Linux Software Engineer Jobs in California

Linux Software Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, semiconductor firmware, and defense systems, with openings at every level from entry-level associate engineers through principal and staff engineers. The largest hiring metros are the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where employers like Google, Qualcomm, and Northrop Grumman maintain large engineering workforces and consistently recruit linux software engineers. The most in-demand specialties in California are kernel development, embedded systems, and cloud-native platform engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Linux Software Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles18+
Top employerQualcomm
Top citySanta Clara, CA
Cities hiring9
Work type78% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 18+ Linux Software Engineer jobs

Neptune Medical
Senior/Staff Linux Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Neptune Medical
Added 3mo ago
Senior/Staff Linux Software Engineer
Neptune Medical
Burlingame, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Embedded Systems Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Backend Engineering
$185k - $225k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Arista Networks
Linux Kernel Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Arista Networks
Added 1w ago
Linux Kernel Software Engineer
Arista Networks
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
$123k - $191k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Pure Storage
Linux Kernel Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Pure Storage
Added 2w ago
Linux Kernel Software Engineer
Pure Storage
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Backend Engineering
$167k - $246k/yr
On-Site
None

Have you applied for this role?

NVIDIA
Senior Linux Kernel Systems Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
NVIDIA
Added 3mo ago
Senior Linux Kernel Systems Software Engineer
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Embedded Systems Engineering
Backend Engineering
$184k - $357k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Arista Networks
Linux Kernel Senior/Lead Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Arista Networks
Added 1w ago
Linux Kernel Senior/Lead Software Engineer
Arista Networks
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Backend Engineering
$140k - $210k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

See All 18 Linux Software Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Linux Software Engineer Jobs

Linux Software Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Clara
7 jobs
Mountain View
2 jobs
San Diego
2 jobs
San Mateo
2 jobs
Burlingame
1 jobs
Irvine
1 jobs
San Jose
1 jobs
Sunnyvale
1 jobs
Torrance
1 jobs

Linux Software Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Qualcomm
    Qualcomm4
  • Arista Networks
    Arista Networks2
  • Aurora
    Aurora2
  • Verkada
    Verkada2
  • Intuitive (Intuitive Surgical)
    Intuitive (Intuitive Surgical)1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software14
  • Automotive3
  • Electronics & Hardware3
  • Telecommunications3
  • Artificial Intelligence2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in linux software engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
  • Hands-on experience with Linux kernel internals, system calls, and low-level debugging tools
  • Proficiency in C and C++, with Python or Bash scripting expected for automation and tooling
  • Familiarity with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker and Kubernetes
  • Experience with version control workflows in Git and collaborative code review processes
  • Knowledge of networking protocols, security hardening, or embedded real-time operating environments

Linux Software Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a linux software engineer in California?

There is no state-issued license required to work as a linux software engineer in California. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or electrical engineering from a California university system campus or private institution, followed by building a portfolio of Linux projects on GitHub. Many California employers also recognize candidates who complete rigorous bootcamps or open-source contributor histories in lieu of a traditional degree.

How much do linux software engineers make in California?

Linux software engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire linux software engineers in California?

Employers hiring linux software engineers in California right now include Qualcomm, Arista Networks, and Aurora, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor, defense, and hyperscale cloud companies means demand is distributed across both hardware-adjacent firmware roles and large-scale distributed systems positions.

Which California cities have the most linux software engineer jobs?

Santa Clara, Mountain View, and San Diego have the most linux software engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its density of hyperscale cloud providers, enterprise software companies, and semiconductor firms, while San Diego's openings are driven heavily by defense contractors and wireless technology companies, and Los Angeles reflects growth in media technology, aerospace, and enterprise software.

Are there remote linux software engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 22% of linux software engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how portable most software development work is. Platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, and application-layer linux roles tend to be the most consistently remote, while embedded firmware and defense-cleared positions typically require on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a linux software engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to associate or junior software engineer roles at California's large technology employers, which commonly recruit new graduates through university recruiting programs at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal Poly. Contributing to open-source Linux projects and publishing that work publicly gives California hiring managers something concrete to evaluate. Entry roles with titles like systems engineer associate or platform engineer I at companies such as Cisco, Intel, or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory regularly serve as on-ramps for candidates without commercial experience.

Where can I find and apply to linux software engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to linux software engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and metro areas. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one.

See All 18 Linux Software Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Linux Software Engineer Jobs