Senior Linux and Kubernetes Engineer (US Citizens/Green Card ONLY)

Job Title: Senior Linux and Kubernetes Engineer (US Citizens & Green Card holders only)

Location: Fairfield, CT (Hybrid if within commuting range)

Compensation: Base salary expectation $175,000.00 - $200,000. (will consider above for candidates that really match the majority of the tech skills)

If you're passionate about Linux systems, Kubernetes, cloud technologies, and want to make a direct impact on the growth of a tech-driven company, we would love to hear from you!

Company Overview:

Our client is a dynamic and rapidly growing tech company based in Fairfield, CT, dedicated to delivering innovative solutions. They are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Linux and Kubernetes Engineer to enhance their infrastructure and ensure their systems are robust, secure, and scalable. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Linux administration, Kubernetes management, and cloud-native technologies.

Our client, the leader in a multi-billion-dollar industry, has been pioneering video and audio content capture and indexing for over 25 years. With a team of 35 employees, they specialize in making TV and audio content fully searchable, offering access through a monthly subscription or API.

With an extensive capture network, the company operates 800 physical servers and a significant global cloud infrastructure, leveraging AWS and Azure. They currently manage 10 on-prem clusters and are expanding their on-prem Kubernetes capabilities, including a first-generation inference server. Focused on scaling AI operations, they excel in high-performance data retrieval and information processing.

Engineers in this role will not be responsible for racking and stacking gear but will play a key role in optimizing infrastructure and advancing AI-driven solutions. The positions initial focus will be on-prem infrastructure.

Position Overview:

The Senior Linux and Kubernetes Engineer will be responsible for deploying, managing, and maintaining the company’s Linux-based systems and Kubernetes clusters. This role will collaborate closely with the infrastructure, security, and development teams to ensure high availability, performance, and security across all systems.

Key Responsibilities (everything below is now required, but core skills in Linux and Kubernetes are):

• Linux Administration:
• Manage and maintain Linux servers across major distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, Debian).
• Automate administrative tasks using bash scripting and other automation tools.
• Oversee system performance monitoring and tuning using tools like top, htop, iostat, and vmstat.
• Handle filesystem management, including LVM, RAID, ext4, xfs, and ZFS.
• Implement Linux server hardening techniques using SELinux, AppArmor, and auditd.
  
• Kubernetes Administration:
• Deploy, manage, and scale Kubernetes clusters using tools like kubeadm, k3s, OpenShift, and Rancher.
• Troubleshoot and resolve Kubernetes workload issues, including logs, events, and pod-level problems.
• Ensure security best practices within Kubernetes, including RBAC, Pod Security Policies, and Network Policies.
• Integrate service meshes like Istio and Linkerd for enhanced cluster communication and security.
  
• Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure:
• Manage hybrid environments consisting of on-premise and cloud-based infrastructure.
• Work with cloud-native technologies and integrate Kubernetes with major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
  
• Automation & Configuration Management:
• Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.
• Support CI/CD pipeline implementations using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, and ArgoCD.
• Develop and maintain scripts in Python, Bash, or Go for process automation and optimization.
  
• Security and Compliance:
• Oversee system security and compliance, ensuring adherence to frameworks like CIS benchmarks, NIST, and ISO 27001.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments using tools like Qualys, Nessus, and OpenVAS.
• Manage intrusion detection systems (OSSEC, Snort, Suricata) and firewall configurations (iptables, nftables, firewalld).
  
• Monitoring, Logging, and Observability:
• Implement and maintain monitoring and observability tools, including Prometheus, Grafana, Zabbix, Nagios, and EFK/ELK stack.
• Manage logging solutions and ensure proper alerting and incident response processes are in place.
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• Experience:
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in Linux system administration and Kubernetes management.
• Hands-on experience in deploying, managing, and securing Linux-based systems.
• Proven experience in managing Kubernetes clusters and integrating with cloud-native technologies.
• Strong knowledge of cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid infrastructure management.
• Experience in automation, configuration management, and CI/CD pipeline tools.
  
• Technical Skills:
• In-depth knowledge of Linux system administration (Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, Debian).
• Strong proficiency with Kubernetes and container orchestration (Helm, Kustomize).
• Familiarity with security tools and frameworks (SELinux, AppArmor, auditd, OSSEC, Snort).
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (Bash, Python, Go).
• Experience with storage solutions (SAN, NAS, NFS, iSCSI), backup strategies (Veeam, Bacula), and disaster recovery.
• Knowledge of networking concepts (DNS, DHCP, VPN, VLAN, Load Balancers).
  
• Soft Skills:
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to mentor and guide junior engineers.
  
  

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision) – 50% healthcare premium contributed by company.
• 401(k) retirement plan with profit sharing.
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible work environment and onsite parking.
  
  
  

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