Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Linux SME to provide expert-level support, governance, and optimization of enterprise Linux environments within a Managed Services framework. The role involves ensuring SLA-driven operations, high availability, security, and compliance while driving automation and continual service improvement. Key Responsibilities ● Act as the Linux Subject Matter Expert within the Managed Services team for escalations, operations, and technical advisory. ● Provide L3/L4 support for complex Linux-related incidents, problems, and changes across multiple distributions (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, SUSE). ● Manage day-to-day Linux operations including monitoring, patching, OS upgrades, performance tuning, and troubleshooting. ● Ensure security hardening, compliance (CIS, PCI, SOX, ISO), and adherence to managed services baselines. ● Automate recurring administration tasks (patching, user management, monitoring) using scripting (Bash, Python) and tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef). ● Support backup, DR, and high availability strategies for critical Linux workloads. ● Collaborate with AWS, Windows, Network, and Security SMEs to deliver integrated managed services. ● Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for high-severity issues and present service improvement recommendations. ● Contribute to Service Improvement Plans (SIPs) and Continuous Service Improvement (CSI) initiatives. ● Provide documentation, knowledge base articles, and operational runbooks for L1/L2 teams. ● Mentor and train junior engineers to strengthen Linux operational capability in the Managed Services team. Required Skills & Qualifications ● 8–12 years of IT experience with at least 5+ years in Linux administration in enterprise environments. ● Deep expertise in Linux OS (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, SUSE) and system internals. ● Strong experience in day-to-day managed services operations (incident, problem, change, patch management). ● Hands-on automation experience using Ansible, Puppet, Chef, or similar. ● Proficiency in scripting (Bash, Python, Perl). ● Strong troubleshooting skills in multi-tier, distributed, and hybrid environments. ● Experience with monitoring and observability (Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, Splunk). ● Knowledge of virtualization (VMware, KVM) and Linux on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP). ● Familiarity with ITIL processes and managed services delivery. ● Excellent communication and customer-handling skills for escalations and service reviews. Preferred Qualifications ● RHCE / RHCSA / LFCS certifications. ● Knowledge of containers (Docker, Podman) and orchestration (Kubernetes, OpenShift). ● Experience in hybrid cloud Linux operations and multi-tenant managed environments. ● Exposure to security/compliance frameworks (PCI, SOX, ISO 27001). ● Experience with service governance, audits, and RCA preparation for customers