Ansible Programmer

Job#: 3020650

Job Description:
Ansible Software Engineer

On-site 4 days/week in Wilmington, DE

6+ month contract with potential to convert/extend

Overview

We are seeking a true software-minded Ansible Engineer who approaches automation as code, not just infrastructure configuration. This role is ideal for someone who treats Ansible playbooks and roles like production software: versioned in Git, tested, reviewed, and delivered through CI/CD pipelines.

This is not a traditional systems administrator or run-book automation role. You will design, build, and maintain robust, reusable automation codebases that integrate with modern software development practices.
Key Responsibilities

• Design, write, test, and maintain Ansible playbooks, roles, and inventories using software engineering best practices
• Treat Ansible automation as production code, managed in GitHub (or similar repositories) with pull requests, reviews, and branching strategies
• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines to validate, test, and deploy Ansible automation
• Develop reusable automation components that define the desired state of systems and environments
• Automate configuration management, orchestration, and deployments across:
  • Operating systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Unix, Windows
  • Application and web servers: WebSphere, Tomcat
  • Database platforms: SQL Server, IBM DB2
• Integrate Ansible automation with external systems and services using REST and/or GraphQL APIs
• Write supporting automation logic using Python, Shell scripting, and related languages where Ansible modules or extensions are required
• Implement testing strategies (unit, integration, regression) to ensure reliability, repeatability, and safety of automation workflows
• Diagnose and resolve issues related to Ansible code, modules, pipeline failures, and environment behavior
• Collaborate with software engineering, platform, and operations teams to design automation that integrates cleanly with existing systems
• Maintain documentation for automation design, usage, and operational processes
• Ensure the Ansible ecosystem remains secure, performant, and up to date

Required Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience writing Ansible playbooks and roles as a primary responsibility
• Demonstrated software engineering mindset applied to automation
• Experience managing code in GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar version-controlled repositories
• Experience building or contributing to CI/CD pipelines for automation or infrastructure code
• Solid understanding of Ansible concepts including idempotency, roles, handlers, variables, inventories, and modules
• Proficiency with YAML and comfort treating it as structured code
• Working knowledge of Python and/or Shell scripting for automation support
• Experience automating across heterogeneous environments (Linux, Windows, middleware, databases)
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Ansible Tower / AWX
• Familiarity with automated testing frameworks for infrastructure or configuration code
• Experience integrating Ansible into enterprise CI/CD tooling (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)
• Exposure to cloud environments and hybrid infrastructure
• Prior experience designing reusable automation frameworks or internal platforms

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Ansible codebases that are clean, modular, reusable, and well-tested
• Automation that can be safely re-run and scaled without manual intervention
• CI/CD pipelines that catch failures early and enforce quality standards
• Clear documentation and patterns that enable other teams to confidently consume and extend automation

What This Role Is Not

• Not a traditional system administrator role
• Not a ticket-driven operations position
• Not focused on manual server configuration or one-off scripting

This role is best suited for someone who thinks like a software engineer, but chooses to apply that mindset to automation and infrastructure code using Ansible.

Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.