Linux Engineer

Job Description: Linux Engineer

GDIT is looking for a skilled Linux Engineer to support the CITS contract for USCENTCOM, based in Tampa, Florida. The Linux Engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure, high-performance Linux-based systems that are critical to the operations of our enterprise environment. This role is essential for ensuring the availability, performance, and security of Linux infrastructure, supporting both traditional and cloud-based workloads.

Duties and Responsibilities:

We are seeking an experienced Linux Engineer with a solid background in deploying, managing, and optimizing Linux-based systems. The engineer will be responsible for:

• Designing, implementing, and maintaining Linux-based infrastructure across multiple physical and virtual environments, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
• Configuring and managing Linux servers (CentOS, RHEL, Ubuntu, etc.), including system tuning, performance monitoring, and capacity planning to meet evolving business and security needs.
• Automating Linux system administration tasks using configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef, and writing scripts in Bash, Python, or other relevant languages.
• Troubleshooting and resolving complex Linux system issues, including network configurations, disk I/O, security vulnerabilities, and application-level performance problems.
• Collaborating with other IT teams (storage, networking, security, virtualization) to design and implement infrastructure solutions that integrate with Linux systems and meet organizational objectives.
• Providing mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and team members, helping them grow their technical expertise in Linux systems and best practices.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Implementing security best practices to harden Linux systems, ensuring compliance with applicable security policies, frameworks, and regulations, including NIST, CIS, and DoD security guidelines.
• Managing Linux-based services such as web servers (Apache, Nginx), databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), and application servers to ensure optimal performance and availability.
• Supporting containerized environments, including Docker and Kubernetes, to enable scalable and efficient application deployment.
• Monitoring and optimizing Linux systems for performance, resource utilization, and security using tools like Nagios, Prometheus, and ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).
• Developing and maintaining comprehensive documentation related to Linux system configurations, processes, and troubleshooting steps, ensuring consistency across the environment.
• Supporting backup and disaster recovery strategies for Linux-based systems, ensuring data integrity and availability in case of failure.

Education and/or Certifications:

Required:

• Applicable DoD 8140 or DoD 8570 Certification

Desired:

• ITIL 4 Foundation Certification
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
• Bachelor’s degree in IT with 8 years of experience OR 12 years of applicable experience.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in administering Linux systems (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.), including kernel tuning, system configuration, and network management.
• Strong knowledge of Linux shell scripting (Bash, Python, etc.) and automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef).
• Experience with Linux-based virtualization technologies such as KVM, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Strong understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP, NFS, etc.) and troubleshooting techniques in a Linux environment.
• Experience with Linux-based monitoring tools such as Nagios, Prometheus, and the ELK stack.

Desired Skills:

• Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and related orchestration tools.
• Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and managing Linux instances in a cloud-native environment.
• Knowledge of DevOps methodologies and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with configuration management and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, Ansible, and Puppet.

Clearance Requirement:

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 10% travel required for USCENTCOM exercise support, potentially to OCONUS locations.