Manager – UNIX

Manager – UNIX
Wilmington, DE open to Manassas, VA or Irving, TX
Contract to Hire
$70 - $75/hr
 

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Manager – UNIX to lead our UNIX and Linux infrastructure team. The successful candidate will oversee the design, support, and evolution of our Unix systems, ensuring they align with business needs and industry standards. This role offers an excellent opportunity to shape our technology landscape, mentor a talented team, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, deployment, and ongoing support of supported Unix systems, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security.
• Develop, coach, and manage a team of Unix and Linux administrators and engineers, promoting continuous learning and excellence in operational practices.
• Collaborate closely with shared services, application teams, and business units to meet project objectives and support strategic initiatives.
• Maintain accurate portfolio management to prioritize workloads effectively; act as or appoint project managers for Unix-related projects.
• Develop and manage the annual budget for the Unix team, including resource planning and vendor support contracts.
• Oversee vendor relationships and negotiate support agreements, ensuring cost-effectiveness and high service quality.
• Ensure compliance with KPMG and SOX controls, and lead all security, audit, and operational standards enforcement for Unix environments.
• Manage high-impact, critical incident responses and provide escalated support for business-critical issues.
• Maintain and enforce Unix standards, policies, and guidelines, including infrastructure as code (IaC) practices.
• Oversee platform management and support for automation tools like Ansible, Python, Terraform, and other related technologies.
• Facilitate change management activities, including off-hours work for scheduled maintenance and disaster recovery site exercises.
• Build strong internal relationships and foster collaboration across technical and business teams.
• Support operational turnover of technical and business projects, ensuring knowledge transfer and documentation.
• Partner with leadership to define roadmaps, establish best practices, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 7+ years of leadership experience in IT environments, including team management and budget oversight.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Unix/Linux systems (preferably 5-7 years) including server clustering, load balancing, and enterprise support.
• Strong background in infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and scripting languages like Python.
• Proven project management skills and experience leading technical initiatives.
• Familiarity with ITIL practices, including change control, incident, and problem management.
• Experience with security compliance and audit standards, especially KPMG and SOX.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and strategic thinking skills.
• Knowledge of P&C insurance industry is a plus.
• Self-motivated with a passion for innovation, operational excellence, and continuous growth.