OPT Linux Administrator Jobs
Linux Administrator jobs are open to F-1 OPT students with authorization to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months, or 36 months on STEM OPT. Most roles qualify under CIP code 11.0701 (Computer Science), making STEM OPT extension straightforward for graduates in CS, IT, or related engineering programs.
Find OPT Linux Administrator JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 35+ Linux Administrator jobs
See all 35+ Linux Administrator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Linux Administrator roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob no: 560783
Work type: Staff
Location: Fullerton
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Administrative, Probationary, Full Time, Information Systems & Technology
Job Title
Linux Systems Administrator II
Classification
Systems Administrator II
Auto Req. ID
560783
Salary Range
Classification Range $6,492 - $9,458 per month
(Hiring range depending on qualifications, not anticipated to exceed $6,492 - $8,566 per month)
Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; occasional early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.
Why CSUF
California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) is a leading public university committed to student success, academic excellence, and inclusive excellence. The university fosters a collaborative environment that supports teaching, research, and service while promoting innovation and professional growth. Cal State Fullerton is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia (2021 and 2024) from Excelencia in Education. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a community dedicated to advancing student achievement, career success, and economic mobility.
Department
The Division of Information Technology (IT) strives to be a strategic, innovative, and best‐in‐class IT organization that provides a leading‐edge technology environment for students, faculty, and staff to advance the University’s mission, vision, and goals. We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our IT Infrastructure Services department as the Linux Systems Administrator II. The ideal candidate in this role should have a positive attitude and an active, energetic mind characterized by highly ethical practices and a commitment to inclusivity, openness, flexibility, integrity, and kindness.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under general supervision, the Linux Systems Administrator II is responsible for the installation, configuration, administration, monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting, and security of Linux servers, High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure, virtualization platforms, storage systems, and related enterprise services supporting academic, research, and administrative computing. Applies systems administration knowledge and technical expertise to ensure the availability, reliability, performance, and security of enterprise Linux environments and research computing resources. This position participates in planning, implementation, documentation, automation, and operational support of campus Linux and HPC services while providing technical consultation and support to faculty, researchers, staff, and students. Other duties as assigned.
Essential Qualifications
Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Under general supervision, deploys and maintains computer systems, servers, and network infrastructure. Applies systems administration knowledge to ensure the availability, reliability, and security of systems by deploying and managing systems and serving on teams to develop and implement new systems. Provides technical support and implements system enhancements. Works independently on most day-to-day assignments with general supervision on new assignments or projects to ensure alignment with objectives. Handles multiple work priorities and is accountable for own work results.
Working knowledge of operating systems, server administration, scripting languages, virtualization technologies and cloud technologies, and related system administration concepts, principles, and technologies. Working knowledge of troubleshooting hardware and software issues and providing technical support. Working knowledge of applications programming techniques and procedures. Strong organizational skills to plan, organize, and manage multiple time sensitive assignments and smaller projects. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to present technical information to technically diverse audiences in a clear and concise manner. Strong analytical skills to evaluate, monitor, and resolve systems issues and design, develop, and implement systems solutions. Skill in leading the work of others. Proficiency in using applicable software, server, and system technologies and programs. Knowledge of higher education policies, data needs, and data privacy regulations.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to complete the background check satisfactorily may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience. The position requires the equivalent of two or more years of progressively responsible experience administering enterprise Linux systems, with experience supporting enterprise server environments including virtualization, storage, scripting, monitoring, and system security. Candidates should have experience troubleshooting complex Linux operating system and infrastructure issues, including administering High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and supporting Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) or similar workload scheduling systems.
Experience supporting graphics processing unit (GPU) computing, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), or scientific computing environments is preferred, along with experience using container technologies such as Docker, Podman, Singularity/Apptainer, or Kubernetes. Additional experience with automation and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef; supporting cloud-based Linux infrastructure in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform; and using enterprise monitoring platforms such as Nagios, Prometheus, Grafana, or Zabbix is highly desirable. Experience supporting higher education or research computing environments, as well as Linux certification, is also preferred.
License/Certifications
A valid California driver’s license.
Special Working Conditions
Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator
Benefits at a Glance
- An array of health plans that include prescription drug coverage
- Dental and Vision coverage
- Income protection benefits including life insurance and disability
- Retirement plan through CalPERS
- Tuition waiver for employees and dependents if eligible
- FlexCash (in lieu of health and dental)
- Employee Assistance Programs
- 15 paid holidays
See our CSUF Benefits website for additional information.
