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Operating Systems Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... operating systems • You have experience with the persistence of distributed systems • You have game industry experience Salary Range Multiplayer Systems Programmer - The typical base pay range ...

Mainframe CICS Systems Programmer Senior

Plano, TX · On-site +1

$52.75 - $67/hr

This role requires a strong understanding of CICS architecture, z/OS operating systems, and related mainframe technologies. Proficiency in programming languages like COBOL, JCL, and REXX, along with ...

Mainframe CICS Systems Programmer Senior

Phoenix, AZ · On-site +1

$54.50 - $69.50/hr

This role requires a strong understanding of CICS architecture, z/OS operating systems, and related mainframe technologies. Proficiency in programming languages like COBOL, JCL, and REXX, along with ...

New

Mainframe CICS Systems Programmer Senior

Plano, TX · On-site +1

$53 - $67.50/hr

This role requires a strong understanding of CICS architecture, z/OS operating systems, and related mainframe technologies. Proficiency in programming languages like COBOL, JCL, and REXX, along with ...

Mainframe Systems Programmer

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$95K - $177K/yr

This Mainframe Systems Programmer role involves upgrading and supporting the z/OS operating system and ISV products, mainly from IBM and Computer Associates (CA). The successful candidate: * will ...

This role performs installs, moves, adds, changes, problem determination, maintenance and repairs for the zTPF operating system, zTPF/DF, and related ISV vendor products. 24x7 pager support (rotate ...

Mainframe Systems Programmer

Buffalo, NY · On-site +1

$95K - $177K/yr

This Mainframe Systems Programmer role involves upgrading and supporting the z/OS operating system and ISV products, mainly from IBM and Computer Associates (CA). The successful candidate: * will ...

Mainframe Systems Programmer

Buffalo, NY · On-site +1

$95K - $177K/yr

This Mainframe Systems Programmer role involves upgrading and supporting the z/OS operating system and ISV products, mainly from IBM and Computer Associates (CA). The successful candidate: * will ...

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Operating Systems Programmer information

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$63

How much do operating systems programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for operating systems programmer in the United States is $63.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63.46 and $63.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Operating Systems Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Operating Systems Programmer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C and C++, a solid understanding of computer architecture, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git), debugging tools, and experience with Unix/Linux or Windows kernel development are typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective problem-solving are critical soft skills for diagnosing and resolving complex system-level issues. These skills ensure the reliability, efficiency, and security of operating systems that form the foundation for all computer applications.

What are some common challenges faced by Operating Systems Programmers in maintaining and updating legacy systems?

Operating Systems Programmers often encounter the challenge of maintaining and updating legacy systems, which can involve working with outdated programming languages, limited documentation, and hardware constraints. Adapting legacy code to integrate with modern technologies while ensuring system stability and security requires both technical expertise and creative problem-solving. Collaboration with hardware engineers and application developers is often necessary to address compatibility issues and deliver seamless updates. Staying up-to-date with industry best practices and emerging OS trends helps programmers anticipate and address these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Operating Systems Programmer vs Device Driver Developer?

AspectOperating Systems ProgrammerDevice Driver Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field; programming skills in C/C++Bachelor's in Computer Engineering or related; expertise in hardware interfaces and C/C++
Work EnvironmentDevelops core OS components, often in a system programming environmentCreates and maintains hardware-specific drivers, often within OS or hardware teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by OS vendors, tech companies, and embedded systemsUsed by hardware manufacturers, OS vendors, and embedded systems

Both roles require strong programming skills in C/C++, but Operating Systems Programmers focus on core OS development, while Device Driver Developers specialize in hardware interface software. The roles often overlap but differ in scope and focus within the system architecture.

What are Operating Systems Programmers?

Operating Systems Programmers are specialized software engineers who design, develop, maintain, and optimize operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or macOS. Their work involves writing low-level code that manages hardware resources, handles system processes, and provides a platform for application software to run efficiently. They often work with programming languages like C, C++, and assembly, and need a deep understanding of computer architecture and system-level programming. Their role is crucial in ensuring the stability, security, and performance of computers and devices.
More about Operating Systems Programmer jobs
What states have the most Operating Systems Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Operating Systems Programmer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Operating Systems Programmer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Operating Systems Programmer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Operating Systems Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $132,000 per year, or $63.5 per hour.
Multiplayer Systems Programmer

Multiplayer Systems Programmer

ZeniMax Media

Rockville, MD • On-site

$80K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Overview
Come join Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning development team behind Starfield, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by providing competitive salaries, a generous benefits program, and offices located in some of North America's best cities.
With a goal of creating a culture as fun and diverse as our games and our players, we welcome applicants with unique skillsets, experience levels and backgrounds. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to some of the most significant games in the industry we'd love to hear from you!
We will consider candidates for any of our four Bethesda Game Studios office locations: Rockville, MD; Montreal, Quebec; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX.
Responsibilities
Your Daily Life at Bethesda Game StudiosAs Multiplayer Systems Programmer, you will...
• Work with other programmers to architect and refine multiplayer game systems • Work with designers, artists and other personnel involved in the development of products as required• Develop and author all phases of technical design specifications and complete implementation• Write clear, maintainable, portable code• Test and refine code and systems throughout the development cycle of the project• Accurately estimate your schedules and delivers high quality work products to that schedule
Qualifications
What Makes You S.P.E.C.I.A.L.?
• You possess 3+ years of professional software development experience writing client/server applications in C++• You have expertise in building multithreaded, multi-process, real-time systems• You are skilled in client/server message passing architectures• You have experience tuning real-time systems for performance and reliability• You have excellent analytical and mathematical skills• You have strong interpersonal skills and problem-solving ability• You have experience with the full life cycle of development and release of large-scale products
Preferred Skills
Bonus Skills
• You have experience with low-level socket programming• You are experienced with reflection and code generation systems• You have experience with compression algorithms• You have expertise in Unix/Linux/Win32 operating systems• You have experience with the persistence of distributed systems• You have game industry experience
Salary Range
Multiplayer Systems Programmer - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $80,000 - $175,000 per year.
ZeniMax has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role; the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate's primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At ZeniMax certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, such as merit increases and discretionary bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance and are not guaranteed. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with ZeniMax and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays, among others.
This position is in a union and represented by the Communication Workers of America.
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