Sr. Systems Engineer, Virtualization/Linux Engineering - job 7 of 17

As a Sr. Systems Engineer at Visa, you will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance, security, and availability of systems infrastructure. This includes responding to incident and problem tickets, partnering with engineering and platform teams, ensuring adherence to ITIL practices, and providing automation solutions to streamline manual tasks. Your role will also encompass managing a large heterogeneous infrastructure primarily focusing on Linux, while ensuring team objectives and SLA commitments are met.

To be considered for the Sr. Systems Engineer position at Visa, candidates should possess strong analytical abilities and independence in their work, complemented by effective communication skills. A working knowledge of automation tools like Ansible and Chef, as well as monitoring tools such as Splunk, BMC Patrol, and Grafana, is essential. Familiarity with Linux Operating Systems, VMWare, Docker, Kubernetes, and Openshift is also required, alongside experience in highly-secure operations environments.

Yes, the Sr. Systems Engineer position at Visa requires weekend shift work. The schedule options include either a 4 days on, 10 hours each day (4x10) or a 5 days on, 8 hours each day (5x8), and the specific coverage will depend on business needs. Flexibility in scheduling allows you to adjust based on your preferences and team requirements.

In the role of Sr. Systems Engineer at Visa, you will work with a variety of tools and technologies, including automation tools like Ansible and Chef, monitoring tools such as Splunk, Grafana, and BMC Patrol, and virtualization technologies including VMWare ESX, Docker, Kubernetes, and Openshift. A solid understanding of Linux and AIX operating systems, as well as blade technology from providers such as Cisco, HP, and Dell, is also critical.

The Sr. Systems Engineer position at Visa is a hybrid role, allowing you to alternate your work time between remote and office settings. Employees are generally expected to be in the Highlands Ranch office for 50% or more of the time, with 2-3 in-office days set each week based on leadership's decision. This arrangement allows for a great work-life balance while remaining effective in your role.

When answering this question, highlight specific instances where you have worked with Linux environments and illustrate your knowledge of automation tools like Ansible or Chef. Discuss how you’ve implemented these tools to solve real-world problems, enhance efficiency, or improve operational stability in your previous roles.

Discuss your understanding of monitoring tools like Splunk or Grafana, and provide examples of how you've used them to proactively monitor system performance. Explain your strategies for ensuring high availability, such as routine checks, incident response protocols, and your approach to root cause analysis.

Share a detailed example of a particularly challenging situation you've faced regarding virtualization, such as issues with VMWare ESX or container management with Docker and Kubernetes. Discuss the actions you took to analyze the problem, the solutions you developed, and the outcomes that resulted from your intervention.

Outline the specific automation strategies you have applied in your previous systems engineering roles. Discuss key tasks you've automated, the tools used, and how these have improved operational efficiency. Provide metrics where possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of your automation efforts.

It's important to explain your familiarity with ITIL methodologies. Discuss how you have applied these practices in past roles to manage incidents and service requests effectively. Sharing your experience in adhering to SLA requirements and collaborating with other teams to ensure best practices are followed can add depth to your answer.

Choose an example that showcases your ability to work with different teams effectively. Discuss specific projects or tasks where collaboration was key, and emphasize the role you played in facilitating communication and ensuring that all team objectives were met cohesively.

Address potential challenges such as strict compliance standards, the need for constant monitoring, or rapid incident response requirements. Offer ways you have successfully tackled these challenges in your past roles, emphasizing your adaptability and proactive communication.

Explain your approach to continuous learning regarding emerging technologies. Discuss online courses, certifications, webinars, and community engagements that you participate in to keep your skills and knowledge updated, particularly in virtualization and automation domains.

Discuss the significance of automation in optimizing operational workflows, enhancing efficiency, and reducing human error in systems engineering. Provide specific examples where automation has led to tangible improvements in your past experience.

Highlight your problem-solving methodology, especially in high-stress situations. Discuss the importance of remaining calm, systematically analyzing the issue, leveraging available tools, and collaborating with team members to resolve issues effectively, ensuring minimal impact on operations.