IT Systems Expert - Linux

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

About the Role

Your mission is to build, harden, and continuously evolve the foundational operating system platform that powers STARK’s products. Your primary focus will be on Linux-based environments, especially Ubuntu, ensuring they are secure, scalable, and ready for deployment across different hardware and operational setups. You will help drive the further development of our existing platform, support automation and reproducible deployment workflows, and enable production-ready system rollouts. In addition, you will help adapt and tailor Linux variants to specific customer and operational requirements. Experience with Windows-based environments is a plus, but Linux expertise is clearly the core of this role.

Responsibilities

• Linux Platform Engineering: Build, maintain, and further develop STARK’s Linux-based platforms with a strong focus on Ubuntu across different target systems and deployment environments.
• OS Hardening: Design and implement security hardening for Linux environments, applying system-wide security policies, access controls, and kernel-level protections where required.
• Platform Evolution: Continuously improve the existing platform architecture, ensuring maintainability, reliability, and long-term scalability.
• System Integration: Bring Ubuntu-based systems onto different hardware platforms and ensure seamless communication between operating system, interfaces, peripheral components, and higher-level applications.
• Interface Definition: Describe, structure, and maintain system interfaces clearly to ensure reliable integration between software, hardware, and operational environments.
• Automation & Workflows: Develop and improve automation for provisioning, configuration, deployment, and maintenance to support efficient engineering and production processes.
• Production Enablement: Help establish robust technical workflows and platform processes so production teams can deploy and reproduce systems efficiently and reliably.
• Variant Management: Adapt Linux variants and system configurations to meet customer-specific requirements while maintaining platform consistency and security standards.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed technical documentation for system architecture, interfaces, hardening measures, deployment processes, and automation workflows.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in Systems Engineering, Platform Engineering, or a similar role with a strong focus on Linux environments.
• Linux Expertise: Deep hands‑on knowledge of Linux, (Ubuntu is a plus), including system setup, configuration, service management, troubleshooting, and lifecycle maintenance.
• Platform Mindset: Proven ability to build, adapt, and evolve Linux-based platforms across different systems and use cases.
• Security & Hardening: Strong experience in securing and hardening Linux environments and implementing reliable system‑wide protection measures.
• System Integration: Experience integrating operating systems with hardware, interfaces, and peripheral components in technically demanding environments.
• Scripting: Proficiency in Bash and Python for automation, tooling, and system-level tasks.
• Structured Engineering Approach: Ability to think in systems, define interfaces clearly, and create setups that are maintainable, reproducible, and production-ready.
• Customer Requirements: Ability to translate specific customer needs into robust Linux-based platform variants without losing sight of maintainability and standardization.
• Windows Knowledge: Familiarity with Windows systems and administration is a plus, but not the primary focus of the role.
• Clearance: Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance (EU/NATO).

Nice to Have

• Experience with Windows-based platform environments or hybrid Linux/Windows system landscapes.
• Experience with deployment pipelines, image creation, or reproducible system builds.
• Familiarity with production-oriented workflows and process design for scaling technical deployments.
• Experience in defence, aerospace, robotics, or other security-relevant or mission-critical environments.
• Experience with network security, VPNs, or secure system communication.