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

At TISTA, the Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) is responsible for developing and managing operating system shell scripts, coordinating patching schedules, and overseeing hardware/software acquisitions. Additionally, you will manage system admin teams, provide patching support, troubleshoot system outages, and collaborate with service management tools like ServiceNow to assign and work on incident tickets.

To qualify for the Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) role at TISTA, candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, coupled with a minimum of 5 years of work experience. Alternatively, up to 8 years of progressive relevant experience may be substituted for formal education, making a total of 13 years of related experience critical for success in this position.

Essential technical skills for a Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) at TISTA include mastery of Red Hat Linux and Solaris Unix operating systems, as well as experience in provisioning, virtualization, security management, and disaster recovery. Knowledge of configuration management, storage, and networking also plays a critical role in ensuring high availability systems operate effectively.

TISTA is committed to supporting the growth of its employees, including Senior System Administrators. The company offers various professional development opportunities such as training and certification options, tuition reimbursement, and access to an Employee Assistance Program, ensuring you have the resources needed to advance your career while working on impactful projects.

The Senior System Administrator (Linux/Unix) position at TISTA is based at the Department of Veteran's Affairs in Austin, Texas. The working hours for this role are Sunday through Thursday, from 11:30 PM to 8:00 AM CST, providing a unique opportunity for those who prefer non-traditional schedules.

When asked about your experience with Red Hat Linux and Solaris Unix systems, be specific about your hands-on duties like system configuration, management, and troubleshooting. Highlight projects where you implemented updates or resolved issues to demonstrate your advanced knowledge of these environments.

Discuss your approach to patch management, emphasizing your experience with service management tools like ServiceNow. Explain the importance of scheduling patches, how you prioritize updates, and your methods for ensuring full compliance with organizational directives and security regulations.

In answering this question, you should focus on a systematic approach to troubleshooting. Explain how you typically start with identifying the nature of the outage, using monitoring tools, and collaborating with your team to quickly devise a resolution plan while minimizing downtime.

When faced with this question, choose a significant challenge to describe in detail. Discuss the problem, your analytical approach to understanding its root cause, and the steps you took to resolve it, emphasizing your decision-making skills and teamwork.

Highlight the importance of automation in enhancing efficiency and reliability in system administration. Discuss specific tools or scripts you’ve successfully implemented to automate tasks like backups, monitoring, or updates, and the outcome they achieved.

Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning by sharing resources you follow, such as technical blogs, forums, newsletters, or participation in relevant online courses and certifications. This showcases your proactive approach to staying informed in a fast-evolving field.

Explain your philosophy towards task prioritization, emphasizing communication with your team and understanding project deadlines. Illustrate how you utilize tools for monitoring workloads, assessing risks, and ensuring that high-priority tasks are addressed timely and effectively.

Focus on your experiences within cross-functional teams or projects where collaboration was key. Discuss methods you used to facilitate communication, resolve conflicts, and achieve common goals, thereby reinforcing your ability to work well in a team-oriented culture.

Provide insights into your previous roles involving incident management processes, discussing how you logged incidents, troubleshot issues, and communicated with relevant stakeholders. Showcasing your competence in following through until resolution demonstrates your reliability.

Discuss your methodology for system upgrades, such as assessment of current systems, testing environments, backup procedures, and stakeholder communications. Highlight any past projects involving substantial upgrades to reinforce your experience.