Sr PTC Applications Engineer / Linux Systems Administrator

Metra Rail•Chicago, IL

39d

About The Position

Engineering is responsible for building and maintaining the majority of Metra's fixed assets, such as buildings, stations, bridges, track, electrical, telecommunications and signal systems. The Engineering Department also monitors the condition of and assists in building and maintaining the fixed assets on the freight lines where Metra trains operate. The Engineering Department is divided into two major groups: Capital Projects, and Communications and Maintenance. Reporting to the Director, PTC Engineering, the Senior PTC Applications Engineer will Setup, deploy, and maintain applications, workstations, and servers Are responsible for the reliability, maintainability, and deployment of applications including Ticket Management, Network Management System (NMS), Windows System Administration, Linux System Administration, Messaging (ITCM), Key Exchange Servers (KES), Software Defined Radios (220 MHz), Wayside Status Relay Service (WSRS), and Systems Management (ITCSM) Monitor PTC system performance and troubleshoot issues Lead the development of tools and procedures to monitor and alert users to system outages Document system anomalies according to established policies Participate in problem analysis meetings to prevent future outages Design, update, and deploy software and configurations to PTC systems and components Analyze systems and recommend/develop refinements Participate in design review meetings and manage entire life cycle of software deployments from concept to production Handle day-to-day maintenance of systems, including Linux (Red Hat Enterprise) and Windows system administration Develop scripts and automation tools to make software and configuration updates faster and less error prone Participate in lab testing of PTC system and interoperable applications and networks Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Electrical or Software Engineering or in lieu of a degree, any combination of education and experience may be substituted for the required degree that equals four (4) years in computer systems engineering/administration, software development, Dev-ops, or reliability engineering.
In addition to #1, must have five (5) years of combined experience in: Linux system administration, software development, Windows system administration, IT automation, software maintenance/packaging and/or IT infrastructure, and VMware or similar virtualization platforms.
Considerable knowledge of Linux system administration including Bash scripting.
Good Knowledge of high availability (HA) systems and infrastructure.
Working knowledge of large scale network infrastructure.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem solving skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Proficient in at least one (1) programming language such as Python, Ruby, C++, or other mainstream language.
Proficient in Linux shell scripting.
Ability to work independently, focus on tasks with a high attention to detail, and complete assigned tasks on time with little-to-no rework required.
Ability to follow configuration management process and controlled release procedures.
Ability to analyze and debug complex software and infrastructure issues, and develop tools/systems for task automation.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Must be able to operate a vehicle.
Must be willing to travel within Metra's 6-county region.
Must be available to work flexible hours in the early morning, late afternoon, evenings, or weekends.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Docker/Kubernetes is a plus.
Experience in IT automation tools such as Ansible is a plus.

Responsibilities

Setup, deploy, and maintain applications, workstations, and servers
Are responsible for the reliability, maintainability, and deployment of applications including Ticket Management, Network Management System (NMS), Windows System Administration, Linux System Administration, Messaging (ITCM), Key Exchange Servers (KES), Software Defined Radios (220 MHz), Wayside Status Relay Service (WSRS), and Systems Management (ITCSM)
Monitor PTC system performance and troubleshoot issues
Lead the development of tools and procedures to monitor and alert users to system outages
Document system anomalies according to established policies
Participate in problem analysis meetings to prevent future outages
Design, update, and deploy software and configurations to PTC systems and components
Analyze systems and recommend/develop refinements
Participate in design review meetings and manage entire life cycle of software deployments from concept to production
Handle day-to-day maintenance of systems, including Linux (Red Hat Enterprise) and Windows system administration
Develop scripts and automation tools to make software and configuration updates faster and less error prone
Participate in lab testing of PTC system and interoperable applications and networks
Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization