Linux Systems Engineer

Fintal Partners; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Fintal Partners in Chicago is seeking a Linux Engineer to build and run Linux at scale in a business-critical environment. You will improve automation and self-service tooling to manage our server estate and drive reliability across a large fleet of bare-metal servers and Kubernetes-based apps.

The role emphasizes provisioning, configuration, performance, and reliability, with a strong focus on automation, telemetry, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to adopt new technologies and

Qualifications

• Hands-on Linux engineering, administration and provisioning at scale, ideally on bare metal
• Large-scale configuration management, ideally Puppet and Hiera on bare-metal servers
• Python for automation, APIs, design, testing and debugging
• Writing Ansible playbooks and automating complex tasks
• Designing, building and publishing RPMs, plus managing in-house repositories
• CI/CD pipelines, Git, and good branching/merging practice
• Strong system and network troubleshooting with tools like eBPF, tcpdump, strace, systemd, NTP/PTP, lsof and nc
• Networking fundamentals: routing, DNS, TCP/UDP/multicast
• Building and publishing Docker images
• Working knowledge of Kubernetes
• Exposure to Prometheus, Grafana and AlertManager, especially Linux telemetry and exporter development
• Bachelor's in Computer Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

• Use deep Linux expertise to diagnose and fix complex issues on enterprise systems, keeping them stable and performant
• Improve the configuration management code and processes behind 10,000+ bare-metal Linux servers worldwide
• Build and maintain Python/Bash tooling for large-scale Linux management
• Streamline provisioning so bare servers become production-ready platforms
• Expand Linux metrics, logging, monitoring and alerting integrations for full fleet visibility
• Keep peers and stakeholders updated through meetings, tickets, code reviews, chat and merge requests

Skills

Linux administration

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Automation

Networking fundamentals

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Puppet

Hiera

Ansible

RPM publishing

Docker

Kubernetes

tcpdump

Prometheus/Grafana

Git

CI/CD tooling

Systemd

NTP/PTP

lsof

Job description

We're looking for a Linux Engineer with strong systems knowledge and Python/scripting skills to join our expanding global team. You'll build and run Linux at scale in a business-critical environment, and improve the automation and self-service tooling we use to manage our server estate.

The Linux Engineering group owns provisioning, configuration, performance and reliability for a large Linux infrastructure that runs many kinds of workloads. These include ultra-low latency systems at the core of high-frequency trading, high-throughput research environments, and a wide range of Kubernetes-based applications. You'll need solid Linux fundamentals applied at scale, with automation driving consistency and efficiency across the fleet. Your initiative, teamwork, problem-solving and drive to keep improving will help the firm stay competitive by bringing new technologies and practices into production.

What You'll Do:

• Use deep Linux expertise to diagnose and fix complex issues on enterprise systems, keeping them stable and performant
• Improve the configuration management code and processes behind 10,000+ bare-metal Linux servers worldwide
• Build and maintain Python/Bash tooling for large-scale Linux management
• Streamline provisioning so bare servers become production-ready platforms
• Expand Linux metrics, logging, monitoring and alerting integrations for full fleet visibility
• Keep peers and stakeholders updated through meetings, tickets, code reviews, chat and merge requests

What You'll Bring:

• Hands-on Linux engineering, administration and provisioning at scale, ideally on bare metal
• Large-scale configuration management, ideally Puppet and Hiera on bare-metal servers
• Python for automation, APIs, design, testing and debugging
• Writing Ansible playbooks and automating complex tasks
• Designing, building and publishing RPMs, plus managing in-house repositories
• CI/CD pipelines, Git, and good branching/merging practice
• Strong system and network troubleshooting with tools like eBPF, tcpdump, strace, systemd, NTP/PTP, lsof and nc
• Networking fundamentals: routing, DNS, TCP/UDP/multicast
• Building and publishing Docker images
• Working knowledge of Kubernetes
• Exposure to Prometheus, Grafana and AlertManager, especially Linux telemetry and exporter development
• Bachelor's in Computer Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience