The posting
We are seeking a highly skilled DevOps Engineer with a deep background in Linux systems administration. This role is a perfect fit for a seasoned sysadmin who is ready to transition into or expand their expertise in a DevOps methodology. You will be crucial in automating our infrastructure, migrating our on-prem Linux environments to the cloud, and building and maintaining development and production environments. A core focus of this role is on standing up and maintaining the specific toolsets and applications used by software engineers in the software development process. This is a full-time, on-site position based in St. Louis County, Missouri. This position has no on-call or pager duty requirements.
What you will do:
- Infrastructure Management & Automation: Design, implement, and maintain scalable and secure Linux-based infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or Ansible. You will automate repetitive tasks, manage configuration, and ensure our systems are reliable and efficient. This includes downloading the Red Hat ISO, creating templates for new VMs, and making modifications for standard server needs, such as creating an Ansible user and setting nameservers. After VM deployment, you will manage configuration and hardware resources. Ansible will be used for most tasks, connecting to managed hosts via SSH keys and grouping them in an inventory file based on their role. You will run standard playbooks for base build tasks and customized playbooks based on server roles, utilizing GitLab for code updates when needed. You will also use Red Hat Satellite to manage repositories.
- Developer Toolset and Application Administration: Administer, install, and upgrade servers and the applications that software engineers need to use, specifically those that are part of the software development process. This involves being responsible for standing up and tearing down complete development, testing, and production environments, provisioning servers, configuring network settings, and deploying applications and services. Examples of these applications include GitLab, Subversion, Bitbucket, Confluence, Jira, and Smartbear.
- Linux System Migration: Lead the migration of our existing on-prem Linux servers and applications to a cloud platform (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP). This includes planning, execution, and validation to minimize downtime and ensure data integrity. While a few one-off physical servers use a hardened RHEL image, most of our environment is virtual/cloud.
- CI/CD Pipeline Management: Collaborate with development teams to build and maintain robust Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. You'll work with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI to automate software build, test, and deployment processes. While the primary focus is on maintaining tools, helping with pipeline creation may be a secondary or tertiary responsibility.
- Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Implement and manage monitoring and logging solutions (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack) to proactively identify and resolve performance issues, system failures, and security vulnerabilities.
- Security & Compliance: Ensure our Linux systems and infrastructure are secure by implementing best practices, managing user access, and conducting regular audits.
What you will bring:
- Extensive Linux Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Linux Administrator or in a similar role. You should be an expert in the Linux command line, scripting (Bash, Python), and system-level troubleshooting. Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and its associated activities, such as creating VM templates and managing OS-level infrastructure, is required.
- DevOps Tooling: Hands-on experience with key DevOps tools, including version control systems (Git), IaC tools such as Ansible and Terraform, and CI/CD platforms. Proficiency with Ansible for server configuration and management, including playbook development and managing updates via GitLab, is essential.
- Cloud Computing: Practical experience with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including a solid understanding of compute, storage, networking, and database services. Experience managing virtual/cloud environments is crucial.
- Developer Toolset Maintenance: Proven experience in installing, upgrading, and administrating specific software development tools and applications. This includes, but is not limited to, GitLab, Confluence, Jira, Subversion, Bitbucket, or Smartbear.
- Automation Skills: Proven ability to automate complex tasks and workflows. You should be passionate about eliminating manual work and improving efficiency.
- Networking: Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and firewalls.
- Communication: Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with development, QA, and operations teams.
- On-site Availability: This is an on-site position requiring a presence in the St. Louis Office.
Bonus if you also bring:
- Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.
- Knowledge of scripting languages beyond Bash, such as Python or Ruby.
- Familiarity with container security best practices.
- Experience with configuration management tools like Ansible, Chef or Puppet.
