Linux Engineer Jobs in California
Linux Engineer jobs in California are among the most actively recruited technical roles in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, and semiconductor manufacturing across every seniority level from junior administrator to principal engineer. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Cisco, and Qualcomm maintain large engineering operations that rely on Linux-based infrastructure. The most in-demand specialties are kernel development, DevOps automation, and site reliability engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Who We Are
Verkada is transforming how organizations protect their people and places with an integrated, privacy-sensitive AI-powered platform that includes solutions for video security, access control, air quality sensors, alarms, intercoms, and visitor management.
We've got serious momentum in the market: more than 30,000 customers (including 100+ of the Fortune 500), a $5.8B valuation, more than $1 billion in annualized bookings, and backing from CapitalG, Sequoia Capital, General Catalyst, Felicis Ventures, Next47 and more. Physical AI is one of the most consequential technology shifts of our time, and Verkada is at the center of it.
You can look at all kinds of communities to see our platform's impact in the world. It's the retailer that uses our agentic AI to deter theft before it happens. The warehouse that uses AI-powered alerts to make sure its team is protected on the floor with proper PPE. The school that's alerted to a threat in real-time and triggers a lockdown in seconds, not minutes. We're rapidly scaling this impact: today, more than 2 million Verkada devices are deployed across 170+ countries.
About the Role
We're the Connectivity Team at Verkada — and we own some of the most strategically critical products in the company:
- Verkada Gateways – Bringing cameras, access control, and sensors online anywhere in the world
- Verkada Security Trailers – Rapid-deploy mobile security units
- Quality Sensors – Environmental intelligence at scale
We're a small, vertically integrated team. That means we touch everything:
- Embedded firmware
- Cellular modems & SIMs
- Linux networking
- Cloud backend services
- Command Frontend
- Be responsible for building the software and firmware that goes onto the devices we ship to our customers
- Own the full engineering cycle end to end, including scoping, architecture and low level design, solutions trade-off, development with test driven and data driven methods
- Proven track record of methodical problem solving skills, debugging skills and overall excellent logical thinking skills. Strong motivation to build quality products that are reliable, performant and sustainable
- Growth mindset and willingness to learn new technologies that are critical to product development
- Work with product management and cross functional teams to build and ship features that delight users and customers
- Help mentor other engineers
- Contribute to other parts of the stack (e.g. our backend services), if that interests you
What You Bring
- Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or closely related degree or equivalent experience
- 4+ years of work experience in an embedded engineering role
- Proficient in C, C++ or Go
- Prior work experience in owning SW features or projects end to end with production launch is a major plus
- Prior work experience in SW development on HW products, for example, working knowledge of common low-level interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, working knowledge of FreeRTOS and Embedded Linux (preferred)
- Experience with networking and wireless communication protocols (preferred)
- Experience programming in Go and Python (preferred)
- Experience reading schematics (basic EE skills) (preferred)
- Must be willing and able to work onsite five days per week
US Employee Benefits
Verkada is committed to fostering a workplace environment that prioritizes the holistic health and wellbeing of our employees and their families by offering comprehensive wellness perks, benefits, and resources. Our benefits and perks programs include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare programs that can be tailored to meet the personal health and financial well-being needs - Premiums are 100% covered for the employee under at least one plan and 80% for family premiums under all plans
- Nationwide medical, vision and dental coverage
- Health Saving Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with tax saving options
- Expanded mental health support
- Paid parental leave policy & fertility benefits
- Time off to relax and recharge through our paid holidays, firmwide extended holidays, flexible PTO and personal sick time
- Professional development stipend
- Fertility Stipend
- Wellness/fitness benefits
- Healthy lunches provided daily
- Commuter benefits
Additional Information:
We do sponsor and take over sponsorship of employment visas for this role. If we make you an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to get you a visa.
Verkada Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
As an equal opportunity employer, Verkada is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. All applicants for positions at Verkada will be treated without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Your application will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
See All 25 Linux Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Linux Engineer JobsLinux Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Linux Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm4

- Ultima Genomics3

- Arista Networks2

- Aurora2

- Verkada2

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software16
- Automotive3
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Telecommunications3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in linux engineer jobs across California.
- Proficiency in major Linux distributions such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu, or CentOS
- Experience designing and managing cloud infrastructure on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
- Strong scripting skills in Python, Bash, or Ruby for automation and system administration
- Hands-on experience with containerization tools including Docker, Kubernetes, or OpenShift
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a closely related field
- Familiarity with configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef
Linux Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a linux engineer in California?
Linux engineering has no state-issued license in California, so the path runs through education and vendor certifications. Most California employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems, combined with credentials such as Red Hat Certified Engineer or CompTIA Linux+. Building hands-on lab experience through personal projects or open-source contributions strengthens an application significantly, and California's large community college system offers IT programs that prepare candidates for entry-level roles.
How much do linux engineers make in California?
Linux engineers in California earn a median of about $134,440 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,340 for the lowest 10% to over $222,690 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire linux engineers in California?
Employers hiring linux engineers in California right now include Qualcomm, Ultima Genomics, and Arista Networks, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of technology headquarters, defense contractors, and cloud service providers means linux engineering roles appear across industries well beyond software, including aerospace, biotech, and financial services.
Which California cities have the most linux engineer jobs?
Santa Clara, Fremont, and Irvine have the most linux engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because it hosts the global headquarters of major cloud and infrastructure companies, while Los Angeles draws volume from entertainment technology, aerospace primes, and a growing startup ecosystem, and San Diego's concentration of defense contractors and biotech firms drives consistent demand for enterprise Linux skills.
Are there remote linux engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 16% of linux engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves managing servers and cloud environments rather than on-site hardware. Roles focused on cloud operations, DevOps pipelines, and site reliability engineering tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while positions requiring hands-on data-center work remain largely on-site.
How can I get hired as a linux engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an IT support or systems administrator role that runs on Linux, which large California employers use as a feeder position for engineering tracks. Companies like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and major Bay Area tech firms run internship and rotational programs for candidates without full professional experience. Earning a Red Hat Certified System Administrator credential or completing an associate-level Linux program at a California community college gives a candidate a measurable edge when applying to those entry roles.
Where can I find and apply to linux engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to linux engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each one.
See All 25 Linux Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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