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Operating System Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Lenovo

Operating System Design Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$178K - $211K/yr

Required : • 12+ years of hands-on engineering experience in OS level software, system design ... operating systems. • Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and system-level development and ...

Mindlance

System Engineer V

Chicago, IL · On-site

... upgrade (Operating System, Software Products, Hardware Replacement) • Provide consultation ... DB2 Systems Programming on IBM Mainframes • Strong working knowledge of DB2 for z/OS, IBM ...

Collabera

System Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68 - $75/hr

... such as Operating System, Data Base Administration, Storage Management, Operations/Coverage ... Systems Programming on Mainframes Strong working knowledge of DB2 for z/OS, Assembler and SMP/E ...

PTR Global

DB2 Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60 - $65/hr

Position: System Engineer V Location: Chicago, Illinois Duration: Contract Job ID: 177751 Job ... Work closely with other IBM Mainframe support groups, including Operating System, Database ...

Mindlance

System Engineer V

Chicago, IL · On-site

Z/OS operating systems including JES2 • IBM Assembler Language programming • Parallel Sysplex clustering technology • Unix System Services (USS) • IPCS, SMP/E • TCP/IP / OSA / VTAM • WLM ...

Symbotic

Manager, System Engineer

Joliet, IL · On-site

The System Engineer team is responsible for the optimization and performance of the system. As the ... Train and assist operators on overall system including automated adapters, vertical lifts ...

University of Chicago

HPC System Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $110K/yr

The University of Chicago seeks HPC Systems Engineer for Chicago, IL. Bachelor's in Comp Sci ... operating sys deployment w/XCAT/ROCKS; configure administer & support network storage subsys (IBM ...

Mindlance

Z/OS Mainframe System Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$56.75 - $72.25/hr

Z/OS operating systems including JES2 * IBM Assembler Language programming * Parallel Sysplex clustering technology * Unix System Services (USS) * IPCS, SMP/E * TCP/IP / OSA / VTAM * WLM * IBM ...

Humana

Senior Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$107K - $147K/yr

Includes operating systems, device drivers, utilities, and software; development tools (e.g., assemblers, compilers, etc.). The Senior Systems Engineer work assignments involve moderately complex to ...

ITCAPS LLC

Mainframe /DB2- ZOS Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$50.50 - $65/hr

... such as Operating System, Data Base Administration, Storage Management, Operations/Coverage ... DB2 Systems Programming on IBM Mainframes • Strong working knowledge of DB2 for z/OS, IBM ...

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Operating System Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$55.2K

$131.2K

$172.2K

How much do operating system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for operating system engineer in Chicago, IL is $131,153.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,000.00 and $161,900.00 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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data engineering, or cybersecurity can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. These roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, or working in competitive markets with high compensation packages.

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 engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior operating system engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills, and certifications, can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation is often associated with roles in large tech companies, leadership positions, or engineers working on complex systems with advanced knowledge of hardware, virtualization, or security. Salary levels depend on location, company size, and individual expertise.

What is the difference between Operating System Engineer vs System Administrator?

AspectOperating System EngineerSystem Administrator
Primary FocusDesigning, developing, and optimizing operating systemsMaintaining, configuring, and supporting existing systems
Skills & CertificationsLinux/Unix, scripting, OS architecture, certifications like RHCE or Linux FoundationSystem management, network setup, troubleshooting, certifications like CompTIA Server+ or Microsoft Certified
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, R&D, engineering projectsIT support, data centers, enterprise environments
Industry UsageTech companies, hardware firms, software developmentCorporate 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 does an OS engineer do?

An Operating System (OS) Engineer designs, develops, and maintains operating system software, ensuring efficient hardware and software integration. They troubleshoot system issues, optimize performance, and may work with tools like kernel development, scripting, and debugging. Strong knowledge of computer architecture, programming languages, and system security is essential for this role.

How hard is coding an OS?

Operating System Engineers typically find coding an OS to be highly complex due to the need for low-level programming, understanding hardware interactions, and managing system resources. It requires strong knowledge of programming languages like C or C++, familiarity with system architecture, and often involves debugging and testing in specialized environments. The work demands significant technical skill and experience, often gained through advanced education and hands-on practice.

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 Chicago, IL? For Operating System Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Operating System Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Operating System Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Operating System Engineer jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Operating System Engineer job openings:
Operating System Engineer jobs near you
Operating System Design Manager

Operating System Design Manager

Lenovo

Chicago, IL • On-site

$178K - $211K/yr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago

Lenovo rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

87th of 139 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

Job Summary:
Lenovo is a global technology powerhouse focused on delivering Smarter Technology for All. They are seeking an OS System Design Manager to lead the architecture and system design of core OS-level components across various platforms including Linux, Android, and Windows, while providing technical leadership and managing a skilled engineering team.
Responsibilities:
• Lead system architecture and design across multi‑OS environments (Linux, Android, Windows, RTOS), focusing on HAL and middleware layers.
• Define and evolve OS‑level abstractions, system services, and framework‑facing interfaces that deliver consistent capabilities across diverse device platforms.
• Drive integration of system components with vendor HALs, silicon‑specific interfaces, and low‑level drivers across multiple operating systems.
• Collaborate with AI, product, firmware, hardware, and platform teams to ensure scalable and unified system designs.
• Deliver platform solutions that meet stringent performance, reliability, latency, and power goals across various hardware architectures.
• Oversee technical execution including design reviews, system bring‑up, debugging, and integration readiness for production platforms.
• Manage and grow a team of system engineers, fostering strong execution, technical depth, and platform expertise.
• Stay current with advances in OS architectures, HAL design patterns, system optimization approaches, and multi‑OS best practices.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 12+ years of hands-on engineering experience in OS level software, system design, HAL, or middleware development across Linux, Android, Windows, or RTOS platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required.
• 3+ years of people-management experience, leading platform or system engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of framework ↔ system service ↔ HAL ↔ driver interactions across multiple operating systems.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and system-level development and familiarity with Java/Kotlin/C#/Rust as applicable to different OS environments.
• Proven experience delivering system-level components for consumer-grade devices (phones, tablets, PCs, IoT, embedded).
• Deep understanding of OS fundamentals including process models, memory management, IPC, scheduling, performance, power optimization, and system security.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through system architecture decisions, cross-platform debugging, and production-quality delivery.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate product requirements into scalable multi-OS system architectures.
Preferred:
• Experience with HAL design, middleware frameworks, and system services across diverse OS platforms.
• Master’s Degree in Engineering is preferred.
• Background working with silicon vendors.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled system features, sensor frameworks, data-flow optimization, or on-device processing pipelines.
• Experience with updatable system components (Android APEX/Mainline, Linux modular packaging, Windows system modules).
• Strong problem-solving skills for cross-layer issues spanning frameworks, middleware, native daemons, HALs, and kernel interfaces.
• Passion for system design, OS architecture, and building clean, maintainable, and scalable system abstractions across heterogeneous platforms.
Company:
Lenovo Group is a computer technology company that manufactures personal computers, smartphones, televisions, and wearable devices. Founded in 1984, the company is headquartered in Beijing, CHN, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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