Senior system administrator: office of innovative technologies - utk

The University of Tennessee Office of Innovative Technologies seeks a Senior Linux Systems Administrator to support Linux system automation, security, and infrastructure for academic and student information systems.

The Senior Linux Systems Administrator independently designs, administers, and supports complex Linux systems, networks, and databases that enable academic applications, the Student Information System, and related services. This role provides technical leadership for large-scale implementations, upgrades, security and vulnerability management, infrastructure automation, and operational reliability. The position serves as a subject-matter expert, leads service-area work, and provides work direction and mentorship to junior staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer and maintain Linux operating systems, including security patches, kernel updates, OS enhancements, package repositories, compatibility, and performance monitoring.
• Implement and enforce security best practices, including SSH hardening, Ansible playbooks for system automation, firewall rules, security policies, secure configurations, vulnerability scanning, remediation, and configuration compliance.
• Provision, configure, and maintain Linux servers supporting Academic LAMP services and other applications.
• Deploy, configure, and maintain Linux virtual machines in Hyper-V, Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), and other supported virtualization platforms.
• Maintain high availability, clustering, reliability, and failover strategies for supported services.
• Create, manage, and audit user accounts, roles, permissions, and access to applications and underlying Linux systems.
• Support Student Information System infrastructure, including server installation, patching, upgrades, performance tuning, and decommissioning.
• Advance infrastructure automation and AI-driven security enhancements, including Ansible-based provisioning, patch management, configuration-drift prevention, secure baseline enforcement, and automated vulnerability remediation.
• Standardize deployment workflows for core application stacks to improve consistency, efficiency, security, and lifecycle management.
• Lead and contribute to large-scale projects, implementations, and upgrades; mentor and train junior staff; and provide project leadership and work direction.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s degree in computer science or a related field.
• Experience: 10 years of direct Linux administration experience with an associate’s degree, or 14 years of direct Linux administration experience without the degree.
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
  • Strong Linux systems administration knowledge, including scripting and Ansible.
  • Knowledge of backup and recovery procedures.
  • Working knowledge of networking, identity-management tools, load balancing, DNS, and DHCP.
  • General computer hardware knowledge.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to support customers with a broad range of system and application issues.
  • Ability to work effectively with others and independently manage priorities, deadlines, and complex technical work.
  • Project Management and Junior staff mentoring

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field.
• Experience: 10 years in Experience supporting enterprise academic or student information systems and highly available Linux application environments.
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
  • Knowledge of Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
  • Knowledge of Ellucian Banner applications and supporting infrastructure.
  • Experience with AI-assisted operations or security engineering capabilities, including Ansible Lightspeed or AI Ops tools.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville TN
• Remote

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: M16
• Anticipated hiring range: $100,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!