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Linux Engineer

IMC Trading · Chicago, IL · Systems & Infrastructure

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a Python tool you wrote that let other teams help themselves instead of filing tickets.

What they are checking: Whether they build self-service automation, which the role leans on to scale.

Tell me about the hardest Linux problem you solved. How did you get to the root cause?

What they are checking: Whether they have real troubleshooting depth on complex enterprise systems or have only followed runbooks.

What would you do

A config change you pushed broke a subset of servers. Walk me through what you do next.

What they are checking: Calm incident response, quick rollback and honest follow-up to prevent it happening again.

How would you roll out a new kernel version across the fleet without hurting trading?

What they are checking: Whether they plan staged rollouts and testing that respect trading hours and latency.

You want to bring a new tool or practice into production. How do you get the team and stakeholders on board?

What they are checking: Initiative and collaboration, since the role is about bringing new practices into production.

About the work

How would you manage configuration across more than 10,000 bare-metal Linux servers without drift?

What they are checking: Experience with configuration management at scale and keeping a large fleet consistent.

A server shows high load but low CPU usage. What could cause that and how do you find out?

What they are checking: Deep Linux fundamentals like I/O wait, blocked processes and how load is calculated.

How does tuning a Linux box for low-latency trading differ from tuning one for high-throughput research jobs?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the different workloads the team supports and the settings that matter for each.

How would you provision a new bare-metal server from power-on to ready for workloads with no manual steps?

What they are checking: Knowledge of automated provisioning like PXE boot, imaging and configuration hooks.

What do you check when a Kubernetes node keeps getting marked not ready?

What they are checking: Familiarity with the Kubernetes workloads the team supports on its Linux fleet.

What do you use to see what a process is doing at the system call level, and when would you reach for it?

What they are checking: Practical use of tools like strace, perf or eBPF to debug real issues.

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The full job description

As published by IMC Trading.

We’re seeking a Linux Engineer with deep systems expertise and Python/scripting experience to join our growing global team. You will be responsible for engineering and operating Linux at scale across our mission critical environment, while also improving automation and self-service tools that enhance our ability to manage IMC’s servers. The Linux Engineering team is responsible for the provisioning, configuration, performance, and reliability of a large-scale Linux infrastructure that supports a diverse set of workloads. These include ultra-low latency systems critical to high-frequency trading, as well as high-throughput environments that run research workflows and a wide variety of Kubernetes-based applications. This role requires strong Linux fundamentals applied at scale, with automation as a key enabler for consistency and efficiency across the fleet. Your initiative, collaborative attitude, problem-solving skills, and focus on continuous improvement will help ensure IMC stays competitive by bringing the latest technologies and practices into production. Your Core Responsibilities:  • Apply deep Linux engineering expertise to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues on enterprise systems, ensuring stability and performance • Enhance configuration management code and processes that we use to manage over 10,000 bare-metal Linux systems globally • Develop and maintain Python/Bash tools to support large-scale Linux systems management • Improve provisioning workflows to seamlessly build bare servers into production-ready platforms • Extend Linux-focused metrics, logging, monitoring, and alerting integrations for full fleet visibility • Communicate updates and status clearly and frequently with peers and stakeholders through meetings, tracking tickets, code reviews, chats, and merge requests Your Skills and Experience:  • Hands-on Linux systems engineering, administration, and provisioning expertise applied at scale, preferably on bare-metal systems • Configuration management at scale, preferably on bare-metal servers with Puppet and Hiera • Python development for automation, APIs, design, testing, and debugging • Ansible playbook authorship and complex task automation • RPM design, build, publishing, and in-house repository management • CI/CD pipelines, Git version control, branching and merging best practices • Strong system and network troubleshooting with tools such as EBPF, tcpdump, strace, systemd, ntp/ptp, lsof, and nc • Networking fundamentals: routing, DNS, TCP/UDP/multicast • Experience building and publishing Docker images • Working familiarity with Kubernetes • Exposure to monitoring stacks such as Prometheus, Grafana, and AlertManager, with a focus on Linux telemetry and exporter development • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information. Salary Range $150,000 — $225,000 USD About Us IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage.  

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