Systems Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the top states for systems engineer visa sponsorship jobs, with major employers across the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Companies like Apple, Cisco, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies regularly hire systems engineers and have established H-1B visa sponsorship programs. Defense, aerospace, semiconductors, and enterprise software all drive strong demand.
Find Systems Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 2,406+ Systems Engineer Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 2,406+ Systems Engineer Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Systems Engineer Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsABOUT BASETEN
Baseten powers mission-critical inference for the world's most dynamic AI companies, like Cursor, Notion, OpenEvidence, Abridge, Clay, Gamma and Writer. By uniting applied AI research, flexible infrastructure, and seamless developer tooling, we enable companies operating at the frontier of AI to bring cutting-edge models into production. We're growing quickly and recently raised our $300M Series E, backed by investors including BOND, IVP, Spark Capital, Greylock, and Conviction. Join us and help build the platform engineers turn to to ship AI products.
THE ROLE
As an OS / K8s Systems Engineer at Baseten, you’ll build the automation and systems that turn raw GPU hardware into production-ready compute. From provisioning to orchestration, you’ll own the software layer that makes our infrastructure reproducible, scalable, and reliable across data centers.
This is a senior, hands-on role focused on building systems not operating them. You’ll work close to the metal designing OS images, building provisioning pipelines, and automating cluster bring-up from scratch. Your work will define how quickly we can turn new capacity into usable compute.
EXAMPLE INITIATIVES
- Zero-to-cluster automation: Build workflows that take new hardware from unprovisioned to fully operational cluster.
- Provisioning systems: Design PXE-based or equivalent systems for imaging and lifecycle management.
- Reproducible infrastructure: Ensure clusters deploy consistently across data centers.
Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end automation of cluster bring-up and lifecycle management.
- Build and maintain OS images, provisioning systems, and configuration pipelines.
- Deploy and operate cluster orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, Slurm, or similar).
- Design systems for reproducibility across sites and hardware generations.
- Automate upgrades, rollouts, and failure recovery.
- Optimize system performance, including GPU utilization and networking.
- Partner with hardware and network teams to validate and improve system behavior.
REQUIREMENTS
- Experience building and operating automated infrastructure systems.
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, Go, or similar).
- Deep familiarity with Linux systems, including boot processes, drivers, and performance.
- Experience with provisioning systems (PXE, imaging, configuration management).
- Experience with Kubernetes.
- Strong debugging skills across system layers (hardware → OS → network).
- Experience working with GPU or high-performance workloads is a plus.
BENEFITS
- Competitive compensation, including meaningful equity.
- 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and dependents.
- Flexible PTO policy including company wide Winter Break (our offices are closed from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day!).
- Paid parental leave.
- Fertility and family-building stipend through Carrot.
- Company-facilitated 401(k).
- Exposure to a variety of ML startups, offering unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.
Apply now to embark on a rewarding journey in shaping the future of AI! If you are a motivated individual with a passion for machine learning and a desire to be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team, we would love to hear from you.
At Baseten, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law (by example, the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, where applicable).
ABOUT BASETEN
Baseten powers mission-critical inference for the world's most dynamic AI companies, like Cursor, Notion, OpenEvidence, Abridge, Clay, Gamma and Writer. By uniting applied AI research, flexible infrastructure, and seamless developer tooling, we enable companies operating at the frontier of AI to bring cutting-edge models into production. We're growing quickly and recently raised our $300M Series E, backed by investors including BOND, IVP, Spark Capital, Greylock, and Conviction. Join us and help build the platform engineers turn to to ship AI products.
THE ROLE
As an OS / K8s Systems Engineer at Baseten, you’ll build the automation and systems that turn raw GPU hardware into production-ready compute. From provisioning to orchestration, you’ll own the software layer that makes our infrastructure reproducible, scalable, and reliable across data centers.
