Linux Patching SME

Cognizant; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant’s Linux Patch Tower Lead role in Toronto focuses on end‑to‑end patch lifecycle management for a 63,000+ node Linux estate. You will drive Ansible/AAP and Red Hat Satellite-based patch execution, kernel errata handling, EOL/EOS tracking, and compliance reporting during Canada hours.

You will coordinate app-owner sign-off, work within weekend change windows, and report KPIs to drive governance. English language required.

Qualifications

• Experience patching large Linux estates across multiple distros.
• Proven knowledge of Linux patching workflows and toolchains.
• Strong ITSM and CMDB practices related to patching.

Responsibilities

• Lead Linux patch cycles for RHEL/Oracle Linux/Ubuntu via Ansible/AAP, Satellite, and YUM/DNF.
• Coordinate kernel updates, errata, and reboot orchestration with validation.
• Maintain compliance reporting and support change windows with app owners.
• Provide RCA and rollback guidance; document in KEDB and RFC/CAB records.

Skills

OS patching

Ansible

Scripting

Compliance reporting

Interfacing with client teams

Education

ITIL 4 Foundation

RHCE/RHCSA

Satellite/Patch Management

Tools

Red Hat Satellite

Ansible Automation Platform (AAP)

YUM/DNF

kpatch

Job description

About the group:

Cognizant’s Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services Practice (CIS), is all about accepting digital transformation by driving core modernization holistically across layers. We help customers transform infrastructure and workplace to meet the constantly evolving needs of the digital era. Our broad approach delivers key results for our customers by achieving cloud driven modernization and workplace and operational transformation to own the business in a secure environment.

*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

Role: Linux Patching SME

Location

Toronto , ON

ROLE SUMMARY

The Linux Patching Tower Lead (Onshore) is the primary Linux interface to client L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours. This role owns the end-to-end Linux patch lifecycle across a 63,000+ node estate of RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu systems — driving Ansible/AAP and Red Hat Satellite-based patch execution, kernel errata management, EOL/EOS tracking, and compliance reporting while coordinating application-owner sign-off and weekend change windows.

ROLE IN THE OPERATING MODEL

• Tower/pod lead and SME for Linux patching — primary Linux interface to client L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours and weekend windows
• Owns Linux tower compliance reporting to the Patch Service Lead
• Coordinates app-owner sign-off post-patching; manages escalation to client Linux L2/L3 within agreed SLTs
• Operates as Linux execution layer under client direction; baseline/image engineering remains client L2/L3 owned

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and execute OS patch cycles for RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu via Ansible/AAP, Red Hat Satellite, and YUM/DNF
• Manage kernel updates, errata and package updates, live patching where applicable, and reboot orchestration with service validation
• Run pre-flight readiness checks — disk space, repository connectivity, snapshot/backup validation — and execute Dev→Prod wave progression
• Track kernel currency, CVE backlog, and EOL/EOS posture; maintain compliance and update CMDB
• Coordinate application-owner sign-off and change-window adherence; manage Tenable/Qualys compliance tracking
• Perform first-level remediation, RCA, and rollback (package downgrade/snapshot revert); maintain KEDB
• Own Linux tower compliance reporting and present KPIs to the Patch Service Lead for governance reviews
• Coordinate with client NOC during weekend change windows; escalation to Linux L2/L3 within agreed SLTs

TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE SCOPE

• Execute OS patch cycles for RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu via Ansible/AAP, Red Hat Satellite, and YUM/DNF
• Manage kernel and errata updates, live patching where applicable, and service-validated reboot orchestration
• Run pre-flight readiness (disk, repo connectivity, snapshots/backups) and wave execution Dev→Prod
• Track kernel currency, CVE backlog, and EOL/EOS; update CMDB compliance posture
• Perform RCA and rollback — package downgrade or snapshot revert; maintain KEDB entries
• Author and submit RFC/CAB documentation for Linux patch waves; coordinate maintenance window scheduling
• Generate Linux tower compliance reports for cycle governance; coordinate app-owner sign-off

SKILLS, TOOLS & COMPETENCIES

Primary Skills

OS Expertise

RHEL 7/8/9, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu LTS, Kernel/errata management, systemd, YUM/DNF

Patch Tools

Ansible/Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), Red Hat Satellite (Foreman/Spacewalk), YUM/DNF, Live patching (kpatch)

Automation

Ansible playbook authoring, Bash/Shell scripting, Python scripting, Cron/at scheduling

ITSM & Vuln

ServiceNow (Change/CMDB), Tenable, Qualys, RFC/CAB lifecycle, KEDB management

Observability

Splunk, Dynatrace, Moogsoft, PagerDuty

Secondary Skills

• Container/host patching awareness and configuration management (Ansible roles, Puppet/Chef awareness)
• Cloud Linux fundamentals — Azure Linux VMs, AWS EC2 (RHEL/Ubuntu)
• Shell and Python scripting for patch automation

CERTIFICATIONS

Mandatory

• ITIL 4 Foundation

Preferred (one or more)

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) — mandatory preference
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation (EX407/EX374)
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Satellite/Patch Management — strong plus
• Oracle Linux or CompTIA Linux+ acceptable

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience patching large Linux estates (30,000+ nodes) using Satellite/Foreman
• Live kernel patching (kpatch/ksplice) operational experience
• Financial services Linux patching experience with regulatory compliance requirements

WORK MODEL & COMMITMENT

Hours Canada business hours + weekend change window coverage

Shift Model Hybrid onshore; scheduled maintenance and weekend patch windows

On-Call Yes — weekend patch cycles and zero-day CVE response

Language English (mandatory)

Compensation

We are offering between $60,000 – $85,000. Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Disclaimer

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*