Functional Area Expert II (Linux/Unix)

TISTA Science and Technology Corporation; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Benefits

Remote Working Options

Paid Time Off

Training/Certification opportunities

401K Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Holidays

Military Leave

Job summary

TISTA Science and Technology Corporation seeks a Functional Area Expert II to optimize Linux/Unix servers, implement kernel tuning, and automate tasks. You will leverage Docker/Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and security best practices to ensure high performance and reliability.

Join a mission‑driven team at the Austin VA site with strong leadership and opportunities for professional growth through training and certifications.

Qualifications

• Must have extensive Linux/Unix system administration experience.
• Strong background in kernel parameters, tuning, and performance optimization.
• Advanced scripting in Bash, Python, Perl, or Ruby for automation.
• Experience with DevOps tools and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with containers and orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes).

Responsibilities

• Proficiency in System Administration across Linux/Unix environments.
• Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot server infrastructure.
• Lead or contribute to server deployment, migrations, and upgrades.
• Ensure security, performance, and reliability across systems.

Skills

Linux/Unix System Administration

Kernel Tuning

Shell/Python Scripting

DevOps / CI/CD

Docker/Kubernetes

VMware/KVM Virtualization

Cloud (AWS/Azure/Google)

Security Best Practices

Networking TCP/IP

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Ansible

Puppet

Chef

GitHub

Job description

Overview

Are you a Functional Area Expert II who would like to have a positive impact for millions of people? If so, we may have an opportunity for you! At TISTA, you’ll do meaningful, mission‑driven work that improves lives alongside teammates you trust and leaders who are transparent and supportive. We invest in your learning and internal mobility so you can build a career that keeps advancing. We’re proud to serve and hire Veterans, and we put people first in everything we do. TISTA associates enjoy above Industry Healthcare Benefits, Remote Working Options, Paid Time Off, Training/Certification opportunities, Healthcare Savings Account & Flexible Savings Account, Paid Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability, 401K Match, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Holidays, Military Leave, and much more!

Responsibilities

• Proficiency in System Administration: A deep understanding of Linux and Unix system administration, including configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting various distributions (e.g., RHEL, Oracle Solaris, zLinux, Amazon Linux, Azure Linux and other flavors of Linux/Unix operating systems).
• Kernel and System Configuration: Familiarity with kernel parameters, compiling and updating the kernel, managing system resources, and tuning the operating system for performance.
• Scripting Expertise: Advanced scripting skills in shell scripting (Bash, Zsh), Python, Perl, or Ruby to automate routine tasks, such as backups, log rotation, patch management, and performance monitoring. Infrastructure Automation Tools: Experience with tools like Ansible, Puppet, Chef, GitHub, or SaltStack for infrastructure automation and configuration management.
• DevOps Practices: Knowledge of DevOps principles, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, version control systems (Git), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Networking Protocols: Understanding networking protocols like TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, HTTP(S), FTP, NFS, etc., and how the work to enhance server throughput and functionality. Experience with network troubleshooting tools (e.g., netstat, tcpdump, wireshark). Security Management: Knowledge of system security best practices, including user management, firewall configuration (iptables, firewalld), SELinux, AppArmor, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and how the work to enhance server throughput and functionality.
• Encryption and Authentication: Experience in securing communication channels with encryption protocols (SSL/TLS, SSH, VPNs), as well as understanding authentication systems like LDAP, Kerberos, or Active Directory, and how the work to enhance server throughput and functionality.
• Performance Optimization: Advanced use of tools such as top, vmstat, iotop, and sar to monitor system resource utilization and address bottlenecks. Troubleshooting: Skilled in diagnosing kernel issues, application crashes, and resource contention using strace, lsof, dmesg, and server logs. Capacity Planning: Ability to forecast resource requirements for future server scalability.
• Server Virtualization: Experience managing virtualized server infrastructures using VMware, KVM, or Xen, with a focus on optimizing performance and resource allocation. Containerization: Proficiency in deploying and maintaining Docker or Podman containers, and orchestrating workloads using Kubernetes or OpenShift.
• Cloud Server Management: Expertise managing Linux/Unix servers across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, including automation of provisioning and scaling.
• Database Server Administration: Experience installing, configuring, and maintaining MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, or MongoDB databases on Linux/Unix servers.
• Storage and Optimization: Configures RAID, LVM, and ZFS storage solutions to support efficient database operations.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Ability to work with a variety of teams, including developers, network engineers, infrastructure teams, and operations teams, to resolve issues, implement solutions, and share best practices to ensure reliable server performance and application compatibility.
• Server Deployment Projects: Leads or supports server deployment initiatives, migrations, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Project Leadership: While not necessarily managing large teams, a FAE II should be able to lead smaller projects or initiatives, such as deploying new technologies, improving system performance, or securing infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Must have experience and deep knowledge of business, functional and technical areas/disciplines and be able to conduct research on special areas.
• Must have experience with proposing new solutions to problems in the areas of their functional expertise.
• Must be able to work and analyze both independently and as part of a team.
• Must have expert experience directing teams and discussion with teams of various levels to pull-out thought-provoking discussions concerning areas associated with the Linux/Unix Division.
• Must have experience leveraging staff with vast detailed knowledge and familiarity of servers, OS, and applied security principles.
• Must have experience identifying risks in Linux/Unix systems and work with technical experts to troubleshoot and resolve known and problematic issues. Reviewing and reporting on security principles, concepts, policy and regulations.
• Expert knowledge applying Best Business Practices, Industry standards, key concepts, factors, and risks based on conversations and document these in clear and concise narrative or graphic reports.
• Must have the skill set of a senior System Administrator (preferably in Solaris Unix and Red Hat Linux) but also be able to create new methods of gathering and analyzing source data to evaluate the programs effectiveness and analyze its business processes, direct, and implement perspective changes, analyze data from various reports and keep tracking databases current.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related scientific or technical discipline and 10+ years’ work experience
• Eight (8) years of additional relevant experience may be substituted for education (18 years total)

Clearance

• The ability to pass a Tier 4/HIGH Background Investigation

Location

• Department of Veteran's Affairs (100% On-site)
• Monday - Friday (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST Time)
• Austin Information Technology Center (AITC)

1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78741