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Senior Linux System Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities We are seeking a Senior Linux Systems Engineer with a strong background in Linux ... system documentation, security hardening, and diagnosing andtroubleshooting system and network ...

Peraton

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities We are seeking a Senior Linux Systems Engineer with a strong background in Linux ... system documentation, security hardening, and diagnosing andtroubleshooting system and network ...

Peraton

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities We are seeking a Senior Linux Systems Engineer with a strong background in Linux ... system documentation, security hardening, and diagnosing and troubleshooting system and network ...

Vaco by Highspring

Sr Linux Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

... Senior Linux Infrastructure Engineer to support a large enterprise infrastructure environment ... Monitor system health, capacity, availability, and performance. * Partner with networking, cloud ...

New

Ultima Genomics

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Linux Systems Engineer to join our Computing Team! You ... Optimize system performance through kernel and filesystem tuning; identify and eliminate I/O ...

Entarian

Senior UNIX/Linux System Engineer

Radford, VA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Entarian is looking for a Senior UNIX/Linux System Engineer for a mixed and growing environment of Red Hat Enterprise Linux/Oracle Enterprise Linux and Solaris UNIX. The responsibilities include but ...

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Senior Linux System Engineer information

See salary details

$100.5K

$127.9K

$158.5K

How much do senior linux system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior linux system engineer in the United States is $127,927.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,000.00 and $138,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior Linux system engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Linux System Engineer, you need deep expertise in Linux operating systems, scripting (such as Bash, Python, or Perl), system architecture, and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with configuration management tools (like Ansible or Puppet), virtualization platforms, cloud services, and certifications such as RHCE or LPIC are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills help you efficiently manage complex environments and mentor junior staff. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring system stability, security, and scalability in mission-critical IT infrastructures.

What are some common challenges a senior Linux system engineer faces when managing large-scale server environments?

Senior Linux System Engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining system uptime, managing complex configurations, and ensuring security across a large number of servers. Troubleshooting issues in distributed environments, automating repetitive tasks, and keeping systems up-to-date with the latest patches are also frequent responsibilities. Collaboration with development, security, and networking teams is essential to resolve cross-functional issues and implement new solutions efficiently. Staying current with evolving technologies and best practices is key to overcoming these challenges and excelling in the role.

What does a senior Linux system engineer do?

A Senior Linux System Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Linux-based systems and servers within an organization. They ensure the reliability, security, and optimal performance of these systems, often leading projects and mentoring junior engineers. Their tasks may include automation, scripting, system updates, monitoring, and responding to incidents. They also collaborate with other IT teams to support business needs and implement best practices for system administration.

What is the difference between Senior Linux System Engineer vs Linux System Administrator?

AspectSenior Linux System EngineerLinux System Administrator
CertificationsLinux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC), RHCELPIC, RHCE often preferred
Work EnvironmentDesigning, implementing, and optimizing Linux infrastructureMaintaining and supporting existing Linux systems
ResponsibilitiesAdvanced troubleshooting, system architecture, scriptingSystem setup, user management, routine maintenance

The Senior Linux System Engineer typically focuses on designing and optimizing Linux environments, requiring advanced skills and certifications. In contrast, the Linux System Administrator handles daily maintenance and support tasks. Both roles often require similar certifications and work in similar environments, but their responsibilities differ in scope and complexity.

More about Senior Linux System Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Linux System Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Linux System Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Linux System Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Linux System Engineer jobs are:
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What job categories do people searching Senior Linux System Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Linux System Engineer jobs are:
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Senior Linux System Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Linux System Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,927 per year, or $61.5 per hour.

Senior Linux Systems Engineer

Peraton

Herndon, VA • On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 223 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities

We are seeking a Senior Linux Systems Engineer with a strong background in Linux administration and commonopen-source tools and software to join our team. This is an on-site position. Candidates must be self-starters whoenjoy working in fast-paced and dynamic environments. The ideal candidates will have at least 6 years ofexperience in Linux administration, with experience building and maintaining production systems in virtualizedenvironments. Candidates should also have an intermediate understanding and experience with automation tools,virtualization, containerization, and cloud hosting.What you'll do...Senior Linux Systems Engineers will be responsible for planning, deploying, and maintaining a wide variety of Linuxbasedservices. Ideal candidates will have experience with the technologies, management, and configuration of allaspects of a delivered service. This frequently entails experience with a wide variety of networking, Linux,virtualization, and application configurations.

Qualifications

6+ years managing Linux servers running Debian, RHEL, and Ubuntu Experience configuring and maintaining common open-source tools and software such as Apache, NGINX,Postgres, MariaDB, IPA/IDM, KeyCloak, LDAP, IPTables, pfSense, Wireguard, IPSec, and OpenVPN Experience working directly with virtualization platforms such as VMWare, Docker, and Kubernetes Experience creating and configuring automation tools, such as Ansible, AWX, and Foreman Understanding and applying networking protocols and concepts such as BGP, CIDR, DHCP, DNS, OSPF,Routing, Switching, and VLANs Mentoring junior team members on system documentation, security hardening, and diagnosing andtroubleshooting system and network issues Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with other teams Stay up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies in Linux administration, automation, virtualization,containerization, and cloud hosting Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks effectively

Preferred:

Building and configuring software-based phone systems such as Asterisk or Freeswitch Building and configuring monitoring systems like Prometheus, Nagios, or Zabbix. Building and configuring ELK Experience configuring Cisco, Juniper, and similar networking devices Experience configuring and managing Quagga/FRR Designing and implementing wide-area networks Designing and implementing VMWare and related systems Familiarity with core mobile networking terms and technologies

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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Hours and flexibility

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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