Senior OS Engineer — Linux Security & Container Supply Chain
RAPIDFORT · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $175,000 / year
- United States
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Job highlights
- Design and build secure Linux OS components.
- Remediate vulnerabilities in OS packages.
- Harden container images at scale.
- Automate OS patching and build pipelines.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams.
About the role
About The Role
RapidFort is looking for a deeply technical Senior OS Engineer to design, build, and maintain secure Linux-based operating system components that power hardened container images and cloud-native workloads. This role sits at the intersection of Linux systems engineering, package management, and software supply chain security. You will be responsible for identifying vulnerabilities in OS packages, validating fixes, rebuilding or patching components, and ensuring secure, production-grade container images are delivered at scale. You will work across multiple Linux distributions to curate, harden, and continuously improve the operating system layers used in containerized environments. This includes package-level remediation, dependency resolution, and automation of secure build pipelines. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on Linux internals, OS packaging, and container image security — not just vulnerability scanning or policy enforcement.
What You’ll Do
OS & Package Security Engineering
- Own end-to-end CVE remediation across Linux OS packages and system libraries
- Analyze vulnerabilities affecting core OS components (glibc, openssl, kernel modules, runtime libraries, etc.)
- Validate upstream fixes and determine patching or backporting strategies
- Rebuild, patch, and curate OS packages across multiple Linux distributions (Debian, RHEL, Alpine, etc.)
Container Image Hardening
- Build and maintain secure, minimal, production-ready container images
- Remove unnecessary packages and reduce image attack surface
- Ensure OS-level changes propagate safely into container environments
- Validate image integrity, compatibility, and runtime stability
Supply Chain Security
- Generate and maintain SBOMs for OS packages and container images
- Implement provenance, signing, and artifact trust mechanisms
- Ensure reproducible and verifiable builds across OS components
- Strengthen software supply chain security across all image pipelines
Automation & Build Systems
- Design and scale automated pipelines for OS patching, package rebuilding, and image generation
- Integrate CVE scanning, remediation, and validation into CI/CD workflows
- Build tooling for OS-level dependency tracking and vulnerability analysis
- Improve build efficiency, reliability, and reproducibility
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with platform, DevOps, infrastructure, and security teams
- Work closely with engineering teams to integrate secure OS layers into product pipelines
- Support production environments with stable, secure OS baselines
What You Bring
Core Experience
- 5+ years in Linux systems engineering, OS engineering, platform engineering, DevSecOps, or release engineering
- Deep expertise in Linux operating systems and distributions (Debian, RHEL, Ubuntu, Alpine)
- Strong experience with OS package management systems (apt, rpm, dnf, apk)
- Hands-on experience patching, rebuilding, or maintaining OS packages
Technical Depth
- Strong understanding of Linux internals (processes, memory, filesystem, system libraries)
- Experience working with system-level libraries and dependencies (glibc, openssl, etc.)
- Deep knowledge of dependency resolution, ABI compatibility, and package lifecycle management
- Experience with container internals and Linux runtime behavior
Security & Supply Chain
- Experience remediating CVEs in OS packages and container environments
- Understanding of SBOMs, software provenance, signing, and artifact trust models
- Familiarity with supply chain security frameworks (e.g., SLSA, reproducible builds)
Engineering Skills
- Strong scripting/programming ability in Python, Bash, Go, or C/C++
- Experience building CI/CD pipelines for OS or system-level build processes
- Strong debugging skills across Linux systems and build environments
Nice to Have
- Experience contributing to or maintaining Linux distributions or open-source OS projects
- Experience building minimal, distroless, or hardened container images
- Familiarity with package build infrastructure (Koji, OBS, Launchpad, mock, etc.)
- Experience with kernel hardening or low-level OS security modules
- Knowledge of large-scale container security platforms
- Contributions to open-source security, Linux, or container ecosystems
What Success Looks Like
- Rapid and reliable remediation of OS-level CVEs across supported distributions
- Stable and secure base images with minimal attack surface
- Automated, repeatable OS patching and build pipelines
- High-confidence SBOMs and supply chain transparency across all artifacts
- Significant reduction in vulnerability exposure across container environments
- Robust, reproducible OS build and packaging systems
Why This Role Matters
This role is foundational to RapidFort’s mission of eliminating vulnerabilities in containerized environments. Every secure container image begins with a secure OS layer, and this role ensures that foundation is trusted, minimal, and continuously hardened.
