Senior Systems Engineer

As a Senior Systems Engineer at Sonic, you will manage Sonic's production infrastructure, ensuring the continuity of critical services. Your role will involve monitoring server performance, troubleshooting complex issues, and optimizing system capabilities. Additionally, you will mentor team members and partake in an after-hours on-call rotation as needed.

Applicants for the Senior Systems Engineer role at Sonic should possess at least 10 years of relevant experience, with expert knowledge in Linux and BSD systems management, core internet service applications, and virtualization platforms. Familiarity with security best practices, storage platforms, backup, and disaster recovery systems are also essential.

Sonic is committed to fostering professional growth for Senior Systems Engineers through mentorship opportunities, collaborative projects, and ongoing training in new technologies. You’ll be encouraged to share your knowledge with your peers and continually develop your skill set in this fast-paced environment.

At Sonic, the work environment for a Senior Systems Engineer is dynamic and moderately paced. You will have the flexibility to work remotely or in-office, promoting a comfortable and productive space. While occasional travel may be needed, most responsibilities can be managed from your workspace.

A Senior Systems Engineer at Sonic must have advanced knowledge in Linux systems administration, core internet applications, virtualization platforms, and programming languages like Python and Perl. Familiarity with configuration management tools such as Ansible is also important to succeed in this position.

In your answer, discuss your years of experience working with Linux and BSD systems, focusing on specific applications you’ve managed. Highlight any challenges faced and how you overcame them using your expertise to ensure system stability.

Detail your systematic approach when troubleshooting. This could include steps like recreating the issue, analyzing logs, and systematic testing. Providing examples from past experiences can showcase your problem-solving skills.

Share specific monitoring tools and metrics you’ve used to maintain performance. Discuss how these tools helped you preemptively address potential issues and ensure system reliability.

Talk about specific security measures you have implemented in the past. This can include regular updates, firewall configurations, and user access controls. Be sure to provide examples illustrating how you improved overall system security.

Focus on your experience with VMware, Proxmox, or others. Discuss how you’ve utilized these technologies to improve infrastructure efficiency and reliability.

Share experiences where you’ve mentored peers, detailing the techniques you used to convey your knowledge and skills. Highlight any smooth transitions or successful projects that resulted from your guidance.

Explain how you prioritize tasks, perhaps utilizing specific tools or methodologies. Cover your approach to maintaining calm under pressure and coordinating with your team during these times.

Mention the languages you’re most proficient in, such as Python, Perl, or shell scripting, and explain how these skills help you automate tasks and streamline processes.

Discuss specific backup systems you’ve used and how you ensured data integrity and recovery during disasters. Your answer should reflect a comprehensive understanding of best practices in data protection.

Select a project that had significant challenges. Discuss your role, the obstacles faced, and how your skills in problem-solving and teamwork helped lead the project to a successful conclusion.