Unix/Solaris System Administrator Automation Specialist

Job Description Solaris System Administrator / Automation Engineer

Location: Sacramento, California

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Solaris System Administrator & Automation Engineer to support enterprise-grade Unix environments across datacenter and hybrid cloud infrastructures. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Solaris administration, security hardening, virtualization technologies, and scripting/automation. This role involves system lifecycle management, OS patching, performance tuning, and integration with enterprise platforms while ensuring high availability and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

40% System Administration and Automation

• Install, configure, and maintain Oracle Solaris systems (Solaris 10/11) across production and non-production environments.
• Perform user/account management, RBAC configuration, system troubleshooting, and performance analysis.
• Develop automation scripts using Shell, Python, or Ansible (Solaris-compatible playbooks) for system provisioning and configuration.
• Administer Solaris Zones, LDoms (Oracle VM for SPARC), and related virtualization technologies.
• Manage OS patching, system updates, and package deployments using tools such as IPS, Live Upgrade, and Enterprise Manager Ops Center.

20% Security and Compliance

• Apply security hardening guidelines including CIS benchmarks, DISA STIGs, and internal security policies.
• Manage and maintain PKI, SSL/TLS certificates, and secure communication configurations.
• Configure SMF security, auditing, host-based firewalls, and access controls.
• Monitor logs, identify anomalies, and respond to security alerts and incidents.

15% DevOps and Integration

• Support containerization or zone-based application deployments and workflow automation.
• Integrate source control and CI/CD processes using tools like GitLab or similar platforms.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to align automation with application delivery and performance requirements.

15% Infrastructure Integration

• Integrate Solaris systems with storage, backup, database, and enterprise middleware platforms.
• Administer virtualization and hardware platforms such as SPARC servers, LDoms, and ZFS storage pools.
• Support hybrid cloud or migration initiatives involving Solaris workloads and enterprise services.
• Coordinate with networking, storage, and cloud teams to ensure end-to-end system availability.

10% Documentation and Collaboration

• Maintain accurate documentation of system configurations, build standards, and operational procedures.
• Develop technical runbooks, troubleshooting guides, and automation documentation.
• Provide technical support, knowledge transfer, and mentoring for peers and junior team members.
• Participate in cross-functional teams to support enterprise IT modernization initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 8 years of Solaris system administration experience.
• Strong knowledge of Zones, LDoms, ZFS, and SMF.
• Experience with patching, performance tuning, and system hardening.
• Familiarity with automation tools like Ansible, Python, or Shell scripting.
• Understanding of network services (DNS, NTP, LDAP) and enterprise storage.