IT Specialist (System Administration), (IS-2210-11/12)

Smithsonian Institution•Cambridge, MA

55d•$84,579 - $131,790•Onsite

About The Position

This IT Specialist (Unix Administrator) position is responsible for managing and maintaining Unix-based systems and infrastructure and ensuring optimal performance, security and reliability of IT infrastructure and support of astrophysical data analysis and processing.

Requirements

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations ;knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Candidates for grade 11 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, such as established proficiency in diagnosing and troubleshooting operating system, application, and hardware issues, and experience with research and deploying new technologies.
Candidates for grade 12 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, such a strong understanding of Unix system internals, file systems, processes, and networking concepts.
Strong understanding in Unix-based operating systems, including CentOS, RedHat, Rocky Linux and the ability to organize and administer complex systems of distributed computers and file servers into a cohesive system. Knowledge of NIS, NFS, automounter and LDAP.
Experience with direct attached storage (DAS) and network attached storage (NAS) systems. Experience with Netapp storage provisioning, volume management, data replication, snapshots, snapmirroring, and deduplication and storage security and data protection practices. Experience with NetApp NFS, iSCSI, and CIFS/SMB protocols. Familiarity with NetApp backup and restore procedures and NetApp management tools.
Strong understanding of Unix system internals, file systems, processes, and networking concepts.
Knowledge in system administration tools, utilities, commands, and command line interfaces and scripting languages such as Python, Perl and BASH. Knowledge of programming languages used by scientific staff such as C, Fortran, Python.
Experience with system performance monitoring and tuning tools and automation and configuration management tools like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet.
Knowledge of Google Compute Engine Virtual Machines and Qemu KVM
Knowledge of security in a distributed, Internet-connected environment, the ability to keep up-to-date with new security issues and vulnerabilities as they are announced. Knowledge of security best practices and with security monitoring tools for Unix and network systems.

Responsibilities

System Administration: Configures, installs, and manages Unix-based operating systems on servers and distributed computers, including but not limited to Linux, BSD, and Solaris. Plans and implements the computer management policy and the acquisition of servers and desktops. Manages system and user accounts. Manages cloud based systems and infrastructure. Manages NAS, and DAS systems including Netapp infrastructure.
Performance Optimization: Monitors system performance and identifies areas for improvement. Optimizes system configurations, file systems, and network configurations to ensure optimal performance, resource utilization, and system response.
System Security: Plans, implements, and enforces security protocols to protect Unix systems from unauthorized access, data breaches, and security threats. Updates and maintains security policies, access controls, and system firewall configurations in accordance with established organizational policies.
System Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Develops and implements system monitoring tools and procedures to ensure high availability and reliability. Performs troubleshooting, root cause analysis and timely resolution of system issues. Works closely with cross-functional teams as necessary. Troubleshoots hardware problems and takes corrective action to minimize downtime and expedite repairs. Opens support cases and tracks status of support requests.
Backup and Recovery: Plans and implements backup and recovery strategies for Unix systems and data. Regularly tests and verifies backups to ensure integrity and availability for disaster recovery.
Automation and Scripting: Designs and develops automated scripts and tools to increase system administration efficiency and reduce manual efforts. Uses scripting languages such as Bash, Perl, and Python to automate tasks and processes.
System Upgrades and Patch Management: Plans and executes system upgrades and software installs and develops procedures for both automated and manual system patching, adhering to established change management procedures. Evaluates and tests new software releases and patches for compatibility with existing systems.
Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Creates and maintains comprehensive documentation and knowledge bases including system configuration, processes, and procedures. Shares knowledge and expertise with team members and users and provides technical guidance and mentoring as required.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including developers, network administrators, database administrators, and security teams to ensure integration of Unix systems with other IT components and applications.