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System Software Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Systems Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

We rebuilt the whole system, from X-ray capture, to computer vision analysis, to web-based ... As a Systems Software Engineer at Lumafield, you will work on the software that powers our next ...

Systems Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

We rebuilt the whole system, from X-ray capture, to computer vision analysis, to web-based ... As a Systems Software Engineer at Lumafield, you will work on the software that powers our next ...

We rebuilt the whole system, from X-ray capture, to computer vision analysis, to web-based ... As a Systems Software Engineer at Lumafield, you will work on the software that powers our next ...

System architecture definition and integration with program requirements across all technical ... S.) in Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum ...

Systems & Software Engineer Manager

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$189K - $224K/yr

System architecture definition and integration with program requirements across all technical ... S.) in Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum ...

Systems & Software Engineer Manager

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$189K - $224K/yr

System architecture definition and integration with program requirements across all technical ... S.) in Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be responsible for leading engineering activities that ... This role develops and maintains systems that ensure product quality, reliability, and ...

Showing results 21-40

System Software Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$90.2K

$193.1K

$223.8K

How much do system software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for system software engineer in Boston, MA is $193,074.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $187,900.00 and $222,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a system software engineer do?

A System Software Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains the core software that enables computer hardware and system applications to function. This includes operating systems, device drivers, firmware, and other low-level software that interacts closely with hardware components. Their work ensures that systems run efficiently, securely, and reliably. They often collaborate with hardware engineers and application developers to optimize performance and troubleshoot complex technical issues.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a system software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a System Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C, C++, or Rust, a deep understanding of operating systems, and typically a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with low-level debugging tools, version control systems (such as Git), and kernel development environments is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for building reliable, high-performance system software that underpins critical applications and infrastructure.

What are some common challenges system software engineers face when working on large-scale projects?

System Software Engineers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges such as maintaining system stability while integrating new features, ensuring compatibility across diverse hardware platforms, and optimizing performance under heavy workloads. Coordinating with cross-functional teams, such as hardware engineers and application developers, is essential to address these complexities. Additionally, they must stay updated with evolving technologies and adhere to rigorous testing and debugging practices to prevent system failures.

What is the difference between System Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectSystem Software EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field; often some experience with systems programmingBachelor's in Computer Science or related field; focus on application development
Work EnvironmentDesigning and maintaining operating systems, firmware, or system-level applicationsCreating user-facing applications, websites, or mobile apps
Industry UsageTech companies, hardware firms, embedded systemsSoftware firms, startups, enterprise applications
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles related to system-level programmingLooking for application or web development roles

System Software Engineers focus on developing and maintaining system-level software like operating systems and firmware, requiring knowledge of hardware and low-level programming. Software Developers typically create applications and user-facing software, emphasizing higher-level programming skills. Both roles often share similar educational backgrounds but differ in their work focus and environment.

Infographic showing various System Software Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $193,074 per year, or $92.8 per hour.

Systems Software Engineer

Lumafield

Boston, MA • On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

About Lumafield:
Lumafield was founded in 2019 to upgrade manufacturing.
We are engineers with deep experience across the product development cycle, from initial ideas to shipping hardware, across industries and specializations, who became frustrated by the cost and complexity of modern manufacturing. So we decided to upgrade it.
Engineers make million-dollar decisions every day, and they need tools that give them the greatest possible insight into their products. By offering unprecedented visibility into products, as well as AI-driven tools that highlight problems and generate quantitative data, Lumafield promises to revolutionize the way complex products are created, manufactured, and used across industries. We started with industrial CT scanning, which for us was the most valuable but underutilized tool in the manufacturing toolbox, enabling us to rapidly inspect essential components non-destructively.
We rebuilt the whole system, from X-ray capture, to computer vision analysis, to web-based collaboration, to the entire business model, making the most advanced manufacturing tech more accessible to every industry. Our company, like our platform, is designed for upgrades. We're building for greater intelligence, autonomy, and speed. For deeper vision, operational excellence, and powerful insights. And then we'll upgrade it all again.
Lumafield is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. and has an office in Cambridge, MA.
About the role:
As a Systems Software Engineer at Lumafield, you will work on the software that powers our next-generation, manufacturing in-line CT scanning products. You'll work on the bleeding edge of X-ray physics, high-speed detectors, image processing, and embedded systems. On a small team working on our newest hardware, you'll bring the skill to extract the highest quality data out of the system and achieve great outcomes for our customers.
This role is ideal for candidates who are looking for an opportunity to scale a fleet of embedded devices from hundreds of units to thousands, and introduce production-grade capability to our systems.
This role is located in Lumafield's Cambridge, MA office.
What You'll Do:
  • Write performance edge application software to acquire, process, and stream radiograph data
  • Write appliance firmware to maintain tight control loops for scanner peripherals
  • Participate in code reviews, build up testing infrastructure, and help set a high standard for how the team can move fast and maintain high levels of quality.
  • Ship production critical Linux-based applications
  • Architect data acquisition solutions that balance configurability and customizability
  • Collaborate closely with our product, research, hardware, and software development teams to understand requirements and architect solutions

About You:
  • 3+ years of experience writing low-level, high-performance software in Python and C; you not only write code, but also understand the performance impact on a specific system.
  • Experience shipping applications with embedded Linux, including configuring core services such as udev, systemd, and kernel schedulers.
  • 3+ years of startup experience - you know the trade-offs between shipping fast and perfecting a design.
  • Hands-on experience integrating new hardware platforms by using vendor SDKs and manuals to write performant, maintainable driver integrations
  • Mastery of software engineering fundamentals including debuggers, profilers, and evaluating trade-offs between different technology choices, and proficiency with Python's built-in concurrency models (asyncio, threading, and multiprocessing)
  • Able to design, integrate, and test systems by interpreting component and product datasheets.
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Bonus Points For:
  • Experience building & shipping high performance hardware-accelerated image processing edge solutions using NVIDIA CUDA and/or Jetson platform
  • Experience with classical computer vision techniques and machine learning CV algorithms
  • Experience with shipping user-facing UIs written in React.js

$120,000 - $170,000 a year
The salary range listed here represents the anticipated low and high ends of the base salary. Actual salaries may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including but not limited to work location, experience, and performance. All full-time employees receive an equity grant.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
Lumafield offers both competitive cash and equity compensation, as well as a health & wellness stipend, 401k, parental leave, flexible PTO, commuter benefits, company wide events and more!
Lumafield is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, because the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. Do you feel like your skills don't meet every single requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway - If you're excited about our technology, the opportunity, and are eager to learn more we'd love to hear from you!
In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination or harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information or veteran status.
Reach out if you want to be a part of what we are building.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.