Senior Distribution Engineer, Gitlab: Build

GitLab; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

GitLab Senior Distribution Engineer joins the Build team to manage build pipelines, create and maintain packages for Linux distributions and architectures, and keep GitLab components up to date with license compliance.

You will develop official GitLab container images, document installation and upgrade processes, and collaborate with security teams to mitigate vulnerabilities while enabling self-service for developers and customers.

Qualifications

• Experience with Linux build toolchains such as autotools, make, CMake, and Nix.
• Experience building container images and using container build tooling in production.
• Experience packaging for Debian- and Red Hat-based systems (.deb/.rpm) and cloud-native applications.
• Experience with continuous integration systems.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain packages for supported Linux distributions and architectures, including release activities.
• Develop and maintain official GitLab container images and tooling that enables efficient component building.
• Enable development teams to integrate their components into GitLab packages by providing guides and infrastructure that support self-service.
• Collaborate with security teams to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities and maintain secure, up-to-date dependencies.
• Manage cloud marketplace listings and integrations with major cloud providers.
• Maintain and test installation, update, and upgrade documentation and processes before release.
• Ensure license compliance across bundled dependencies.
• Submit components and packages to partners for validation and certification.

Skills

Linux build toolchains

Container images

Debian/RedHat packaging

CI systems

Job description

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.

As a Senior Distribution Engineer on the GitLab Build team, you'll manage build pipelines, evaluate support needs for new services, platforms, and architectures, and maintain existing ones. You'll keep the components that make up GitLab up to date and license-compliant, and make them available for users' platforms and architectures. You'll work with development teams as they support new features and contribute to projects that include community packaging efforts.

What you’ll do

• Build and maintain packages for supported Linux distributions and architectures, including release activities.
• Develop and maintain official GitLab container images and tooling that enables efficient component building.
• Enable development teams to integrate their components into GitLab packages by providing guides and infrastructure that support self-service.
• Collaborate with security teams to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities and maintain secure, up-to-date dependencies.
• Manage cloud marketplace listings and integrations with major cloud providers.
• Maintain and test installation, update, and upgrade documentation and processes before release.
• Ensure license compliance across bundled dependencies.
• Submit components and packages to partners for validation and certification.

What you’ll bring

• Have used Linux build toolchains such as autotools, make, CMake, and Nix.
• Have built container images and used container build tooling in production.
• Have worked with Debian- and Redenterprise Linux-based systems to build .deb and .rpm packages and package cloud native applications.
• Have used continuous integration syste