux systems into Windows-based infrastructure (e.g., Active Directory, authentication, file services)
• Design, implement, and maintain automated configuration management using Ansible
• Build and manage Linux deployment pipelines using tools such as Kickstart, cloud-init, and Terraform
• Support containerized workloads using Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes
• Manage infrastructure across both virtualized environments (VMware) and physical bare-metal systems
• Monitor system performance, ensure high availability, and implement security best practices
• Collaborate with networking and systems teams to ensure reliable connectivity and performance
• Troubleshoot complex system, networking, and deployment issues
• Build monitoring and alerting systems to provide quick response to incidents.

What You Have

• 3-5+ years of experience in Linux systems administration (RHEL, Ubuntu, or similar)
• Experience integrating Linux systems into Windows environments (Active Directory, LDAP, SSO)
• Strong hands-on experience with Ansible for automation and configuration management
• Experience with Linux provisioning and deployment tools (Kickstart, cloud-init, Terraform, or similar)
• Working knowledge of container technologies (Docker, Podman) and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes)
• Experience with VMware or similar virtualization platforms
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, routing, firewalls)
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience with hybrid or cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code practices
• Scripting experience (Bash, Python, or similar)
• Exposure to monitoring/logging tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, etc.)

Location:On-site in Houston, TX
Benefits:Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.
ITAR Requirements
This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State). You can learn more about ITARhere.
Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email [email protected] or call (281) 203-0027.This email and phone number were created exclusively to assist job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Messages or any other purposes, such as following up on an application, third party staffing agencies, website technical issues, or any other issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Messages will be returned within five business days.
For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.