Linux Automation Engineer

About the position

Position Title: Linux Automation Engineer Location: Remote Experience Level: Senior (Minimum 5+ Years) Core Technology Focus: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ansible, CI/CD, Python Language Requirements: Portuguese and English Role Vision: To serve as the primary architect and executor of automated solutions for our enterprise Red Hat infrastructure, bridging the gap between legacy Linux administration and modern DevOps-driven infrastructure management. 1.1 Role Overview As a Linux Automation Engineer , you will be a critical member of our Infrastructure and Operations department. The primary focus of this role is to design, implement, and maintain high-scale automation frameworks that streamline the lifecycle management of our Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environment. In an era where speed and stability are paramount, your mission will be to eliminate manual intervention in server provisioning, configuration management, and patching processes. You will leverage Ansible as your primary orchestration engine to ensure consistency across our hybrid-cloud landscape. By integrating automated workflows into CI/CD pipelines (utilizing tools such as Jenkins or GitLab CI), you will facilitate a "configuration-as-code" culture that enhances system reliability, security compliance, and operational efficiency. 1.2 Primary Objectives The successful candidate will be tasked with the following high-level goals: Standardization: Modernize existing RHEL environments by implementing unified configuration standards and automated drift detection. Efficiency: Reduce the time-to-delivery for infrastructure requests from days to minutes through robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices. Scalability: Build and maintain the scaffolding necessary to manage thousands of Linux nodes across on-premise virtualization (VMware/KVM) and public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Proactive Optimization: Continuously monitor system performance and operational bottlenecks, identifying and resolving inefficiencies before they impact business services. 1.3 Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a seasoned Linux professional who has transitioned into the automation space. You should possess a deep-seated passion for the open-source ecosystem and a "laziness" in the best sense of the word—a refusal to perform any task manually more than once. Attribute Requirement Technical Proficiency Expert-level RHEL administration combined with advanced Ansible playbook development. Experience Minimum of 5 years in a Linux-centric engineering or DevOps role. Mindset Proactive, analytical, and security-conscious. Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced global tech market. Education/Certification Bachelors degree in Computer Science or equivalent. RHCE or RHCA certifications are highly advantageous. In this role, you will not just be "managing servers"; you will be building the automated engine that powers our digital services. If you are a proactive problem-solver who thrives on complex infrastructure challenges and possesses the technical depth to automate diverse RHEL environments, you will find this position both rewarding and impactful. 2. Key Responsibilities The Linux Automation Engineer is responsible for the full lifecycle management of our Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) infrastructure. This role focuses on transitioning manual operational tasks into automated, repeatable workflows to ensure a highly available, secure, and scalable environment. 2.1 Infrastructure Automation and Orchestration Ansible Framework Design: Design, implement, and maintain comprehensive automation solutions for RHEL environments using Ansible Core and Ansible Automation Platform (formerly Tower/AWX). Configuration Management: Develop and maintain reusable Ansible roles and playbooks to enforce configuration standards, manage system state, and automate application deployments. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Architect and manage infrastructure using code-based methodologies, ensuring that all environment changes are version-controlled and peer-reviewed. Automated Provisioning: Streamline the provisioning of virtualized and cloud-based RHEL instances through automated workflows, reducing lead times for infrastructure delivery. 2.2 Scripting and Custom Tool Development Advanced Scripting: Develop and manage robust scripts using Bash and Python to automate day-to-day operational tasks, complex data migrations, and system integrations. Task Streamlining: Identify repetitive manual processes within the operations team and create custom scripts to eliminate human error and increase throughput. API Integration: Write Python-based tools to interface with various infrastructure APIs (e.g., AWS Boto3, VMware vSphere API, or ServiceNow) to create cohesive automation chains. 2.3 CI/CD Pipeline Management and Optimization Pipeline Engineering: Build, manage, and optimize CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitLab CI to automate the testing and deployment of infrastructure code and application artifacts. Deployment Automation: Integrate automated security scanning and unit testing into infrastructure pipelines to ensure high-quality releases. Environment Consistency: Ensure parity between development, testing, and production environments by leveraging automated deployment strategies. Proactive Identification of Inefficiencies: A core expectation of this role is the constant evaluation of the current state. The engineer is expected to actively seek out system bottlenecks, "toil" (manual, repetitive work), and security vulnerabilities, proposing and implementing automated fixes before they escalate into incidents. 2.4 System Administration and Security Enterprise RHEL Administration: Perform high-level administration of RHEL systems, including kernel tuning, storage management (LVM), and network configuration. Patch Management: Architect and execute automated patching schedules across the enterprise using Red Hat Satellite or Ansible, ensuring systems remain compliant with security mandates. Security Hardening: Implement and automate security hardening standards (such as CIS benchmarks or STIGs) across the Linux estate. Identity and Access Management: Manage integration with enterprise directory services (LDAP/Active Directory) and automate user provisioning/access control. 2.5 Performance Monitoring and Capacity Planning System Observability: Proactively monitor system health and performance using enterprise monitoring tools, ensuring high uptime and reliability. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Participate in deep-dive troubleshooting of complex system issues, using automation to gather diagnostics and prevent recurrence. Performance Tuning: Analyze system resource utilization and architect solutions to optimize performance for mission-critical workloads. 