Compensation & Benefits
This Senior OS Engineer role offers a base salary range of $150,000 – $200,000, depending on experience and technical depth. In addition to base compensation, RapidFort provides a competitive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, and equity participation. Total compensation is designed to reflect the critical nature of this role in securing Linux-based systems, container images, and software supply chain infrastructure at scale.
Key skills/competency
- Linux Systems Engineering
- OS Package Management
- Container Image Security
- Software Supply Chain Security
- CVE Remediation
- Python Scripting
- Bash Scripting
- Go Programming
- CI/CD Pipelines
- Linux Internals
Skills & topics
- Senior OS Engineer
- Linux Security
- Container Security
- Supply Chain Security
- CVE Remediation
- OS Packaging
- Linux Internals
- DevSecOps
- Python
- Bash
- Debian
- RHEL
- Alpine
- Cloud-Native
- Build Automation
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with Linux OS, package management, and container security, aligning with "Senior OS Engineer Linux Security" requirements.
- Showcase technical depth: Emphasize your hands-on experience with CVE remediation, OS package rebuilding, and CI/CD automation in your application.
- Demonstrate security focus: Clearly articulate your understanding of SBOMs, software provenance, and supply chain security frameworks.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss Linux internals, dependency resolution, and your experience with Python, Bash, or Go.
- Research RapidFort: Understand their mission and how your skills contribute to securing containerized environments.
Technical preparation
Master Linux package management tools (apt, rpm, dnf, apk).,Practice CVE analysis and patching techniques.,Build secure, minimal container images.,Automate build pipelines with scripting (Python/Bash/Go).
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex Linux security issue you solved.,How do you ensure integrity in automated builds?,How do you collaborate with diverse engineering teams?,Explain your approach to vulnerability remediation.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific Linux distributions does RapidFort focus on for this Senior OS Engineer role?
- RapidFort works across multiple Linux distributions, including Debian, RHEL, Ubuntu, and Alpine. As a Senior OS Engineer, you will be expected to have deep expertise in these and similar systems to curate, harden, and improve OS layers for containerized environments.
- What is the expected experience level for the Senior OS Engineer Linux Security position?
- This is a Senior OS Engineer role requiring at least 5 years of experience in Linux systems engineering, OS engineering, platform engineering, DevSecOps, or release engineering. Deep expertise in Linux operating systems and package management is crucial.
- Does RapidFort offer remote work for the Senior OS Engineer role?
- The job description does not explicitly state the work arrangement. Based on the typical structure of such roles, it is likely to be on-site or hybrid. Please refer to the company's career page or contact the hiring manager for definitive information on the work arrangement for the Senior OS Engineer Linux Security position.
- How does RapidFort approach software supply chain security for its OS components?
- RapidFort emphasizes supply chain security by focusing on generating and maintaining SBOMs, implementing provenance and signing mechanisms, ensuring reproducible builds, and strengthening overall software supply chain security across all image pipelines. This is a core aspect of the Senior OS Engineer role.
- What programming languages are most important for the Senior OS Engineer role at RapidFort?
- Strong scripting and programming abilities are essential. The job description specifically mentions Python, Bash, and Go as key languages, with C/C++ also being valuable. Proficiency in these languages will be critical for automation and build system development.
- What are the key responsibilities regarding CVE remediation in this Senior OS Engineer position?
- A primary responsibility is owning end-to-end CVE remediation across Linux OS packages and system libraries. This includes analyzing vulnerabilities, validating upstream fixes, determining patching strategies, and rebuilding or patching OS packages for multiple distributions.
- What does success look like for a Senior OS Engineer at RapidFort?
- Success is defined by rapid and reliable CVE remediation, stable and secure base container images with minimal attack surface, automated and repeatable build pipelines, high-confidence SBOMs, reduced vulnerability exposure, and robust, reproducible OS build systems.