System Administrator (Windows & RHEL Migration) / Local to TX Consultants Only

Job Summary:

Project Overview
Texas Department of Public Safety is looking for Support Technicians / System Administrators to support the migration and modernization of legacy (EOL) systems across Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments. The focus will be on upgrading outdated systems to secure, supported OS versions, ensuring improved performance, security, and operational stability.

Key Responsibilities

System Assessment and Planning

· Assess legacy systems including Windows Server 2008/2012 and RHEL 5/6/7

· Identify priorities based on risk and criticality

· Develop migration strategies, timelines, and upgrade paths

System Migration and Upgrades

· Migrate to Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 and RHEL 8/9

· Perform rebuild and reinstallation-based upgrades (preferred over in-place)

· Validate system performance and application compatibility post-upgrade

Configuration and Automation

· Reconfigure networking, storage, and system settings

· Use Ansible for RHEL and PowerShell/SCCM for Windows

· Develop automation scripts for system tasks

Security and Compliance

· Perform system hardening using STIG and CIS benchmarks

· Apply patches and remediate vulnerabilities

· Ensure compliance with security standards and policies

Troubleshooting and Support

· Provide escalation support during migration

· Troubleshoot OS and application-level issues

· Maintain system availability and performance

Documentation and Reporting

· Maintain migration documentation and system records

· Provide regular status updates and reports

· Update CMDB and system configurations

Collaboration

· Work with infrastructure, network, and application teams

· Coordinate with vendors and stakeholders

· Communicate changes and downtime to users

Required Skills and Experience

· 8+ years experience with Windows Server (2008–2022) and RHEL (5/6/7/8/9)

· Strong experience in system upgrades and OS migration

· Hands-on system administration in both Linux and Windows environments

· Experience with Ansible, Bash, and PowerShell scripting

· Strong troubleshooting skills for legacy systems

· Experience with patch management and system hardening

· Knowledge of backup and disaster recovery processes

· Experience with virtualization (VMware preferred)

Preferred Skills

· STIG compliance and security hardening

· Experience with vulnerability tools such as Nessus, OpenVAS, or SCAP

· Automation of compliance using Ansible or OpenSCAP

· Experience in government or regulated environments

Deliverables

· Migration plans and timelines

· Weekly system upgrades (minimum 1–3 systems per week)

· Backup and disaster recovery strategies

· Post-migration validation and reports

· Documentation and training materials