Senior Linux Administrator / Sys Dev Ops

Purpose of the job:

As a member of the Technology team, the Linux Administrator is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation and stability of Linux-based servers and workstations, applications, and services in a heterogeneous CentOS, Windows 7/10, and OSX environment. This position supports a 24/7 facility with 700+ workstations and servers and a large scale render farm accessing Netapp NAS storage across multiple data centers in a WAN environment for a leading Visual Effects Studio.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Create, update and deploy workstation, render node and server OS images
• Create and implement test plans and deployments for major OS version release upgrades
• Maintain and deploy operating system patches and updates
• Troubleshoot, and optimizie Linux servers and installed software
• Monitor performance metrics, usage and scalability of servers and render nodes
• Validate patches, applications, and new software version releases against existing system images
• Maintain and modify linux scripts and to support business processes.
• Document system installations, configurations, policies and procedures.
• Act as escalation point for 1 st tier help desk support team
• Maintain central logging and reporting servers
• Propose, design and implement solutions for security controls
• Create and update documentation, including maintenance logs and end user training / onboarding
• Perform upgrades and version management of 3rd party applications
• Manage Aspera transfer servers and services and perform upgrades and test new feature enhancements
• Manage and administer Confluence documentation system   

Qualifications:

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Bachelor of Science (4-year) degree in a technical major or equivalent experience required.
• Must be an enthusiastic self starter who works well in a team environment.
• Ability to multitask while managing and prioritizing multiple projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to quickly assess complex problems and make critical decisions to resolve them.
• Experience with Security Control Audit requirements, file system security , ACL's
• Experience using LDAP integration with AD in a heterogeneous Windows/Linux environment
• Experience using any/all of Chef/Puppet/Ansible for workstation configuration management
• Familiarity installing and maintain Postgres/Mysql
• Juniper and Brocade management experience
• Experience managing large scale render farms (thousands of nodes) including rapid image deployments, monitoring, and HP ILO / IPMI management
• Experience managing and configuring workstations to be accessed via zero client technologies
• Experience with VMWARE Hypervisors and ESX and Docker deployments
• Familiarity with version control systems
• Python, PHP knowledge beneficial
• Experience in a VFX production environment preferred.
• Occasional after hours and weekend work should be expected in this role to facilitate systems maintenance.

Working Conditions and Environment/Physical Demands: 

• Office working environment.
• Hours for this position are based on normal working hours but will require extra hours pending production needs.
• Walking/bending/sitting.