Additional Information
California State University, Fullerton is committed to fostering an environment where students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. We welcome individuals ready to make an impact on student and staff success to apply and become part of the Titan Community. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination based on regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or any other protected status.
As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.
The person holding this position is considered a general mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirement outlined in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.
If you are applying for a staff position, please note that you are not eligible to work concurrently in a staff position and an Academic Student position such as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Associate, Instructional Student Assistant, or Student Assistant position.
Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.
Employee/applicant who applies for a position may be required to successfully complete job-related performance test(s) as part of the selection process.
Online application/resume must be received by electronic submission on the final filing date by 9:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Applicants who fail to complete all sections of the online application form will be disqualified from consideration.
California State University, Fullerton is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.
Effective October 1, 2025, the California State University (CSU) will implement a salary step structure for CSUEU-represented employees in bargaining units 2, 5, 7, and 9. This position may be subject to changes resulting from this implementation, in alignment with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Hiring Preference
On-Campus CSUEU Employees
Advertised: Aug 06 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Aug 20 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Job no: 560783
Work type: Staff
Location: Fullerton
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Administrative, Probationary, Full Time, Information Systems & Technology
Job Title
Linux Systems Administrator II
Classification
Systems Administrator II
Auto Req. ID
560783
Salary Range
Classification Range $6,492 - $9,458 per month
(Hiring range depending on qualifications, not anticipated to exceed $6,492 - $8,566 per month)
Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; occasional early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.
Why CSUF
California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) is a leading public university committed to student success, academic excellence, and inclusive excellence. The university fosters a collaborative environment that supports teaching, research, and service while promoting innovation and professional growth. Cal State Fullerton is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia (2021 and 2024) from Excelencia in Education. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a community dedicated to advancing student achievement, career success, and economic mobility.
Department
The Division of Information Technology (IT) strives to be a strategic, innovative, and best‐in‐class IT organization that provides a leading‐edge technology environment for students, faculty, and staff to advance the University’s mission, vision, and goals. We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our IT Infrastructure Services department as the Linux Systems Administrator II. The ideal candidate in this role should have a positive attitude and an active, energetic mind characterized by highly ethical practices and a commitment to inclusivity, openness, flexibility, integrity, and kindness.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under general supervision, the Linux Systems Administrator II is responsible for the installation, configuration, administration, monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting, and security of Linux servers, High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure, virtualization platforms, storage systems, and related enterprise services supporting academic, research, and administrative computing. Applies systems administration knowledge and technical expertise to ensure the availability, reliability, performance, and security of enterprise Linux environments and research computing resources. This position participates in planning, implementation, documentation, automation, and operational support of campus Linux and HPC services while providing technical consultation and support to faculty, researchers, staff, and students. Other duties as assigned.
Essential Qualifications
Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Under general supervision, deploys and maintains computer systems, servers, and network infrastructure. Applies systems administration knowledge to ensure the availability, reliability, and security of systems by deploying and managing systems and serving on teams to develop and implement new systems. Provides technical support and implements system enhancements. Works independently on most day-to-day assignments with general supervision on new assignments or projects to ensure alignment with objectives. Handles multiple work priorities and is accountable for own work results.
Working knowledge of operating systems, server administration, scripting languages, virtualization technologies and cloud technologies, and related system administration concepts, principles, and technologies. Working knowledge of troubleshooting hardware and software issues and providing technical support. Working knowledge of applications programming techniques and procedures. Strong organizational skills to plan, organize, and manage multiple time sensitive assignments and smaller projects. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to present technical information to technically diverse audiences in a clear and concise manner. Strong analytical skills to evaluate, monitor, and resolve systems issues and design, develop, and implement systems solutions. Skill in leading the work of others. Proficiency in using applicable software, server, and system technologies and programs. Knowledge of higher education policies, data needs, and data privacy regulations.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to complete the background check satisfactorily may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience. The position requires the equivalent of two or more years of progressively responsible experience administering enterprise Linux systems, with experience supporting enterprise server environments including virtualization, storage, scripting, monitoring, and system security. Candidates should have experience troubleshooting complex Linux operating system and infrastructure issues, including administering High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and supporting Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) or similar workload scheduling systems.
Experience supporting graphics processing unit (GPU) computing, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), or scientific computing environments is preferred, along with experience using container technologies such as Docker, Podman, Singularity/Apptainer, or Kubernetes. Additional experience with automation and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef; supporting cloud-based Linux infrastructure in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform; and using enterprise monitoring platforms such as Nagios, Prometheus, Grafana, or Zabbix is highly desirable. Experience supporting higher education or research computing environments, as well as Linux certification, is also preferred.