This is a senior, hands-on role focused on building systems not operating them. You’ll work close to the metal designing OS images, building provisioning pipelines, and automating cluster bring-up from scratch. Your work will define how quickly we can turn new capacity into usable compute.
EXAMPLE INITIATIVES
- Zero-to-cluster automation: Build workflows that take new hardware from unprovisioned to fully operational cluster.
- Provisioning systems: Design PXE-based or equivalent systems for imaging and lifecycle management.
- Reproducible infrastructure: Ensure clusters deploy consistently across data centers.
Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end automation of cluster bring-up and lifecycle management.
- Build and maintain OS images, provisioning systems, and configuration pipelines.
- Deploy and operate cluster orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, Slurm, or similar).
- Design systems for reproducibility across sites and hardware generations.
- Automate upgrades, rollouts, and failure recovery.
- Optimize system performance, including GPU utilization and networking.
- Partner with hardware and network teams to validate and improve system behavior.
REQUIREMENTS
- Experience building and operating automated infrastructure systems.
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, Go, or similar).
- Deep familiarity with Linux systems, including boot processes, drivers, and performance.
- Experience with provisioning systems (PXE, imaging, configuration management).
- Experience with Kubernetes.
- Strong debugging skills across system layers (hardware → OS → network).
- Experience working with GPU or high-performance workloads is a plus.
BENEFITS
- Competitive compensation, including meaningful equity.
- 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and dependents.
- Flexible PTO policy including company wide Winter Break (our offices are closed from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day!).
- Paid parental leave.
- Fertility and family-building stipend through Carrot.
- Company-facilitated 401(k).
- Exposure to a variety of ML startups, offering unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.
Apply now to embark on a rewarding journey in shaping the future of AI! If you are a motivated individual with a passion for machine learning and a desire to be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team, we would love to hear from you.
At Baseten, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law (by example, the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, where applicable).
Systems Engineer Job Roles in California
See all 2,406+ Systems Engineer Jobs in California
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Systems Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaSystems Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for systems engineers in California?
Large technology and defense contractors are the most consistent sponsors. Companies like Cisco, Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Google have all filed H-1B petitions for systems engineer roles in California. Enterprise software firms and cloud infrastructure companies in the Bay Area also sponsor regularly. Sponsorship patterns vary by business unit and hiring volume, so it is worth researching each employer's recent H-1B disclosure data through the DOL's OFLC database.
Which visa types are most common for systems engineer roles in California?
The H-1B is the most common visa for systems engineers in California, as the role generally qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. The O-1A is an option for candidates with demonstrated extraordinary ability. Systems engineers from Canada or Mexico may qualify under the TN visa. Those already holding an L-1B through an intracompany transfer are another cohort California employers regularly see.
How to find systems engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to browse systems engineer roles in California without sorting through positions that do not offer sponsorship. You can search by location, filtering to cities like San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, or Sacramento. Because systems engineering spans defense, semiconductors, and software, using Migrate Mate's role-specific search helps surface relevant openings across all those sub-industries in one place.
Which cities in California have the most systems engineer sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area, particularly San Jose and Santa Clara, leads in systems engineer sponsorship due to the density of semiconductor and networking companies. Los Angeles and El Segundo are significant hubs for aerospace and defense systems engineering, with major contractors headquartered there. San Diego has a strong defense and wireless technology cluster centered around Qualcomm and several naval-adjacent contractors. Sacramento sees demand from state government IT and utilities infrastructure projects.
Are there any California-specific considerations for systems engineers seeking visa sponsorship?
California's Department of Industrial Relations enforces prevailing wage rules independently of federal DOL requirements in some contexts, which can affect how employers structure compensation for sponsored roles. The state's large defense sector means many systems engineer positions require a security clearance, which can complicate sponsorship for candidates without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, as most clearances are restricted to those categories. University pipelines from UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, and Cal Poly feed directly into sponsoring employers, so new graduates entering the job market should account for OPT and STEM OPT timelines when applying.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored systems engineer jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.