ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Operating System Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Resource Point LLC

System Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

System Engineer Number of Openings: 2 Duration: 6-month assignment with possibility for extension ... Experience with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems. * Hands-on experience with PCBs, GPUs ...

OCHIN

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Portland, OR · On-site

Position Overview: The Systems Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and ... of system-related technologies, including hardware, operating systems, Active Directory, Group ...

Stefanini

Systems Engineer

Hillsboro, OR

Experience with Windows Operating System for both clients and servers, Networking, Linux, NAS, SAN. Additional Information All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Dtna

Systems Integration Engineer I

Portland, OR · Hybrid

$71K - $91K/yr

Our commitment to innovation results in products that our customers, drivers, and operators crave ... Authoring of assigned system requirements and definition of system interdependencies * Work with ...

Demand Detroit

Systems Integration Engineer I

Portland, OR · On-site

$71 - $91/hr

Our commitment to innovation results in products that our customers, drivers, and operators crave ... Authoring of assigned system requirements and definition of system interdependencies * Work with ...

New

1 point system

C++ Developer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$53.25 - $72/hr

A typical software engineer researches, designs, develops and tests operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsOperating System Engineer JobsOperating System Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR

Operating System Engineer information

See Portland, OR salary details

$54.7K

$130K

$170.7K

How much do operating system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for operating system engineer in Portland, OR is $129,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,100.00 and $160,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an operating system engineer?

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 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 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 are popular job titles related to Operating System Engineer jobs in Portland, OR?

For Operating System Engineer jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Operating System Engineer jobs in Portland, OR look for?

The top searched job categories for Operating System Engineer jobs in Portland, OR are:

What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Operating System Engineer jobs?

Cities near Portland, OR with the most Operating System Engineer job openings:

Operating System Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Operating System Engineer job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,999 per year, or $62.5 per hour.

System Engineer

Resource Point LLC

Hillsboro, OR • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

Position: System Engineer
Number of Openings: 2
Duration: 6-month assignment with possibility for extension based on performance
Location: Hillsboro, OR (100% onsite) + travel to local labs and data centers
Job Description:

Client is now looking for a motivated Engineering Technician for Client on-premise, private cloud infrastructure. In this role, you will be faced with the challenge of providing and maintaining a compute farm of systems which includes Builders, Packagers, and Testers that act as a test-bed for our developers worldwide to test various Client's hardware and software prior to release.

What You'll Do:

  • Collaborate closely with engineering teams (system architects, hardware/software engineers, QA, and more) to craft, develop, debug, and release next-generation products.
  • Manage and maintain a high-performing fleet of builders, packagers, testers, and core infrastructure.
  • Ensure availability targets are consistently met and lead system recovery efforts.
  • Coordinate inventory and lifecycle management tasks across labs and data centers.
  • Fix software, hardware, and infrastructure issues alongside engineers and platform operations teams.
  • Plan, deploy, and maintain on-premises infrastructure, collaborating with datacenter and network engineering teams.
  • Implement efficiency improvements to improve availability, throughput, and test accuracy while meeting SLAs and important metrics.
  • Represent the team in meetings with internal collaborators and contribute to global operations.

What We Need to See:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Technical Major (or equivalent experience).
  • Proven experience in data centers or large engineering labs.
  • Familiarity with SCMs like GIT/Perforce.
  • Proficiency in DCIM (Nautobot, etc.) and scripting (shell, Python, Ansible).
  • Working knowledge of protocols/services like TCP/IP, DNS, NFS, SSL, etc.
  • Experience with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.
  • Hands-on experience with PCBs, GPUs, and system deployments.
  • Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative spirit.
  • Strong background in systems engineering and administration, with an understanding of dense datacenter design, including compute, storage, and networking.

Qualifications/Key Responsibilities:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
  • Manager is looking for candidates with a background in software and hardware.
  • Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • DCIM Tools (Nautobot).
  • Scripting (Shell, Python, Ansible).
  • Experience/interest in GPUs/gaming.
  • Hillsboro team focuses on the enterprise side of things / rack & stack.