Senior AIX & Linux Administrator

Senior AIX & Linux Administrator

Full-time | Hybrid | Cleveland, OH

Summary

This Senior AIX & Linux Administrator role is a key Subject Matter Expert (SME) position supporting our client’s most critical enterprise systems. You will own and manage a mixed AIX (IBM Power Systems/PowerVM) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux environment, ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of platforms that support manufacturing, distribution, and enterprise applications.

In this SME role, you’ll lead design, automation, and operational strategy while partnering with network, storage, database, and application teams. You’ll also champion modernization efforts such as PowerHA SystemMirror, Ansible automation, and standardized patching and backup, and mentor team members while driving infrastructure best practices.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

This position provides hands-on administration and technical leadership across a large enterprise AIX and Linux environment, including:

• Engineering and administering AIX 5.3/7.x on IBM Power7/Power8/Power9 systems using HMC and PowerVM (LPAR/VIOS).
• Designing LPAR layouts, CPU/memory tuning, and I/O virtualization (NPIV, vSCSI, SEA).
• Building and maintaining images with NIM, including mksysb strategies, patching, and OS upgrades.
• Configuring and supporting High Availability using PowerHA SystemMirror, including documented and tested failover procedures.
• Planning and executing LPM, firmware updates, and frame maintenance with minimal downtime.
• Troubleshooting complex performance issues using tools such as nmon, vmstat, sar, and topas.
• Administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7/8/9 across VMware ESXi and KVM, including developing and enforcing gold images and hardening baselines.
• Automating provisioning and configuration with Ansible and supporting its integration into CI/CD workflows.
• Managing kernel and OS patching, repository maintenance, and vulnerability remediation.
• Monitoring and tuning system performance across CPU, memory, I/O, and filesystems.
• Owning OS and application data backup/restore using IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM), including regular restore testing.
• Administering enterprise job schedulers (HCL Workload Automation, Autosys).
• Partnering with network and storage teams on SAN zoning, multipathing, and throughput optimization.
• Leading ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management processes.
• Driving capacity planning, forecasting, and infrastructure lifecycle management.
• Mentoring junior administrators and reviewing designs, automation, and documentation for quality and security.
• Participating in on-call rotations and after-hours maintenance, with a focus on reducing manual work through automation.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 8 years administering AIX (5.3/7.x) on IBM Power systems and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7/8/9 in large enterprise environments.
• Hands-on experience with HMC, NIM, PowerHA SystemMirror, and Live Partition Mobility.
• Strong scripting skills (Korn/Bourne shell, Python, or Perl).
• Experience supporting virtualized environments (VMware ESXi, KVM) and enterprise schedulers (HCL Workload Automation, Autosys).
• Knowledge of IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) backup/restore processes and DR execution.
• Solid grounding in server hardware, SAN/storage virtualization (NPIV, vSCSI), and core networking concepts.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and cross-team collaboration skills.
• Ability to participate in on-call rotation and support after-hours maintenance.
• Proven experience mentoring junior engineers or leading infrastructure projects.

Preferred:

• Experience with AIX migrations (6.x or legacy 5.3).
• Familiarity with hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Azure).
• Strong Ansible automation experience, including CI/CD integration.
• Deep experience in performance tuning using AIX and Linux diagnostic tools.
• Experience with ITIL-aligned change and incident management processes.
• Knowledge of security frameworks, hardening standards, and vulnerability management.

Work Environment

Work is primarily on-site at the client’s headquarters. Occasional travel (up to ~10%) may be required for visits to plants, subsidiaries, or industry events. The environment is fast-paced, with periodic high workloads and fixed deadlines. Occasional work beyond 40 hours per week may be necessary.