Linux Image Engineer

About the role

The Linux Image Engineer owns the intake, customization, validation and ongoing upkeep of customer-provided and generic Linux OS images. The role adapts each customer's golden image to validated hardware, keeps it patched, versioned and deployable, and maintains generic images usable across the product line. It works directly with customers and with engineering, manufacturing and QA teams.

Key responsibilities

• Receive and review customer-provided Linux images (RHEL, Rocky/Alma, Ubuntu, SLES) and their build requirements.
• Create and maintain a library of generic Linux images validated on supported hardware.
• Customize images per customer: packages, drivers, kernel parameters, partitioning, users and security settings.
• Integrate drivers and firmware tools for validated hardware, including Dell PowerEdge (iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, BIOS/firmware baselines).
• Validate images on target hardware and document test results before release to production.
• Maintain image upkeep: apply OS patches and security updates regularly and rebuild images as customers release new versions.
• Develop and maintain scripts and automation (Bash, Python, Ansible) for image setup, driver and firmware installation and hardware-specific tuning.
• Build logging of deployment activity and target hardware inventory, and automate builds with Packer, Kickstart, Ansible and Bash/Python.
• Manage image storage and distribution: repositories, checksums, signing, PXE/iPXE and deployment tooling.
• Scan images for vulnerabilities, harden to customer or CIS requirements, and handle change requests through formal change control.
• Troubleshoot deployment failures and keep per-customer documentation, release notes and runbooks current.

Required profile

• 3+ years of Linux administration, including building and maintaining OS images for deployment at scale.
• Experience customizing images: package sets, kernel modules and drivers, initramfs (dracut), GRUB and partition layouts.
• Experience in a system integrator, OEM or contract manufacturing environment.
• Preferred certifications: RHCSA, RHCE, LFCS or CompTIA Linux+.

Required skills

• RHEL-family and Ubuntu installers: Kickstart, Anaconda, autoinstall, cloud-init.
• Image formats and tooling: ISO, qcow2, raw, OVA; Packer, virt-customize.
• Bash scripting; working knowledge of Python and Ansible.
• Patch management and vulnerability scanning (OpenSCAP, Nessus, Qualys).
• PXE/iPXE, Foreman/Satellite, MAAS or Cobbler; image signing, Secure Boot and supply chain integrity.
• Dell OpenManage, racadm or Redfish automation; CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI).
• Compliance frameworks such as CIS, DISA STIG or NIST 800-53; Git for version control.