**Introduction** Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS) is our clients' essential mission-critical provider of trusted support and services across infrastructure environments. We support clients' IBM and multi-vendor infrastructure, providing a simple support execution using AI as a delivery backbone across the diverse IT landscape. We enable highly available and secure environments for our clients, ensure their IT goals are achieved with project services, and deepen insights into their environments (including proactive views) with Support Insights while using AI to drive outcomes efficiently. In accomplishing this, we grow our client mindshare, thus growing our market capture, and advance clients hybrid cloud (IBM's mission 1) and AI (IBM's mission 2) journeys. **Your role and responsibilities** A Linux Administrator (L2) plays a critical role in ensuring the stability, security, and performance of Linux-based systems within an organization. As a mid-level technical support professional, they bridge the gap between L1 support (basic troubleshooting) and L3 engineers (advanced architecture and system design). Their primary responsibilities include managing day-to-day system operations, diagnosing complex issues, optimizing system performance, and implementing security best practices. L2 administrators handle escalated issues, ensuring that user requests and system problems are resolved efficiently. They also perform routine maintenance, such as updating software packages, patching security vulnerabilities, monitoring system health, and optimizing resource utilization. Additionally, they play a vital role in automating system processes to enhance efficiency, minimize manual intervention, and improve overall infrastructure reliability. **Required technical and professional expertise** Support & Troubleshooting: * Provide L2 support for Linux-based incidents and escalated system issues. * Diagnose and troubleshoot server crashes, performance degradation, and network failures. * Analyze system logs and conduct root cause analysis for recurring issues. * Work closely with L1 and L3 teams to resolve platform-related problems efficiently. Performance & Optimization: * Monitor system performance, including CPU, memory, disk I/O, and network usage. * Optimize Linux server configurations for better stability and efficiency. * Perform kernel tuning, process management, and resource allocation adjustments. * Conduct capacity planning to scale infrastructure as needed. Security & Compliance: * Apply security patches, updates, and system hardening measures. * Configure firewalls (iptables, firewalld, nftables) and implement access controls. * Perform regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and compliance checks. * Enforce security policies following CIS benchmarks, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 standards. Automation & Scripting: * Develop Bash, Python, or Ansible scripts to automate administrative tasks. * Implement configuration management using tools like Ansible, Puppet, or Chef. * Manage cron jobs and systemd services for scheduled maintenance tasks. * Follow Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles to standardize deployments. Backup & Disaster Recovery: * Configure and maintain backup solutions (rsync, tar, Bacula, Veeam, NetBackup). * Perform regular data backup and restoration testing. * Develop and execute disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity. Virtualization & Cloud Support: * Manage virtual machines using VMware, KVM, Xen, or Proxmox. * Deploy and troubleshoot Linux instances in AWS, Azure, and GCP environments. * Support containerization with Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift. Documentation & Training: * Maintain detailed system documentation, configurations, and troubleshooting guides. * Conduct knowledge-sharing sessions and mentor junior administrators. * Assist in writing SOPs, runbooks, and best practices for system management. **Preferred technical and professional experience** * Strong experience in managing Red Hat OpenShift clusters. * In-depth knowledge of cluster installation, configuration, and maintenance. * Experience with high availability, disaster recovery, and backup strategies in Linux environments. * Familiarity with patch management and vulnerability assessments (VA/PT). * Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. * Ability to work in a fast-paced, shift-based environment, including after-hours support.