STEM OPT Linux Engineer Jobs
Linux Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT because they fall under computer science and information technology CIP codes recognized by ICE. Your STEM degree gives you a 24-month OPT extension beyond the initial 12 months, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can start.
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INTRODUCTION
Eaton’s ES AMER ESS division is currently seeking a Senior Linux Firmware Engineer. The expected annual salary range for this role is $94,000 - $138,000 a year. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Eaton’s Electrical Critical Power & Digital Infrastructure division (CPDI) is currently seeking a Senior Firmware Engineer with Linux experience to join our team. This position will be a hybrid office/remote role based at our Raleigh, NC facility. Relocation benefits and sponsorship will be provided within the United States only.
Eaton’s Electrical Critical Power Solutions Division designs, manufactures, and services Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, batteries, and electronic-based products to ensure power reliability in the most demanding applications. Our employees deliver mission-critical solutions to our customers’ most challenging energy management requirements.
Making what matters work at Eaton takes the passion of every employee around the world. We create an environment where creativity, invention and discovery become reality, each and every day. It’s where bold, bright professionals like you can reach your full potential—and where you can help us reach ours.
Why Eaton?
- Be a key member of a world-class organization that creates market leading 3-phase products.
- Opportunities for career advancement through a defined technical track as well as broader Eaton career opportunities in various business functions. Raleigh is an Engineering Hub with roles in: Service, Manufacturing/Assembly, New product Development, and Product Management.
- Work in a modern hybrid collaborative environment. Eaton is committed to fostering a successful work/life balance.
- Competitive salary and benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, vacation, paid parental leave.
Be a part of the team responsible for ensuring our critical infrastructure such as data centers, businesses, and electric vehicle charging stations remain functional in the face of whatever power quality issues they face! Our growing team is expanding our product portfolio with next-generation technologies, and we need engineers with a passion to ensure that they make what matters to our customers work without question!
POSITION OVERVIEW
As a Senior Linux Firmware Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing and implementing software solutions for advanced three phase power systems. In this role, you will work with a global software team developing software for advanced three-phase power systems. These systems are rated from ten kilowatts up to several megawatts and are designed to operate in electrical power systems worldwide. The software controls the system operation, implements power conversion algorithms, creates user monitoring data and provides advanced product features. The candidate will work in several of these areas. Responsibilities include analysis, design, implementation and release of the software.
In this function you will:
- Collaborate with global engineering teams in the development, test, and release of embedded Linux software for CPDI product lines and technology development projects.
- Use Agile processes to develop embedded software in C, C++ for ARM / DSP processors for three phase power systems.
- Evaluate business requirements to determine potential solutions.
- Own design and development of product features. Write and maintain functional specifications of design solutions.
- Develop software that meets coding standards and product design requirements. Document and formally release embedded software following company procedures.
- Develop test plans and monitor test results.
- Lead software and functional design reviews at various product development stages.
- Troubleshoot/debug embedded code and track software and operational “bugs” to closure.
- Keep track of the latest embedded software strategies, processes, and tools. Apply knowledge to power electronic applications.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical, Computer, Software Engineering or Computer Science from an accredited institution.
- Minimum 3 years of industry work experience in embedded software development.
- Minimum of 3 years of industry work experience in embedded Linux.
- Relocation assistance will be provided for candidates residing outside a 50 mile radius of Raleigh, NC.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's Degree in Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering or Computer Science from an accredited institution.
- 5+ years of development experience in a Linux environment.
- Experience with Yocto build environment & multi-core embedded systems; experience with Dunfell and Kirkstone Linux distributions.
- Experience with EdgeX Foundry.
- Solid understanding of cybersecurity and/or cryptography.
- Demonstrated competency using or designing systems communicating with industrial networking protocols (e.g. HTTP, TCP/IP, MQTT, Modbus, BACnet, CAN).
- Experience using SDLC management tools in a team environment (e.g. Jira, Git, etc.).
- Experience with Agile development methodologies and concepts.
SKILLS
Position Criteria:
- Strong knowledge of Linux operating systems and associated development platforms.
- Experience adopting or contributing to Open-Source Software projects.
- Strong level skills in C++ and understanding of Object-Oriented Design (OOD) principles.
- Strong problem solving and software debugging skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to effectively explain technical concepts.
- Solid understanding of software design principles, algorithms, data structures, and multithreading concepts.
- Good judgment, time management, and decision-making skills.
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.
We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.
You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.
We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Linux Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches Linux engineering
Check your degree's CIP code against ICE's STEM-designated degree program list before applying. Degrees in computer science, computer engineering, and information technology typically qualify, but your DSO must confirm the match before recommending the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask recruiting contacts directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. Employers not enrolled cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, and switching employers after accepting an offer costs you weeks of job search time.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Linux roles by sponsorship history
Search Linux Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified work authorization filing history. This cuts the time you spend screening companies that have never hired international students.
Target employers with existing Linux infrastructure teams
Companies running large-scale Linux environments in finance, cloud infrastructure, and defense contracting hire Linux Engineers in volume and already have E-Verify and international hiring workflows in place. Prioritize these over startups building their first DevOps pipeline.
File your I-983 training plan with role-specific learning goals
Your I-983 must list concrete Linux engineering skills you'll develop, such as kernel configuration, system hardening, or automation with Ansible. Generic objectives get flagged by DSOs. Align the plan directly to your offer letter's job duties.
Time your STEM OPT application around your OPT end date
USCIS recommends filing the STEM OPT extension application at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If USCIS hasn't adjudicated by your expiration date, your work authorization automatically continues for up to 180 days while the application is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Linux Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your underlying degree carries a STEM-designated CIP code. Roles classified under computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields typically qualify. The O*NET occupation code for Linux and systems engineers maps to computer occupations that USCIS and ICE recognize as STEM-eligible. Your DSO confirms the match and recommends the extension on your I-20.
What does the E-Verify requirement mean for my Linux Engineer job search?
Every employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify before your first day of work. E-Verify is a federal system that confirms work authorization electronically. If a company isn't enrolled, you cannot legally accept the role on STEM OPT. Migrate Mate filters Linux Engineer listings to show employers with relevant hiring history, which narrows your search to companies already familiar with this requirement.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Linux Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe specific technical skills you'll develop on the job, the supervision structure, how the employer will evaluate your progress, and how the training connects to your STEM degree. For Linux Engineers, this typically includes skills like system administration, security hardening, network configuration, or infrastructure automation. Your employer's designated supervisor signs the form, and your DSO countersigns before USCIS reviews your application.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm a Linux Engineer waiting on H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Linux Engineer in your current role under the same employer during this period. USCIS confirms cap-gap eligibility through the receipt notice on the I-129 petition.
Can I work as a Linux Engineer contractor or through a staffing agency on STEM OPT?
You can work through a staffing agency only if the agency itself is enrolled in E-Verify and is your employer of record, meaning they pay your wages and control your work. If the end client directs your day-to-day tasks but the agency pays you, the agency must be E-Verify enrolled. Your I-983 training plan must name the employer of record, not the end client, as the supervising organization.