Linux Administrator

Staffworxs•Chicago, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Staffworxs, we don't just connect talent — we power transformation. Headquartered in Frisco, TX, with teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, we combine global reach with deep expertise. Our Digital & Data Analytics practice drives growth and innovation for some of the world's top brands, who continue to retain us as their trusted partner. If you're ready to make an impact, you're in the right place. The Associate Principal, Strong at least 10 years Deep Linux administration skills, Linux Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining enterprise Linux server environments through hands-on daily operational activities. This role ensures the stability, performance, security, and availability of Linux infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. The position requires strong operational expertise, a proactive approach to system health, and the ability to work across US Day and night shifts to provide continuous 24/7 coverage for critical infrastructure.

Requirements

10 + years of progressive hands-on experience in Linux/Unix system administration in an enterprise environment
Demonstrated experience managing Linux servers in production environments at scale
Strong hands-on experience with Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) including playbook execution and operational automation
Working experience with Red Hat Satellite for patch deployment and content lifecycle management
Hands-on experience with AWS Linux EC2 instances including basic instance operations, snapshots, and security group management
Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining CIS benchmarks and security baselines across enterprise Linux systems
Extensive experience with enterprise Linux patching programs including change management, patch validation, and emergency patching procedures
Working experience with ITSM platforms such as ServiceNow for incident, problem, and change management
Proficiency with collaboration and project management tools including JIRA and Confluence
Excellent problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to produce clear shift handover notes and operational documentation
Ability to multitask and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced operational environment

Responsibilities

Monitor, manage, and maintain enterprise Linux server environments (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, Amazon Linux) on a day-to-day basis across on-premises and cloud infrastructure
Perform routine system health checks including CPU, memory, disk utilization, and process monitoring across all Linux servers
Respond to system alerts, service failures, and performance degradation in a timely manner; triage and resolve incidents within defined SLA windows
Manage user accounts, groups, permissions, and SSH key administration across Linux systems
Administer cron jobs, scheduled tasks, and system services (systemd, init) to ensure uninterrupted operations
Perform log analysis and monitoring using tools such as journald, rsyslog, ELK Stack, Splunk, or CloudWatch to identify anomalies and recurring issues
Execute day-to-day storage operations including LVM management, filesystem extension, NFS mount management, and disk space remediation
Troubleshoot OS-level issues including boot failures, kernel panics, network connectivity problems, and service disruptions
Coordinate and execute scheduled maintenance activities including reboots, service restarts, and configuration updates during approved change windows
Apply security patches, kernel updates, and bug fixes to Linux servers in alignment with the enterprise patching schedule using Red Hat Satellite and Ansible Automation Platform (AAP)
Validate patch deployments in non-production environments prior to production rollouts and perform post-patch validation checks to confirm system stability and service availability
Support emergency and zero-day vulnerability patching as directed by the security team
Enforce CIS benchmark standards and security baselines on Linux systems; remediate non-compliant configurations
Perform periodic security scans using OpenSCAP, Lynis, or Nessus and document findings for remediation tracking
Actively manage incidents, service requests, and change records using ServiceNow, ensuring timely updates, proper categorization, and SLA compliance
Serve as an escalation point for Tier 1/Tier 2 Linux issues during assigned shift
Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) and post-incident reviews for major Linux-related outages
Execute approved change requests during maintenance windows including patching, configuration changes, and server builds
Maintain clear and accurate shift handover notes to ensure operational continuity across US Day and night shifts
Provision new Linux servers (physical, virtual, and cloud) following approved build standards and golden image baselines
Configure servers post-build including network settings, storage mounts, security hardening, and application-level prerequisites
Support AMI (Amazon Machine Image) updates and golden image refreshes for AWS EC2 instances
Execute Ansible playbooks for configuration management, compliance enforcement, and routine operational tasks
Proactively monitor infrastructure dashboards (CloudWatch & Splunk) and act on alerts
Identify performance bottlenecks and work with senior engineers to implement optimizations
Perform capacity monitoring and report disk, CPU, and memory trends as inputs to capacity planning
Work assigned US Day shift (EST/CST 8 AM – 6 PM)
Act as the primary Linux operations contact during assigned shift for incident response, change execution, and escalation management
Follow runbooks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all operational activities and maintain shift logs with current server and service status
Create and maintain runbooks, SOPs, knowledge base articles, and operational checklists in Confluence
Track tasks, incidents, and project work in JIRA with accurate and timely status updates
Collaborate with network, storage, security, and application teams to resolve cross-functional issues
Participate in team meetings, sprint reviews, and operational planning sessions