Senior Linux Admin

Position Overview

Own day-to-day operations and continuous improvement of enterprise Linux platforms and storage services across on-premises data centers and cloud environments (OCI and Microsoft Azure). Ensure platforms are stable, secure, and highly available, and provide expert-level troubleshooting and guidance to cross-functional teams.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Linux Administrator with strong expertise in on-premises infrastructure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), and Microsoft Azure Cloud. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing, maintaining, and optimizing enterprise Linux environments across hybrid infrastructures, ensuring high availability, performance, and security. Knowledge of Oracle Database is mandatory and the role will partner closely with database teams to support Oracle Database platforms on Linux.

Key Responsibilities

Linux System Administration

• Install, configure, and maintain Linux servers (RHEL, Oracle Linux, CentOS, AlmaLinux). 
• Perform system upgrades, patching, and security hardening using enterprise patching solutions (e.g., Red Hat Satellite) and standard change management practices.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure high availability. 
• Manage user access, permissions, and system security. 

Cloud Infrastructure (OCI & Azure)

• Deploy, configure, and manage Linux workloads on OCI and Azure platforms. 
• Design and maintain scalable, secure cloud infrastructure. 
• Work with OCI services including Compute, VCN, Block Volumes, File Storage, Load Balancer, IAM, and monitoring/logging capabilities.
• Manage Azure services including Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, Azure Storage (Managed Disks, Files), Azure Backup (Recovery Services Vault), monitoring, and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD).
• Implement backup, disaster recovery, and high availability solutions in cloud environments using OCI/Azure-native capabilities (e.g., Azure Backup via Recovery Services Vault, Azure Site Recovery (ASR), and OCI backup features) and/or enterprise backup tools as applicable.
• Apply cloud governance and operational best practices (tagging, least privilege, patching/maintenance windows) including patch orchestration with Azure Update Manager for Azure VMs; optimize performance and cost for Linux workloads.

On-Premises Infrastructure & Storage

• Manage physical and virtualized environments (VMware) including provisioning, lifecycle management, and performance tuning.
• Administer enterprise storage platforms and services including SAN/NAS, RAID concepts, LUN provisioning, zoning/masking (as applicable), and NFS/SMB integrations; experience with storage arrays such as NetApp (ONTAP), HPE (3PAR), and IBM storage is highly desirable; familiarity with SAN fabrics (Brocade and/or Cisco MDS) is a plus.
• Configure and troubleshoot Linux storage stack components such as multipathing, LVM, udev rules, and filesystems (ext4, XFS); perform capacity management and growth activities.
• Ensure seamless integration between on-prem and cloud (hybrid connectivity, routing/DNS, identity, and operational processes) and perform ongoing infrastructure optimization.
• Implement and validate backup/restore and disaster recovery procedures; hands-on experience with enterprise backup platforms such as Commvault, Veritas NetBackup, and Cohesity; leverage storage snapshots and replication (vendor-native replication, NetApp, replication where applicable) and participate in DR drills and recovery testing.

Automation & DevOps

• Develop automation scripts using Bash, Python, or Shell scripting. 
• Use configuration management tools like Ansible. 
• Manage Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (Terraform preferred). 

Monitoring & Performance

• Implement and manage monitoring tools. 
• Analyze system logs and proactively resolve issues. 
• Ensure SLA compliance and system uptime. 

Security & Compliance

• Implement security best practices and vulnerability management.  
• Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.  
• Manage firewall rules, SELinux policies, and access controls. 

Collaboration & Support

• Work closely with DevOps, application, and database teams. 
• Provide L2/L3 support and participate in incident management. 
• Prepare technical documentation and SOPs. 

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on Linux system administration experience in enterprise environments (production operations and on-call support).
• Strong expertise in:
  • Enterprise Linux (RHEL/Oracle Linux; systemd, networking, troubleshooting, performance tuning)
  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) including networking (VCN), compute, IAM, and storage (Block Volumes/File Storage)
  • Microsoft Azure including compute, networking, storage, monitoring, and identity (Microsoft Entra ID)
  • Storage administration: SAN/NAS fundamentals, multipathing, LVM, filesystems (XFS/ext4), and capacity planning; exposure to enterprise storage vendors such as NetApp ONTAP, HPE 3PAR, and IBM and SAN switches (Brocade/Cisco MDS).
• Must-have: Working knowledge of Oracle Database administration on Linux (installation/patching support, Oracle user and filesystem layout, listener basics, performance/log locations); familiarity with RMAN backup concepts and Data Guard fundamentals is preferred.
• Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware and/or Hyper-V); understanding of virtual networking and storage integrations.
• Strong scripting skills (Bash) for automation, reporting, and operational tooling.
• Hands-on experience with automation and IaC tools (Ansible required; Terraform preferred).
• Experience with patch management and lifecycle tooling such as Red Hat Satellite (content views, activation keys, repositories) and Azure Update Manager for scheduling and compliance reporting.
• Strong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, DNS, DHCP, NTP) and ability to collaborate on firewall/security configurations.
• Experience with backup/restore and disaster recovery practices (RPO/RTO concepts, recovery testing, documentation) using tools such as Azure Backup (Recovery Services Vault), Azure Site Recovery (ASR), and/or enterprise platforms including Commvault, Veeam, Veritas NetBackup, and Cohesity.

Working Conditions

• Participate in on-call rotation and provide support during planned maintenance windows and critical incidents.
• Work in a hybrid environment supporting both data center and cloud operations; occasional after-hours work may be required for changes and upgrades.

Preferred Certifications

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) 
• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certification 
• Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or equivalent 
• Kubernetes / Container certifications (optional but preferred) 

Key Competencies

• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills 
• Ability to work in hybrid (cloud + on-prem) environments 
• Excellent communication and documentation skills 
• Ability to work under pressure and handle critical incidents 

Nice to Have

• Experience with Kubernetes / OpenShift 
• Knowledge of additional database environments is a plus.
• Exposure to monitoring tools