Senior Linux System Administrator

We are looking for a Senior Linux Systems Administrator for a 6 month contract to hire role that will be onsite 2 days each week in Somerset, NJ.

Our team oversees a robust estate of over 2,500 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems deployed on HPE ProLiant hardware, supporting high-performance environments in multiple datacenters. We are embarking on transformative infrastructure initiatives that demand deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a passion for operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead advanced administration, configuration, and performance optimization of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems.
• Architect and manage RHEL KVM virtualization environments, including provisioning, troubleshooting boot issues, and fine-tuning for optimal performance.
• Oversee lifecycle management of HPE ProLiant hardware, including upgrade analysis, firmware upgrades, component replacements, and remote diagnostics via iLO.
• Design and execute robust processes for infrastructure patching, reboot orchestration, and content lifecycle management.
• Administer and enhance security posture through deployment and maintenance of EDR and SIEM agents, ensuring compliance with CVE remediation SLAs.
• Analyze and resolve kernel-level system bottlenecks and network latency, delivering actionable performance tuning strategies.
• Manage HPE storage platforms (Primera, Alletra), including SAN zoning, volume provisioning, LVM configuration, and fiber channel switch operations.
• Maintain critical datacenter services: NTP/Chrony, Elastic Stack, Puppet, Cobbler, Rundeck, Squid Proxy, DNS, and Postfix.
• Implement proactive monitoring using tools such as Nagios/Naemon, Prometheus, and PRTG, ensuring high availability and rapid incident response.
• Develop and maintain automation frameworks using Ansible, Python, Perl, and shell scripting to streamline operational workflows.
• Respond to service requests and incident tickets with precision, adhering to rigorous change management and production protocols.
• Provide detailed procedural documentation and remote guidance for external datacenter teams across geographically distributed locations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in enterprise-level Linux system administration and technical operations; prior experience in financial services is highly advantageous.
• Proven expertise in RHEL 7/8, including deep familiarity with KVM virtualization and system internals.
• Advanced knowledge of HPE ProLiant server architecture, diagnostics, and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated proficiency in security operations, including EDR/SIEM agent management and vulnerability remediation.
• Experience with HPE SAN technologies, including fabric zoning, Primera/Alletra storage systems, and fiber channel networking.
• Working knowledge of Puppet and Cobbler for configuration and provisioning automation.
• Proficient in scripting languages: Python, Perl, and Bash; capable of developing scalable automation solutions.
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals, including VLANs, trunking, routing, multicast, and NAT.
• Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certification preferred.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams and remote support personnel.
• Strategic problem-solving acumen with a focus on reliability, scalability, and performance in high-availability environments.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.