Systems Programmer Jobs
Systems Programmer jobs are open across defense, financial services, healthcare IT, and enterprise software, from entry-level to principal and staff engineer, with specializations in operating systems, embedded systems, and compiler development. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Agency
Department of Information TechnologyDivision
Chief Deputy SCIOJob Classification Title
Operating Systems Software Programmer I (NS)Position Number
60089618Grade
DT09About Us
The N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) serves as the Technology Center for the State of NC. Services that NCDIT provides reach a client base of state and local government agencies, as well as schools, colleges and universities. NCDIT’s mission is to enable trusted business-driven solutions that meet the needs of North Carolinians. NCDIT provides technology services to state agencies and is charged with closing the digital divide by expanding availability of broadband services and promoting the adoption of affordable, high-speed internet.
Description of Work
Salary Range: $81,504 - $122,256The position is designated Statutory Exempt (EHRA) and is exempt from the State Human Resources Act.
This position may be eligible for hybrid remote work in accordance with state policy and the agency’s remote work program but does require weekly onsite work. Any telework will be under the conditions of the state Teleworking Program Policy and the employer may end any teleworking arrangement at any time in the employer's sole discretion.
This is a REPOST. Previous applicants Must Reapply to be considered.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
We currently have an opening for an Operating Systems Software Programmer I.
This position is a part of the Enterprise Active Directory Service (EADS) Team which is responsible for the day-to-day administration, design, operation, and support of a multi-site, multi-domain 2019 Active Directory infrastructure and Entra cloud environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage ServiceNow Incidents and Requests directly with customers to triage and resolve their Identity Management issues and questions
- Maintain and manage the full lifecycle of directory objects
- Provide tactical recommendations ensuring the 24×7 highly available environments are stable and available
About the Division:
Enterprise Active Directory Service (EADS) provides a centralized authoritative directory of information that automates management of network-based resources (such as user data, security, computers, printers, applications and file shares).
Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences
The following Management Preferences are not required, but applicants that possess these skills are preferred:
- Experience administering Microsoft Active Directory natively or through third‑party tools, with demonstrated knowledge of core AD concepts, Windows Server management, Group Policy administration, and comprehensive directory object management
- Demonstrated experience writing documentation and customer instructions and/or verbally communicate those instructions
- Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Entra/Azure support
Discover why NCDIT is the ideal destination for your professional growth - Why Work for NCDIT
Minimum Education and Experience
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or an IT related field or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of progressive experience in systems software programming
OR
Associate degree in computer science or an IT related field or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of progressive experience in systems software programming; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
EEO Statement
T he State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.
Recruiter:
Samika Renee LewisRecruiter Email:
dit_hr_recruitment@nc.gov
Systems Programmer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Systems Programmer JobsSystems Programmer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Government & Public Sector
- Banking & Financial Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems programmer jobs.
- Proficiency in C or C++ for systems-level development and performance-critical code
- Experience with operating system internals such as memory management, scheduling, or device drivers
- Familiarity with assembly language and low-level debugging tools like GDB or JTAG
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related field
- Experience with real-time operating systems or embedded platforms such as VxWorks or FreeRTOS
- Knowledge of version control, build systems, and continuous integration pipelines in Linux environments
Tips for Your Systems Programmer Job Search
Tailor your resume to the stack
Systems programmer roles vary sharply by environment. Highlight whether your experience is in bare-metal, kernel-level, or application-layer systems, and name the specific OS, architecture, or firmware you worked with. Generic software engineer resumes rarely clear the filter.
Show ownership of low-level complexity
Hiring managers want evidence you have debugged memory corruption, optimized interrupt handlers, or tuned scheduler behavior, not just that you know the concepts. Describe a specific problem you owned end-to-end and the measurable outcome it produced.
Target clearance-required roles strategically
Many systems programmer openings in defense and government contracting list an active clearance as preferred, not required. If you hold one, lead with it early in your resume. If you are clearance-eligible, apply and state that plainly in your cover note.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists systems programmer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your experience level and specialization and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for architecture and design questions
Systems programmer interviews almost always include a whiteboard or verbal design round focused on concurrency, memory models, or IPC mechanisms. Practice explaining trade-offs between design choices out loud, not just arriving at a correct answer.
Negotiate around equity and total comp
In systems engineering roles at product companies, base salary often has a tighter band than equity. Before accepting an offer, ask for the vesting schedule, cliff, and the most recent 409A valuation so you can compare the full package accurately.
Systems Programmer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most systems programmers?
The companies hiring the most systems programmers right now include The Building People, Ensono, and Jobot, with the largest share of openings in South Carolina, Texas, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Defense contractors, semiconductor firms, and large cloud infrastructure teams consistently post the highest volume of systems programmer roles.
How many systems programmer jobs are remote?
About 62% of systems programmer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which is lower than the broader software engineering average because many roles involve classified systems, specialized hardware, or on-site lab access. Roles focused on pure software systems, compilers, or distributed infrastructure tend to offer the most remote flexibility.
How do you become a systems programmer?
Start by building a strong foundation in C or C++ and studying operating system concepts such as process scheduling, virtual memory, and file systems. Work through projects that touch hardware directly, such as writing a bootloader, a simple OS kernel, or a device driver. Contributing to open-source systems projects gives you verifiable, reviewable work to show employers. Internships or junior roles in embedded or infrastructure teams are the most common entry points.
Can you get a systems programmer job with little experience?
Yes, entry-level systems programmer roles exist, but they require demonstrating hands-on technical depth rather than just coursework. Build projects that show low-level work: a custom memory allocator, a toy file system, or kernel module experiments on Linux. Employers hiring at the junior level care more about whether you can read and reason about systems code than about years of professional experience.
What does the systems programmer interview process look like?
Most systems programmer interview processes include an initial technical screen covering C or C++ fundamentals, a coding round focused on low-level problem solving such as bit manipulation or memory layout, and a systems design discussion around concurrency, IPC, or OS internals. Some employers add a take-home component or a debugging exercise using core dumps or performance profiles. Final rounds typically involve a team interview assessing communication and architectural reasoning.
Where can I find and apply to systems programmer jobs?
You can find and apply to systems programmer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 77 Systems Programmer Jobs
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