System Administrator

Role: System Administrator

Location: Austin, TX

Duration: Long term

Job Summary: The Support System Administrator will be responsible for supporting the migration and modernization of EOL systems, including legacy systems running older versions of Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux . The role will focus on upgrading these systems to supported OS versions (e.g., Windows Server 2016/2019/2022, RHEL 5/6/7/8/9) to ensure improved security, performance, and operational continuity.

Key Responsibilities:

System Assessment & Planning:

• • Assess Legacy Systems: Conduct detailed assessments of existing EOL systems, including Windows Server (2012 and older) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 5, 6,7 and newer).
  • Identify Priorities: Prioritize migration based on system criticality, security risks, and operational needs.
  • Develop Migration Strategy: Create a comprehensive plan for transitioning legacy RHEL and Windows systems to supported versions, including risk assessments, upgrade paths, and timelines.

System Migration:

• • Legacy OS Migration: Migrate RHEL 5/6 and older Windows Server systems to newer, supported OS versions (RHEL 8/9, Windows Server 2022/2025).
  • Upgrade Path Planning: Perform in-place upgrades as last resort.  Primary job is to preform a reinstallation, following best practices to ensure compatibility and minimize downtime.
  • Data Backup & Recovery: Implement data backup and recovery strategies before, during, and after the migration, with a focus on reducing potential data loss during the upgrade process.
  • Post-Upgrade Validation: Validate the system’s functionality after the upgrade (e.g., performance checks, compatibility testing of critical applications, system services, and networking configurations).

Configuration Management:

• • System Reconfiguration: Reconfigure system services and settings (e.g., networking, storage, security settings) after OS upgrade.
  • Configuration Management Tools: Utilize tools like Ansible for RHEL configurations and PowerShell for Windows configurations to maintain consistency across systems.
  • Automation Scripting: Write and maintain automation scripts for repetitive tasks across both Windows and Linux systems.

Security Enhancements:

• • System Hardening: Perform system hardening tasks on RHEL and Windows Server systems before and after migration to mitigate security risks.
  • Patch Management: Apply security patches and updates for both RHEL and Windows servers. Ensure that legacy systems are brought up to current patch levels before the upgrade.
  • Vulnerability Remediation: Run vulnerability scans and perform security updates to address any issues uncovered during the migration process.
  • Compliance Assurance: Ensure all systems meet internal security policies, compliance regulations, and industry standards (e.g., CIS Benchmarks, NIST).

Troubleshooting and Support:

• • Issue Resolution: Act as the point of escalation for system issues encountered during the migration process, especially for legacy RHEL 5/6 and older Windows versions.
  • Post-Migration Support: Provide ongoing support for both Windows Server and RHEL systems after migration, addressing system issues, performance concerns, or compatibility problems.
  • Problem Solving: Troubleshoot OS-level issues and application problems on both Windows and RHEL systems post-migration, ensuring high availability and reliability.

Documentation and Reporting:

• • Migration Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation of the migration process, including steps taken, configurations changed, and any issues encountered and resolved.
  • System Configuration Records: Update system configuration records post-migration to reflect the new OS and environment. This will be reflected in the CMDB as well as the TRP list.
  • Progress Reporting: Provide regular updates and reports to stakeholders on migration status, challenges, and milestones achieved.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams (e.g., networking, database admins, application owners) to ensure smooth integration of migrated systems.
  • Vendor Coordination: Coordinate with third-party vendors or support services as needed, especially for issues related to legacy systems or proprietary software running on older OS versions.
  • End-User Communication: Communicate with end-users and stakeholders about any system downtime, changes, or disruptions during the migration process.

Training and Knowledge Transfer:

• • Documentation for Internal Teams: Create detailed user manuals and internal documentation on managing updated systems.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Share insights and lessons learned from the migration process to help other teams with similar future upgrades or transitions.

Backup & Disaster Recovery:

• • Backup Solutions: Ensure that backup solutions are in place for both Windows and RHEL systems
  • Disaster Recovery Planning: Update disaster recovery plans for systems post-migration and test recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.

Post-Implementation Review:

• • System Audits: Conduct post-migration audits to verify that all systems are fully functional, secure, and compliant.
  • Post-Migration Optimization: Identify any post-migration system performance improvements, optimizations, or further enhancements needed.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience with RHEL 5/6/7/8/9, and Windows Server (2008-2022).
• Proficiency in system administration for both Linux (RHEL 5/6 and RHEL 7/8/9) and Windows environments.
• Advanced troubleshooting skills for legacy systems (RHEL 5/6 and older Windows versions).
• Experience with in-place upgrades and fresh installs for RHEL and older Windows versions to Windows Server.
• Familiarity with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible for RHEL, PowerShell, SCCM, for Windows).
• Proficient in system automation and scripting (Bash, PowerShell, Ansible).
• Strong security knowledge, including patch management, system hardening, and vulnerability scanning for both Windows and RHEL systems.
• Experience with backup and recovery solutions for legacy systems.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware).

Deliverables:

• Migration plans and timelines for legacy systems.  Weekly upgrades should be scheduled with change control.
• Backup and disaster recovery strategies for RHEL and Windows systems.
• Post-migration system configurations and updates.
• Regular migration status reports and post-migration review reports.
• System documentation, SOPs, and internal training materials.
• EOL systems focus should be a minimum of 3 servers a week to be addressed for conversion (planning/testing/delivery). It is expected to have a minimum to have one EOL system converted/lifted per week per FTE through change control.