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Linux/Unix Systems Engineer

Robert Half

Washington, DC 20580 • $52.00 to $57.00 / hr • 11/4/2026

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for a Linux/Unix Systems Engineer to serve as the technical authority for a large enterprise Linux environment. This role will lead the design, engineering, modernization, security, and operational support of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Oracle Linux platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

·Design and maintain enterprise Linux infrastructure including RHEL and Oracle Linux environments.

·Develop and manage automation and configuration management solutions using Ansible, Ansible Automation Platform, and Red Hat Satellite.

·Lead operating system lifecycle management, upgrades, and migration initiatives across RHEL platforms.

·Establish and maintain security hardening standards aligned with CIS Benchmarks, DISA STIGs, FISMA, and NIST 800-53 requirements.

·Design and test high availability, backup, disaster recovery, and capacity planning solutions.

·Act as the senior escalation point for complex Linux platform incidents and critical outages.

·Lead root cause analysis efforts and drive remediation strategies.

·Mentor junior administrators and provide technical guidance across the team.

·Participate in architecture reviews, change control boards, and technical planning sessions.

·Develop and maintain engineering documentation, SOPs, and design standards.

·Install, configure, monitor, and maintain Linux-based servers and systems.

·Manage system performance, patching, vulnerability remediation, and compliance activities.

·Troubleshoot hardware, software, networking, and infrastructure issues.

·Support scheduled maintenance activities, upgrades, and after-hours incident response as needed.

Core Qualifications:

·8+ years of Linux/Unix administration and engineering experience.

·Expert-level experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and working knowledge of Oracle Linux.

·Hands-on experience with Ansible, Ansible Automation Platform, and/or Red Hat Satellite.

·Experience leading Linux upgrades, migrations, automation, and platform modernization initiatives.

·Strong knowledge of scripting (Bash/Python), virtualization (VMware/Hyper-V), and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure).

·Experience implementing security and compliance standards including DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks, FISMA, and NIST requirements.

·Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.

·CompTIA Security+ and RHCSA certifications required.

·U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

·Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

·Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC-2).

·CompTIA Linux+ certification.

·AWS Associate-level certification.

·Microsoft Azure Associate-level certification.

·Experience with cloud migration projects and hybrid infrastructure environments.

·Experience supporting federal government customers and regulated environments.

·Strong background in Linux platform automation and infrastructure modernization initiatives.