Linux Systems Engineer

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Comprehensive health coverage

Retirement options

Balanced Dukes wellbeing program

Tuition waiver program

Job summary

James Madison University is seeking a Linux Systems Engineer to support Linux infrastructure, observability platforms, and related services on-site with the potential for hybrid work. The role involves platform ownership, incident response, and collaboration with IT teams to maintain service reliability.

The candidate should have extensive Linux experience, familiarity with Red Hat/Satellite, Ansible, GitLab, AWS, and related tooling, and be prepared for rotating on-call duties within an engaged

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with installing, troubleshooting, and supporting Linux systems in an enterprise environment.
• Experience deploying and managing observability platforms and related tools.
• Experience with security best practices and vulnerability management.
• Strong customer-facing communication skills.
• Scripting with bash, Python, or Ansible for system tasks.

Responsibilities

• Platform Ownership: Administer observability platforms and related systems to ensure health, uptime, and security.
• Linux Systems Administration: Manage Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers and associated tools (Satellite, Ansible, GitLab, LISTSERV, Bitwarden, VMware, AWS).
• Service Reliability & Security: Monitor, respond to incidents, and remediate vulnerabilities while maintaining service continuity.
• Customer Support & Collaboration: Provide technical support to campus customers and rotate on-call duties.
• Continuous Improvement: Document processes and pursue service improvements.

Skills

Linux systems

Command line

Customer support

Scripting (bash/python)

Tools

Red Hat Satellite

Ansible Automation Controller

GitLab

LISTSERV

Bitwarden

Dell hardware

VMware

Pure Storage

Commvault

AWS

Job description

Working Title: Linux Systems Engineer

State Role Title:Information Technology Specialist II

Position Type:Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Information Technology

Department: 100212 - IT - Infrastructure Services

Pay Band:5

Pay Rate:Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $77,500 - $83,950

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:9/18/2026

About JMU:

At James Madison University (JMU), we're more than just a publicly funded institution - we're a vibrant, welcoming community located on a stunning campus where innovation, collaboration, and personal growth thrive. Our mission is to prepare students for a bright future, and we believe that starts with supporting the people who make it all possible: our employees.

Why Work at JMU?

• Generous Leave: Enjoy paid vacation, sick leave, parental leave, community service leave, and 19 paid holidays annually.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access high-quality health insurance options that fit your needs.
• Retirement Options: Plan for your future with retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System.
• Employee Well-Being: Our Balanced Dukes program promotes wellness and work-life integration through resources, events, and support.
• Tuition Waiver Program: Advance your education with our tuition waiver program for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at JMU.

At JMU, we believe in Being the Change - and that starts with creating an environment where you can grow, contribute meaningfully, and feel supported every step of the way.

Discover what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

THIS POSITION IS ON-SITE

James Madison University Information Technology is seeking a Linux Systems Engineer to support Linux infrastructure, observability platforms and the email mailing list service. As a member of the Linux Team within IT Systems & Operations, you'll be part of a high-functioning, collaborative, and supportive team, with many years of collective experience, and supportive leadership.

This is an on-site position with rotating on-call, a one-week responsibility recurring approximately every 5 weeks, that requires on-site presence within one hour of receiving notification. This position includes the opportunity for hybrid work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Platform Ownership: Administer and support observability platforms including Elastic, Dell OpenManage Enterprise, and Zenoss. Maintain platform health, host agents, performance, availability, and uptime. Troubleshoot issues, perform upgrades, apply patches, and mitigate security vulnerabilities.

Linux Systems Administration: Administer Red Hat Enterprise Linux physical and virtual servers supporting university services. Manage and support systems including: Red Hat Satellite, Ansible Automation Controller, GitLab, LISTSERV, Bitwarden, VMware, Dell hardware, Pure Storage, Commvault, AWS and other legacy Linux systems.

Service Reliability & Security: Maintain operational stability through proactive monitoring, incident response, and problem resolution. Resolve support tickets and collaborate with team members to restore services. Implement security best practices and remediate vulnerabilities.

Customer Support & Collaboration: Provide technical support and consultation to campus customers and stakeholders. Communicate clearly and effectively with customers, peers, and leadership. Participate in a rotating on-call schedule.

Continuous Improvement: Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies and service improvements. Develop and maintain thorough documentation of processes, procedures, and systems. Contribute to evolving operational practices and service delivery.

Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience with installing, troubleshooting, and supporting Linux systems via the command line in an enterprise environment, including significant professional experience in a mid-level or higher Linux engineering role, adhering to best practices and organizational strategy, and demonstrating mastery and ownership of complex mission-critical systems as a seasoned, independent contributor.

Experience with deployment and management of observability platforms, and other platforms such as Red Hat Satellite, Ansible Automation Controller, Gitlab, LISTSERV, Bitwarden, Dell hardware, VMware, Pure Storage, Commvault and AWS.

Experience with security best practices including deployment of published benchmarks, and vulnerability management with Crowdstrike or similar software.

Demonstrated customer support skills and ability to communicate clearly and appropriately with customers, peers, and leadership.

Experience with bash, ansible and python for system management tasks, or demonstrated proficiency with other scripting languages for system management tasks.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.