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 ...
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 ...
System Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA · On-site
Experience of VxWorks or other real-time operating systems Programming experience in C/C++ required; C# is highly desirable Experience with National Instruments Labview, Matlab and other simulation ...
System Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA · On-site
Experience of VxWorks or other real-time operating systems Programming experience in C/C++ required; C# is highly desirable Experience with National Instruments Labview, Matlab and other simulation ...
System Engineer
San Diego, CA · On-site
We build the technologies that help operators and organizations see what's happening, make faster ... We are seeking a Systems Engineer to support systems and system-of-systems engineering efforts ...
System Engineer
San Diego, CA · On-site
We build the technologies that help operators and organizations see what's happening, make faster ... We are seeking a Systems Engineer to support systems and system-of-systems engineering efforts ...
System Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA · On-site
... operating systems • Programming experience in C/C++ required; C# is highly desirable • Experience with National Instruments Labview, Matlab and other simulation tools desirable • Ability to ...
System Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA · On-site
... operating systems • Programming experience in C/C++ required; C# is highly desirable • Experience with National Instruments Labview, Matlab and other simulation tools desirable • Ability to ...
Operating System Architect
San Jose, CA · On-site
$120K - $300K/yr
This role spans hands-on systems engineering up through strategic technical leadership and team ... Define and evolve the embedded operating system architecture and platform strategy across the ...
Operating System Architect
San Jose, CA · On-site
$120K - $300K/yr
This role spans hands-on systems engineering up through strategic technical leadership and team ... Define and evolve the embedded operating system architecture and platform strategy across the ...
Operating System Architect
San Jose, CA · On-site
$120K - $300K/yr
This role spans hands-on systems engineering up through strategic technical leadership and team ... Define and evolve the embedded operating system architecture and platform strategy across the ...
Operating System Architect
San Jose, CA · On-site
$120K - $300K/yr
This role spans hands-on systems engineering up through strategic technical leadership and team ... Define and evolve the embedded operating system architecture and platform strategy across the ...
System Engineer
Monterey, CA · Hybrid
$100K - $116K/yr
System Engineer Salary Range: $100,000 to $116,000 per year Ops Tech Alliance (OTA) is seeking a ... of operating systems, networking protocols, storage technologies, cloud platforms, and security ...
System Engineer
Monterey, CA · Hybrid
$100K - $116K/yr
System Engineer Salary Range: $100,000 to $116,000 per year Ops Tech Alliance (OTA) is seeking a ... of operating systems, networking protocols, storage technologies, cloud platforms, and security ...
Senior System Engineer
San Diego, CA · On-site
$110K - $151K/yr
We build the technologies that help operators and organizations see what's happening, make faster ... We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support systems and system-of-systems engineering ...
Senior System Engineer
San Diego, CA · On-site
$110K - $151K/yr
We build the technologies that help operators and organizations see what's happening, make faster ... We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support systems and system-of-systems engineering ...
Support virtualization and operating systems * Perform system monitoring and troubleshooting * Support patching, backups, and recovery operations Qualifications * 6+ years of systems engineering ...
Support virtualization and operating systems * Perform system monitoring and troubleshooting * Support patching, backups, and recovery operations Qualifications * 6+ years of systems engineering ...
Support virtualization and operating systems * Perform system monitoring and troubleshooting * Support patching, backups, and recovery operations Qualifications * 6+ years of systems engineering ...
Support virtualization and operating systems * Perform system monitoring and troubleshooting * Support patching, backups, and recovery operations Qualifications * 6+ years of systems engineering ...
System Engineer
Monterey, CA · On-site
... operating systems (Windows, Linux), networking protocols, storage technologies, cloud computing platforms, and security best practices • Strong problem-solving skills and analytical abilities to ...
System Engineer
Monterey, CA · On-site
... operating systems (Windows, Linux), networking protocols, storage technologies, cloud computing platforms, and security best practices • Strong problem-solving skills and analytical abilities to ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer-IMS
Santa Clara, CA · On-site
System Engineer Install hardware and peripheral components like disk drives, printers, keyboards ... Load software packages such as operating systems and office applications. Customize and adapt ...
System Engineer-IMS
Santa Clara, CA · On-site
System Engineer Install hardware and peripheral components like disk drives, printers, keyboards ... Load software packages such as operating systems and office applications. Customize and adapt ...
System Engineer
Perris, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Perris, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
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 ...
System Engineer
Lathrop, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Lathrop, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
System Engineer
Red Bluff, CA · On-site
The System Engineer focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and stabilizing complex electro ... Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians and operators. * Step ...
The System Engineer will manage development, staging, and production systems in a hybrid cloud ... Deep technical knowledge in operating systems (Windows, Linux), networking protocols, storage ...
The System Engineer will manage development, staging, and production systems in a hybrid cloud ... Deep technical knowledge in operating systems (Windows, Linux), networking protocols, storage ...
SYSTEM ENGINEER
Daly City, CA · On-site
$103K - $118K/yr
The Systems Engineer will be responsible for overseeing the entire IT system infrastructure ensuring that servers, operating systems, applications, and related procedures result in a reliable, secure ...
SYSTEM ENGINEER
Daly City, CA · On-site
$103K - $118K/yr
The Systems Engineer will be responsible for overseeing the entire IT system infrastructure ensuring that servers, operating systems, applications, and related procedures result in a reliable, secure ...
Operating System Engineer information
See California salary details
$52.8K - $63K
2% of jobs
$63K - $73.2K
4% of jobs
$73.2K - $83.3K
7% of jobs
$83.3K - $93.5K
9% of jobs
$96.4K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$93.5K - $103.7K
10% of jobs
$103.7K - $113.9K
7% of jobs
$113.9K - $124.1K
10% of jobs
The median wage is $125.8K / yr.
$124.1K - $134.3K
6% of jobs
$134.3K - $144.4K
3% of jobs
$154.3K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$144.4K - $154.6K
17% of jobs
$154.6K - $164.8K
24% of jobs
$52.8K
$125.5K
$164.8K
How much do operating system engineer jobs pay per year?
As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for operating system engineer in California is $125,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,700.00 and $154,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What are some common challenges faced by Operating System Engineers when maintaining system stability in large-scale environments?
Operating System Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing software patching across diverse hardware, ensuring compatibility with legacy applications, and minimizing downtime during critical updates. In large-scale environments, balancing security with performance and reliability can be complex, especially when multiple teams depend on the systems. Effective communication with development, security, and IT operations teams is essential to address these issues proactively and maintain overall system stability.
What does an Operating System Engineer do?
An Operating System Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, and optimizing operating systems that run on computers and servers. They work on the core components that manage hardware resources, enable software applications, and ensure system security and stability. Their duties often include writing system-level code, troubleshooting performance issues, implementing updates, and collaborating with hardware and software teams. Operating System Engineers play a critical role in ensuring that computing environments are efficient, reliable, and secure.
What is the difference between Operating System Engineer vs System Administrator?
| Aspect | Operating System Engineer | System Administrator |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Designing, developing, and optimizing operating systems | Maintaining, configuring, and supporting existing systems |
| Skills & Certifications | Linux/Unix, scripting, OS architecture, certifications like RHCE or Linux Foundation | System management, network setup, troubleshooting, certifications like CompTIA Server+ or Microsoft Certified |
| Work Environment | Development teams, R&D, engineering projects | IT support, data centers, enterprise environments |
| Industry Usage | Tech companies, hardware firms, software development | Corporate IT, government agencies, healthcare, finance |
While both roles involve working with operating systems, Operating System Engineers focus on designing and developing OS solutions, whereas System Administrators manage and support existing systems. The roles complement each other but serve different stages of the system lifecycle.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Operating System Engineer, and why are they important?
To thrive as an Operating System Engineer, you need a deep understanding of computer science principles, operating system internals, and strong programming skills in languages like C, C++, or Rust, often backed by a relevant degree. Familiarity with kernel development, debugging tools, virtualization platforms, and experience with version control systems (such as Git) are typically required. Problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are soft skills that set top performers apart. These skills ensure the reliability, performance, and security of operating systems, which are foundational to all computing environments.
What are popular job titles related to Operating System Engineer jobs in California? For Operating System Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Operating System Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Operating System Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Operating System Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Operating System Engineer job openings:
Full-time
Posted 18 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:
Basic Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
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