Lead Linux Administrator Denver, CO (Onsite) Contract

Position: Lead Linux Administrator Location: Denver, CO (100% Onsite) Duration: Long Term Contract Must have skills: Linux Admin, Ansible, Open Source virtualization tools (VMWare & Hypervisor) and Automation Scripting. Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced Lead Linux Administrator with strong expertise in RHEL environments and automation. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical skills in Linux administration, virtualization, scripting, and configuration management using Ansible. This is a hands-on leadership role that also involves overseeing onsite and offshore teams. Key Qualifications: 12-15+ years of experience in Linux system administration (RHEL experience is mandatory; Rocky Linux is a plus). Must have experience as a Lead Admin. Strong hands-on experience with Linux installation, configuration, maintenance, and upgrades. Solid understanding of virtualization technologies, preferably Nebula or other OpenStack-based platforms. Must have good experience with Ansible for configuration management, automation, and orchestration. Strong background in automation scripting using Bash and/or Python. Familiarity with database systems such as Oracle and PostgreSQL; ability to perform basic DBA tasks. Experience working with monitoring and alerting tools like Nagios, Prometheus, and Grafana. Proven leadership in managing hybrid (onsite/offshore) teams and delivering scalable infrastructure solutions. Strong troubleshooting skills, with a proactive approach to issue resolution and system optimization. Key Responsibilities: Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of engineers across onsite and offshore locations to ensure successful project execution. System Architecture & Strategy: Drive efficiency, scalability, and security across the Linux infrastructure. Support & Maintenance: Be available to support maintenance windows (typically between 12 AM and 5 AM) as needed. Linux OS Management: Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain RHEL and other Linux distributions. Application Deployment: Deploy and configure critical applications used in video operations and related services. Database Integration: Support installation and ongoing maintenance of Oracle/PostgreSQL databases. VM Provisioning: Manage virtual machines using Nebula/OpenStack-based solutions. Automation & Orchestration: Develop and maintain Ansible playbooks for automating tasks, application deployments, and system configurations. Monitoring & Incident Response: Implement and maintain infrastructure monitoring with proactive alerting and resolution mechanisms. Security Hardening: Apply and enforce industry-standard security practices across all systems. Performance Tuning: Continuously monitor and optimize system performance to meet operational goals.