Senior Linux/Unix Systems Engineer

job summary:
We are seeking a Senior Linux/Unix Systems Engineer to support key federal operations in Washington, DC. In this role, you will serve as the senior technical authority overseeing, modernizing, and engineering enterprise RHEL and Oracle Linux environments. You will lead automation initiatives, direct platform upgrades, enforce security hardening standards, and provide top-tier escalation support for critical systems.

 
location: Washington, Washington, D.C.
job type: Contract
salary: $51 - 61 per hour
work hours: 8am to 5pm
education: Bachelors

responsibilities:
Own design and engineering decisions for the FTC RHEL and Oracle Linux estate, including golden images and server builds.

Architect and manage enterprise patching, automation, and configuration standards using Red Hat Satellite and Ansible.

Lead operating system lifecycle transitions, major version upgrades (RHEL 7/8/9), and hybrid on-premises to cloud migration efforts.

Author and implement security hardening baselines aligned with CIS Benchmarks, DISA STIGs, and NIST SP 800-53 controls.

Perform system performance engineering, capacity planning, right-sizing, and root cause analysis for critical platform incidents.

Drive high availability, backup, and disaster recovery strategies while providing peer review and technical mentorship to junior administrators.

qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or equivalent practical experience (8+ years in Linux engineering).

Minimum of 8 years of progressive RHEL experience, including hands-on experience with RHEL 8+.

Active Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification.

Proven background in system automation, scripting (Bash/Python), and configuration tools (Ansible/Satellite).

U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance prior to start.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Active RHCE, Linux+, Security+, or AWS/Azure certifications.

Hands-on experience with Oracle Linux and enterprise virtualization (VMware).

Experience architecting on-premises to cloud migration paths for government environments.

skills:
AWS,Ansible,backup,Bash,CIS Benchmarks,Cloud Infrastructure,disaster recovery strategies,DNS,Git,Hyper-V, platform,Linux,Azure,Network Protocols,Oracle Linux,Python,RHEL,Red Hat,enterprise Linux,Scripting,high availability,Systems Engineer,TCP/IP,VPN,Virtualization,VMware,strong communication skills,administration,automation,capacity planning,client engagement,design and engineering,security hardening,NIST SP 800-53,technical mentorship,NIST 800-53,operating system,peer review,performance engineering,platform engineering,root cause analysis,Satellite,system modernization,System Security

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Randstad Digital, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact View email address on randstadusa.com.


Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).

This posting is open for thirty (30) days.