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Operating System Developer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

Prosum

Linux Engineer / System Engineer

Glendale, CA

Systems Engineers working within the Media Systems and Network Engineering group provide the ... Operating system administration (e.g. Unix, Linux, OSX, and Windows). High performance data storage ...

Prosum

Linux Systems Engineer

Glendale, CA

Systems Engineers working within the Media Systems and Network Engineering group provide the ... Operating system administration (e.g. Unix, Linux, OSX, and Windows). High performance data storage ...

Anduril Industries

Systems Safety Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$146K - $194K/yr

... operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control ... As a System Safety Engineer at Anduril, you will autonomously drive system-level safety decisions ...

Anduril Industries

Systems Safety Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$146K - $194K/yr

... operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control ... As a System Safety Engineer at Anduril, you will autonomously drive system-level safety decisions ...

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How much do operating system developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for operating system developer in Los Angeles, CA is $52.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44.57 and $61.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Operating System Developer job?

An Operating System Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining operating system components, including kernels, drivers, and system utilities. They work on optimizing system performance, ensuring security, and improving compatibility with hardware and software. These developers typically work with low-level programming languages like C and Assembly and have expertise in systems architecture. Their role is crucial in developing reliable and efficient computing platforms for various devices, from desktops to embedded systems.

How much does an OS developer make?

An operating system developer's salary varies based on experience, location, and skills, but typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually in the United States. Senior developers with specialized knowledge in kernel development or low-level programming can earn higher salaries, especially at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living areas.

How much do OS devs make?

Operating System developers typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the systems they work on. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in low-level programming and kernel development tend to have higher salaries. Compensation can also include benefits such as bonuses, stock options, and flexible schedules.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior operating system developers or software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership roles can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-cost regions or large tech companies. These roles often require advanced knowledge of system architecture, programming languages, and sometimes stock options or bonuses as part of compensation packages.

How hard is coding an OS?

Operating System Developers work on designing, implementing, and maintaining core system software, which requires strong programming skills in languages like C and assembly, as well as understanding hardware architecture. Coding an OS is complex and involves managing low-level hardware interactions, concurrency, and security, often taking years of experience and knowledge of system design principles.

What are the typical daily tasks and responsibilities of an Operating System Developer?

Operating System Developers typically spend their days designing, implementing, and debugging core system components such as kernels, device drivers, and memory management modules. They often work closely with other software engineers, hardware teams, and QA testers to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Reviewing code, conducting performance tests, and investigating reported issues are common daily tasks. Collaboration and clear communication are essential, as most projects require teamwork and regular updates across departments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Operating System Developer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Operating System Developer, you need in-depth knowledge of computer architecture, strong C/C++ programming skills, and experience with low-level system design, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control tools (like Git), debugging utilities, and relevant certifications such as Linux Foundation Certified Engineer are valuable. Analytical thinking, troubleshooting ability, and effective communication are important soft skills for collaborating across development teams. These competencies ensure robust, maintainable system software and efficient teamwork in complex, performance-critical environments.

What are popular job titles related to Operating System Developer jobs in Los Angeles, CA? For Operating System Developer jobs in Los Angeles, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Operating System Developer jobs in Los Angeles, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Operating System Developer jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
What cities near Los Angeles, CA are hiring for Operating System Developer jobs? Cities near Los Angeles, CA with the most Operating System Developer job openings:
Operating System Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Operating System Developer job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $109,506 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Edge Operating System Engineer

Singularity Defense Corp.

Gardena, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

About the Company:
We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and several Silicon Valley firms. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.
Job Overview:
We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer focused on Edge Operating Systems to own the low-level software stack powering our NVIDIA Orin NX-based flight computer. In this role, you'll be responsible for architecting and maintaining our custom NixOS-based deployment and configuration pipeline, building high-reliability Linux systems optimized for flight, and integrating performance-critical applications into a secure, deterministic edge compute environment.
If you thrive at the intersection of embedded systems, Linux internals, and reproducible builds-and want your work to directly shape national defense-this is your role.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Own image lifecycle for our flight computers, from hardware bring-up to mission deployment
  • Build secure, minimal, reproducible NixOS configurations for NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX
  • Optimize performance, boot time, and reliability for mission-critical deployments
  • Integrate low-level software components (GStreamer, CUDA, GPU drivers, telemetry, real-time threads) into a cohesive system
  • Work closely with flight software and GNC teams to support real-time, multi-process workloads
  • Develop secure update mechanisms, sandboxing, and observability tools for edge devices in hostile environments
  • Lead debugging and performance analysis efforts across user space, kernel space, and hardware interfaces
  • Contribute to devops and CI pipelines for embedded Linux builds and simulation environments

Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
  • 5+ years of experience building or maintaining embedded Linux systems (Yocto, Buildroot, NixOS, or similar)
  • Deep familiarity with Linux internals: systemd, udev, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), networking, filesystems
  • Fluency in shell scripting and programming in Python, Rust, or C
  • Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Jetson platforms, including GPU and camera stack integration
  • Experience debugging kernel-space and user-space issues on embedded targets

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Advanced degree or research experience in operating systems, embedded systems, or security
  • Experience using Nix/NixOS in production for embedded or robotics systems
  • Familiarity with secure boot, TPMs, cryptographic key management, and OTA update systems
  • Knowledge of CUDA, GStreamer, or other high-performance Linux subsystems
  • Prior work on autonomous systems, aerospace, or other safety-critical domains
  • Contributions to open source operating systems or Nix community projects

Itar Requirements
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C.1157, or (iv) Asylum under 8 U.S.C.1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR

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