Job Details

Linux Systems Engineer - REMOTE

ARC Group has an immediate opportunity for a Linux Systems Engineer with strong Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) experience. This role is 100% remote and supports Eastern Time Zone business hours. It starts as a 6-month contract with strong potential for extension and possible conversion to full-time. This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established organization on a large-scale enterprise systems modernization initiative.

At ARC Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We believe diverse perspectives lead to stronger innovation and better problem-solving. We encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

100% REMOTE!

Candidates must have permanent work authorization and be able to work for any employer in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future. Third-party candidates are not eligible for this role.
Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Linux Systems Engineer to support an enterprise-wide RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 migration initiative across approximately 2,500 Linux servers. This role is part of a major infrastructure modernization effort and requires hands-on expertise with RHEL administration, Leapp-based in-place upgrades, upgrade readiness assessments, blocker remediation, automation, and post-upgrade troubleshooting.

The ideal candidate will have experience executing large-scale production Linux upgrade projects in enterprise environments and will be comfortable working closely with application owners, DBAs, and infrastructure teams to ensure smooth, low-risk migrations with minimal business disruption.
Key Responsibilities

• Execute in-place upgrades from RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 using Leapp across physical and virtual Linux servers.
• Perform pre-upgrade analysis to assess server readiness, application compatibility, third-party dependencies, kernel modules, and system prerequisites.
• Identify and remediate Leapp blockers, package conflicts, unsupported components, and upgrade risks before production execution.
• Develop, follow, and maintain upgrade runbooks, checklists, validation steps, testing procedures, and rollback plans.
• Coordinate upgrade scheduling and validation activities with application owners, DBAs, middleware teams, and infrastructure support teams.
• Troubleshoot issues related to boot processes, GRUB, RPM dependencies, systemd services, SELinux, networking, performance, and application startup after upgrade.
• Automate repeatable migration and validation tasks using Ansible, Bash, Python, or similar scripting/automation tools.
• Support backup, recovery, and rollback procedures using snapshots, rsync, LVM, and standard enterprise recovery methods.
• Ensure all upgrade work aligns with internal security, compliance, change management, and operational standards.
• Document upgrade activities, technical findings, remediation steps, post-upgrade outcomes, and environment changes.
• Use Remedy to manage incidents, service requests, and change records tied to the migration effort.
• Work independently in a remote environment while contributing effectively within a broader engineering team.

Required Experience

• 3-5+ years of Linux systems administration or systems engineering experience with strong RHEL focus.
• Hands-on experience performing RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 upgrades or migrations in enterprise environments.
• Direct experience with Leapp for major-version RHEL upgrades.
• Strong knowledge of RPM, GRUB, system boot processes, kernel modules, systemd, SELinux, and Linux service troubleshooting.
• Experience analyzing and resolving Leapp pre-upgrade blockers and compatibility issues.
• Experience with Ansible and scripting in Bash and/or Python for automation and operational efficiency.
• Familiarity with Linux backup and recovery approaches including snapshots, rsync, and LVM.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across OS, service, network, and platform layers.
• Experience working within enterprise change management and ticketing systems, including Remedy.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a distributed, project-based team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• RHCE or comparable Red Hat certification.
• Experience in virtualized environments such as VMware or Nutanix.
• Experience supporting large-scale Linux migration or upgrade programs in production.
• Prior consulting or contractor experience on enterprise infrastructure initiatives.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

ARC Group is a Forbes-ranked top 20 recruiting and executive search firm working with clients nationwide to recruit high-quality technical resources. We achieve this by understanding both our candidates' and clients' goals and serving both with integrity and a shared desire to succeed.

At ARC Group, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Position offered with no fee to candidate.