2.6 Collaboration and Technical Governance Collaboration Focus Key Tasks DevOps Alignment Work closely with Development teams to support application deployment requirements and containerization strategies. Documentation Maintain detailed technical documentation for automation workflows, architectural designs, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Knowledge Transfer Mentor junior engineers and cross-skill the broader Operations team on automation best practices and Ansible usage. 3. Technical Skills & Qualifications The candidate must possess a deep technical foundation in Linux ecosystems and modern automation frameworks. The following qualifications are mandatory for consideration, as the role requires immediate contribution to complex enterprise environments. Mandatory Requirement: Candidates must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of verifiable, hands-on experience in a Senior Linux System Administration, Infrastructure Engineering, or DevOps role with a primary focus on automation. 3.1 Operating System Expertise: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Advanced Administration: Mastery of RHEL 7, 8, and 9 environments, including kernel tuning, performance monitoring (top, iostat, sar), and advanced troubleshooting of system-level issues. Storage Management: In-depth knowledge of Logical Volume Management (LVM), file system administration (XFS, EXT4), and SAN/NAS integration (iSCSI, NFS). Security Hardening: Expertise in implementing security protocols including SELinux policy management, Firewalld, and IPTables. Familiarity with CIS Benchmarks or STIG compliance automation. Lifecycle Management: Experience managing enterprise-scale patching and subscription management using Red Hat Satellite or Foreman. 3.2 Automation & Configuration Management Ansible Mastery: Proven experience developing complex Ansible Playbooks, Roles, and Collections. Deep understanding of idempotency, Jinja2 templating, and Ansible Vault. Ansible Architecture: Experience with Ansible Automation Platform (Tower/AWX), including job templates, workflow visualizers, and RBAC implementation. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Ability to translate manual system build sheets into code-based infrastructure definitions. 3.3 Scripting & Development Proficiency Automation requires strong programming logic. The candidate must be proficient in: Bash Scripting: Advanced shell scripting for system-level task automation and legacy script refactoring. Python: Proficiency in Python for developing custom automation modules, API integrations (using Requests/Boto3), and data processing tasks. 3.4 Infrastructure & Cloud Technologies Category Required Skillset Virtualization Hands-on experience with VMware vSphere (ESXi) and/or KVM/QEMU administration and automation via APIs. Containerization Solid understanding of Docker or Podman. Experience managing container orchestration via Kubernetes or Red Hat OpenShift. Cloud Platforms Experience deploying and managing RHEL instances in at least one major cloud environment: AWS (EC2, S3, IAM), Azure , or GCP . CI/CD Tools Operational knowledge of Jenkins or GitLab CI , specifically regarding pipeline construction and Git-based workflows. 3.5 Education and Professional Certifications Academic: Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical field. Required Certifications: Current Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified Systems Administrator (RHCSA). Advantageous Certifications: Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA). 4. Desired Soft Skills & Attributes While technical proficiency in RHEL and Ansible is the foundation of this role, the success of a Linux Automation Engineer is heavily dependent on their ability to navigate complex organizational structures, solve abstract problems, and drive cultural shifts toward automation. We are looking for a professional who demonstrates the following personal attributes: 4.1 Proactive Mindset and Strong Sense of Ownership We value engineers who do not wait for instructions to fix a visible flaw. The ideal candidate takes full end-to-end ownership of the Linux infrastructure and is constantly looking for ways to improve it. Self-Motivation: Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize high-impact automation projects without constant managerial oversight. Anticipatory Action: Identifying potential system bottlenecks or security risks before they manifest as operational incidents. Accountability: A commitment to seeing a project through from the initial design phase to long-term maintenance and documentation. The "Automation First" Philosophy: A successful candidate possesses an inherent disdain for manual, repetitive work and views every manual task as a candidate for a script or an Ansible playbook. 4.2 Excellent Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills Automation often involves troubleshooting not just the underlying system, but the automation code itself. This requires a methodical and logical approach to debugging. Root Cause Analysis: The ability to look beyond the immediate symptoms of a failure to understand the underlying architectural or code-based cause. Critical Thinking: Evaluating multiple automation paths and selecting the one that offers the best balance of scalability, security, and maintainability. Abstract Logic: Proficiency in translating complex operational workflows into logical, programmatic structures. 4.3 Communication and Collaborative Influence An Automation Engineer sits at the intersection of various teams. Technical brilliance must be matched by the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working effectively with Developers, Security Analysts, and Project Managers to align infrastructure automation with business goals. Technical Translation: The ability to explain the value and risks of specific automation strategies to non-technical stakeholders. Mentorship: A willingness to share knowledge with junior staff and help foster an automation-centric culture within the broader engineering community. 4.4 Passion for Continuous Improvement and Learning The DevOps and Linux landscapes evolve rapidly. We seek individuals who are lifelong learners and tech enthusiasts. Adaptability: Comfort with pivoting between different tools and technologies as the enterprise landscape shifts. Curiosity: Keeping abreast of the latest Red Hat releases, Ansible modules, and cloud-native trends. 4.5 Professional Dedication and Industry Standing Requirement Type Description Certifications Active industry certifications, specifically Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or higher, are highly advantageous as they demonstrate a validated commitment to the RHEL ecosystem. Community Involvement Contributions to open-source projects, participation in Linux user groups, or active presence in the DevOps community is a significant plus. Resilience Ability to maintain composure and focus during critical system outages or high-pressure deployment windows.

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