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Operating System Developer Jobs in Los Angeles, 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 ...

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 ...

... operating system; works closely with other System Administrators, Application Engineers, Developers, Cyber Security professionals, Systems Engineers, and Operations specialists to provide top-quality ...

... operating system; works closely with other System Administrators, Application Engineers, Developers, Cyber Security professionals, Systems Engineers, and Operations specialists to provide top-quality ...

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Operating System Developer information

See Los Angeles, CA salary details

$12

$52

$82

How much do operating system developer jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 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.

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 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 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:
Infographic showing various Operating System Developer job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,506 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Edge Operating System Engineer

Singularity Defense Corp.

El Segundo, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 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