Senior Systems Engineer

The responsibility of this position is to oversee and assist with major project initiatives, as well as provide support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Microsoft Windows servers in development, QA/UAT, and production environments. This position requires in-depth knowledge of the RHEL 6.x and 7.x operating systems, superior troubleshooting skills, capacity and performance experience and reporting, a thorough understanding of network protocols, implementation experience in the use of highly available applications, experience with Satellite and kickstart technologies, as well as Intel-based hardware technologies. This individual will also be required to have demonstrated working knowledge and expertise with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Global File System clustering, shell scripting, VMWare virtualization, SAN, NAS, NFS, DNS, Veritas Cluster Server, Active Directory authentication using SSSD, Red Hat Identity Management, and Cisco UCS blades. Project management and interpersonal skills are also a must for this position. Experience managing Windows servers and/or AIX servers is a plus.

Principal Accountabilities:
Server Administration:
Provide day to day operational support for the Linux and Windows environments, which are based in regional data center locations as well as the AWS cloud.

Ensure the integrity for all systems are maintained, system version is kept current and at appropriate maintenance levels.

Ensure all systems maintain correct configurations. Monitor the performance of installed technologies, performing required maintenance and upgrades as appropriate. Make recommendations for operational improvements.

Provide ongoing support and troubleshooting for our installed technical solutions.

Develop and promote technical standards and support migration efforts to the future technology infrastructure.

Incident Support:
As a member of the OS Support team, you will be providing incident support for all Linux and Windows systems on a rotating basis.

Monitor system health and remediate identified problems.

Monitor the various application work queues, and complete incoming requests in a timely manner.

Participate in root cause analysis bridges and provide technical assistance when required.

Project Management:
Participate in business and departmental projects and initiatives as assigned.

Work closely with business colleagues to ensure projects are completed accurately and on time.

System Performance:
Routinely review system resource allocations and application needs to ensure business process are completing within identified SLA’s.

Problem Analysis and Resolution:
Assist staff and business representatives with the diagnoses and remediation of technical problems.

Work closely with the various infrastructure support teams to identify critical failures.

Capacity Management:
Frequently monitor and review system capacities.

Perform hardware and operating system tuning when applicable.

Provide short and long term capacity forecasting and perform the necessary planning to ensure adequate system resources are always available and functioning properly.

Qualifications

Skills and Knowledge:
Communications Skills

Courteous and tactful at all times with customers and IT Colleagues

Effectively probes customers to determine the actual nature, or underlying cause of a problem

Ability to share technical knowledge with customers and teammates in a clear and concise way (written or oral)

Maintains a network of contacts that can be leveraged to solve problems that may arise

Customer Role

Services needs of customer from beginning to end (e.g. answer phones calls, offer alternatives, answer questions, follow up)

Communicates and manages expectations in a responsive manner

Gathers and responds to feedback within the department and from the customer

Decision Making

At times, functions independently with limited work direction

May determine the direction work should take, following best practices

Ability to problem solve in response to crisis situations and make decisions that may fall outside one’s personal area of expertise

Interdependent Decision Making

Reports on project progress

Escalates any problems, as appropriate, to the project manager

Maintains awareness of team milestones

Knowledge:
Problem Solving

Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem solving skills. Ability to think beyond the box.

Education:
4 year degree from accredited college

RHCSA or RHCE Certification, or equivalent experience

Experience:
10+ Years hands-on Linux administration experience in fast-paced commercial environment, preferably in a financial industry such as insurance or banking.

Strong knowledge of server architecture.

Virtualization subject matter expert.

Competencies/Skills:
Expert in the understanding of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system.

Comprehensive understanding of Satellite 5.x,. 6.x, and Kickstart

Full and in-depth knowledge of UNIX-based network protocols.

Experience with the implementation and administration of GFS clusters.

Experience with a relational database such as Oracle, as well as a NoSQL database such as MongoDB.

Understanding the concepts associated with the governance of open systems security and SELinux.

Demonstrated expertise with Cisco UCS blade technologies.

Familiarity with HP / Open Monitoring

Strong understanding of EMC Clarion/DMX SAN technologies.

Strong scripting skills.

Experience providing overviews, training, and instruction to lesser-experienced administrators.

Expert level understanding of the philosophies of operating system performance tuning.

Strong understanding of files systems, concepts, and logical volume management.

Experience with SSH protocols.

Experience with Bind.

Strong troubleshooting skills.

Solid verbal and written communications skills.

Superior customer relation skills.

Project management skills.

Implementation and support and multi-platform system integration.

Excellent documentation skills.

Very strong customer focus.

Project planning skills.

Must be team player.

#L1-MB2

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America®, currently ranked #226 on the Fortune 250, is a global financial services company and one of the largest mutual life insurers in the United States. In 2015, the company achieved the highest earnings in its over 155-year history, reporting $1.5 billion in operating income (before taxes and dividends to policyholders). Guardian ended the year with $7.3 billion in capital, marking its seventh consecutive year of capital growth, and a record-high policyholder dividend of $838.6 million was declared. Guardian is a mutual company, meaning it is owned by its policyholders. As owners, policyholders share in Guardian’s actual financial results through annual dividends which Guardian has paid every year since 1868. Being a mutual company means the company’s focus is always on its customers and building a strong financial foundation that will serve them today and into the future. Guardian’s offerings range from life insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, wealth management and investments to workplace benefits such as dental, vision, and 401(k) plans. Guardian has approximately 8,000 employees and a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more than 70 agencies nationwide. Guardian states its aspiration in the following way: “To be the trusted mutual partner, delivering financial security how, when, and where our clients prefer.”

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.