Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) - job 1 of 2

As a Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) at TISTA, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining operating system shell scripts, coordinating with Project Managers for patch management, and overseeing the operations of highly available systems. You'll also manage a team of system administrators, address critical system problems, and work with ServiceNow for incident management and scheduling, ensuring the seamless support of vital VA applications.

To be considered for the Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) role at TISTA, applicants should possess a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field with at least 5 years of relevant work experience. Alternatively, 13 years of experience can substitute for educational requirements. Mastery in Red Hat Linux and Solaris Unix, along with experience in automation and systems management, is also essential.

At TISTA, as a Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix), you will be working onsite in our Austin Information Technology Center, providing direct support during your scheduled hours on a Sunday to Thursday shift from 11:30 PM to 8:00 AM CST. This environment encourages collaboration among team members while fostering professional growth and a commitment to service.

TISTA values the growth of its employees and offers various professional development opportunities for Senior System Administrators. This includes training programs, certification reimbursements, and access to new technologies, allowing you to stay current in the field and advance your career within the organization.

As a Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) at TISTA, you can look forward to a comprehensive benefits package that includes above-industry healthcare benefits, paid time off, a 401K match, tuition reimbursement, and much more! We prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of our employees to ensure a supportive work-life balance.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects or tasks where you developed shell scripts, the objectives they served, and any challenges you overcame. Emphasize your familiarity with scripting languages and tools used in Linux for automation and reporting.

In your response, outline your process for assessing the impact of outages, how you communicate with your team, and the strategies you use to ensure effective resolution while keeping stakeholders informed. Showcase your leadership and decision-making skills.

For this question, discuss your experience with vulnerability assessments, patch management, and employing security best practices in Linux/Unix systems. Be sure to mention any tools you use and strategies that minimize risks while keeping operations efficient.

When answering, recount a specific incident where your troubleshooting skills made a significant difference. Describe the steps you took, how you diagnosed the problem, and what preventive measures you implemented afterward to avoid future occurrences.

Discuss the resources you use to stay informed, such as online courses, forums, certification programs, and professional networking. Show your commitment to continuous learning and adaptation in a fast-evolving field.

Talk about your practical experience using ServiceNow for ticketing, your familiarity with workflows, and how you leverage the platform to streamline incident management processes. Focus on any metrics you’ve improved through your use of ServiceNow.

Emphasize the importance of maintaining thorough documentation for procedures, incidents, and changes. Discuss how precise reporting and documentation practice improves knowledge sharing within teams and enhances accountability.

Provide strategies you employ to facilitate effective communication and conflict resolution within your team. Stress the importance of remaining calm under pressure and how collaboration often leads to better solutions in stressful scenarios.

Discuss the monitoring tools you’ve utilized in the past, their functionality, and how they help you preemptively identify system issues. Mention any specific metrics you track to enhance system performance and uptime.

Illustrate your techniques for assessing current usage trends and predicting future needs. Talk about any tools or methodologies you implement to ensure systems have adequate resources without overspending.