License/Certifications
A valid California driver’s license.
Special Working Conditions
Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator
Benefits at a Glance
- An array of health plans that include prescription drug coverage
- Dental and Vision coverage
- Income protection benefits including life insurance and disability
- Retirement plan through CalPERS
- Tuition waiver for employees and dependents if eligible
- FlexCash (in lieu of health and dental)
- Employee Assistance Programs
- 15 paid holidays
See our CSUF Benefits website for additional information.
Additional Information
California State University, Fullerton is committed to fostering an environment where students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. We welcome individuals ready to make an impact on student and staff success to apply and become part of the Titan Community. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination based on regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or any other protected status.
As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.
The person holding this position is considered a general mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirement outlined in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.
If you are applying for a staff position, please note that you are not eligible to work concurrently in a staff position and an Academic Student position such as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Associate, Instructional Student Assistant, or Student Assistant position.
Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.
Employee/applicant who applies for a position may be required to successfully complete job-related performance test(s) as part of the selection process.
Online application/resume must be received by electronic submission on the final filing date by 9:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Applicants who fail to complete all sections of the online application form will be disqualified from consideration.
California State University, Fullerton is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.
Effective October 1, 2025, the California State University (CSU) will implement a salary step structure for CSUEU-represented employees in bargaining units 2, 5, 7, and 9. This position may be subject to changes resulting from this implementation, in alignment with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Hiring Preference
On-Campus CSUEU Employees
Advertised: Aug 06 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Aug 20 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
See all 35+ OPT Linux Administrator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Linux Administrator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Linux Administrator
Confirm your CIP code before applying
Linux Administrator roles typically qualify for STEM OPT under CIP codes 11.0701 or 15.1201. Verify your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying, so you can confidently tell employers you're eligible for the 24-month STEM extension.
Lead with certifications, not just your degree
Employers hiring Linux Administrators want to see RHCSA, CompTIA Linux+, or LPIC credentials alongside your degree. Listing certifications prominently signals hands-on competency and reduces employer hesitation about sponsoring someone still in OPT status.
Target employers with existing H-1B filing history
Companies that have previously sponsored H-1B visas for IT infrastructure roles are more likely to sponsor you after OPT. Look for mid-to-large enterprises in finance, healthcare, and tech, where Linux administration is a core operational need.
Address OPT timing proactively in interviews
Many hiring managers misunderstand OPT. Come prepared to explain you can start immediately, work legally for up to three years on STEM OPT, and that the employer's only obligation during that period is completing an I-983 training plan.
Emphasize infrastructure experience that's hard to offshore
Roles managing on-premises Linux servers, network security, and hybrid cloud environments require physical presence and institutional knowledge. Highlighting this in your resume signals long-term value, making sponsorship investment easier for employers to justify.
Apply early relative to your OPT end date
Employers factor in onboarding time and H-1B lottery timelines. Applying at least six months before your OPT expires gives employers confidence they can hire you, transition you to STEM OPT if needed, and plan for long-term sponsorship without urgency pressure.
Linux Administrator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Linux Administrator jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. Linux Administrator roles generally fall under CIP code 11.0701 (Computer Science) or 15.1201 (Computer Engineering), both of which qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your degree field determines eligibility, not the job title itself, so confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying.
How do I find Linux Administrator jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, so you're not wasting time on roles that won't work with your status. Linux Administrator listings on Migrate Mate are sourced from employers familiar with OPT and STEM OPT authorization requirements.
What does an employer need to do to hire me on OPT as a Linux Administrator?
For standard OPT, the employer simply verifies your EAD and completes the I-9. For STEM OPT, they also need to sign an I-983 training plan, be E-Verify enrolled, and provide mentorship aligned with your degree. Most mid-to-large IT employers already meet these requirements or can do so quickly.
Is Linux Administration considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the role is defined. Senior Linux Administrator positions requiring a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field typically qualify as specialty occupations. Roles where any general degree is accepted may face scrutiny. A well-scoped job description tied to your specific degree field strengthens the petition significantly.
Can I work as a Linux Administrator as an independent contractor on OPT?
OPT does allow self-employment, but you must be actively engaged in work related to your degree and be able to document it. Contract or freelance Linux administration work qualifies if it's consistent and degree-relevant. However, most employers requiring system access and security clearance prefer full-time W-2 employment, which is the more common and straightforward path.