Senior Computer Specialist-Linux System Administrator

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
The School of Oceanography seeks a full-time Linux System Administrator in support of the University of Washington's role as operator of the National Science Foundations' cabled component of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Regional Cabled Array (RCA).
The RCA is the most advanced underwater cabled observatory in the ocean. This highly complex state-of-the-art observatory includes 900 km of high power and bandwidth fiber optic cables that stretch >500 km offshore Oregon. The cables provide power and real-time communications to >150 instruments of >30 different types and instrumented moorings that rise 2700 m above the seafloor. Data from all instruments/infrastructure are streamed live to shore and all science data are open to the public and a wide user community of researchers, educators, and industry.
The RCA seeks a motivated individual to work as part of a team and independently as needed on system administration activities supporting the data acquisition and computational infrastructure for the observatory as well as users within the RCA and select collaborators/affiliates world-wide. An ideal applicant will be curious, focused, able to define and complete projects, able to articulate complicated problems concisely, demonstrate effective troubleshooting skills, and provide secure, reliable solutions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Maintain Computer Systems – this includes system updates, installation of new and replacement server and networking hardware, maintain and enhance automation tools to streamline production services, occasionally refine where items reside.
Troubleshoot and remediate issues as they occur including:

On management, compute and data repository systems

Assist with investigation and remediation of networking issues.

Assist with investigation and remediation of cybersecurity incidents

Assist OOI-RCA users with access and workability issues as needed

monitor system logs and general health to identify and remediate issues before they have a larger impact on data acquisition and availability.

Especially during annual maintenance cruises.

Documentation – keep existing documentation up to date as infrastructure changes and develop new documentation where needed. Add to the repository of operations procedure notes.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

3 years Linux Administration experience

3 years server hardware installation/troubleshooting/maintenance experience

2 years Windows Administration experience

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Intermediate knowledge of common scripting languages such as Python, Perl, Bash

Practical understanding of networking concepts such as VLANs, subnets, OSI Layers 1-3

Knowledge of automation tools such as Ansible

Working knowledge of VMware virtualization using vCenter / ESXi

Proficient troubleshooting skills

Server hardware deployment and support experience

DESIRED:

Passionate about automation, efficiency, and reliability

Experience with network switch configuration

Experience with VPN configuration

Familiarity with iDRAC/IPMI

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.