Senior Linux Administrator

About The Group Cognizant’s Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services Practice (CIS), is all about accepting digital transformation by driving core modernization holistically across layers. We help customers transform infrastructure and workplace to meet the constantly evolving needs of the digital era. Our broad approach delivers key results for our customers by achieving cloud driven modernization and workplace and operational transformation to own the business in a secure environment. Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future* Job Title: Senior Linux Administrator Location: Remote Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Senior Linux Administrator with strong expertise in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), VMware ESXi/vSphere, Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), and Patch Automation. The candidate will be responsible for managing enterprise Linux infrastructure, VMware virtual environments, vulnerability remediation, OS patching, automation initiatives, and platform reliability. The ideal candidate should possess deep hands-on experience in Linux administration, VMware virtualization, infrastructure automation, security compliance, and automated patch management using Ansible. Key Responsibilities Linux Administration Administer and support large-scale Linux environments (RHEL, CentOS, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux). Perform OS installation, upgrades, migrations, and lifecycle management. Configure and maintain user management, storage, LVM, file systems, NFS, and security policies. Monitor server performance, capacity planning, and system health. Troubleshoot complex OS, kernel, filesystem, and performance issues. VMware ESXi Administration Manage VMware vSphere, ESXi hosts, clusters, vCenter, and virtual machines. Perform VM provisioning, resource optimization, snapshot management, and host maintenance. Support ESXi upgrades, patching, and cluster maintenance activities. Collaborate with storage and network teams for virtualization solutions. Ansible Automation Develop and maintain Ansible Playbooks, Roles, and Inventories. Build Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions for Linux administration tasks. Automate: Server provisioning Configuration management User administration Compliance validation Health checks Patch deployment Utilize Ansible Tower/AWX/AAP for scheduling and orchestration. Patch Automation & Vulnerability Management Design and implement automated Linux patching solutions using Ansible. Execute monthly and emergency patching activities. Manage patch compliance reporting and audit requirements. Perform pre-checks, patch deployment, reboot coordination, validation, and reporting. Remediate security vulnerabilities identified through Tenable, Qualys, Rapid7, or other scanning tools. Support CIS benchmark hardening and security compliance initiatives. Security & Compliance Perform Linux hardening based on CIS standards. Support SOX, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and corporate security compliance requirements. Conduct vulnerability assessments and remediation activities. Manage SSH key authentication, certificate renewals, and access controls. Automation & Scripting Create Bash, Shell, Python, or Ansible-based automation solutions. Automate recurring operational activities and reduce manual interventions. Integrate automation workflows with ServiceNow, Jenkins, GitLab, or APIs. Incident & Problem Management Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for critical incidents. Participate in change management, release management, and DR activities. Provide L3/L4 infrastructure support. Required Skills Operating Systems Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) CentOS Rocky Linux Oracle Linux Virtualization VMware ESXi VMware vSphere vCenter Administration Automation Ansible Ansible Tower / AWX / AAP YAML Playbooks Scripting Bash Shell Python Patching Tools Red Hat Satellite Ansible Automation Platform Patch Management Frameworks Security Vulnerability Management CIS Hardening CVE Remediation Security Compliance Preferred Skills OpenShift / Kubernetes Terraform Git/GitLab Jenkins ServiceNow Integration Cloud Platforms (AWS/Azure) Monitoring Tools (SolarWinds, Nagios, Prometheus) Certifications (Preferred) RHCSA / RHCE VMware VCP Red Hat Ansible Automation Certification AWS/Azure Certification Soft Skills Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities. Excellent communication and stakeholder management. Ability to drive automation initiatives and mentor junior administrators. Experience working in enterprise/global delivery environments. Nice-to-have for Senior-Level Candidates Experience managing 500+ Linux servers Enterprise patch automation at scale VMware cluster patching automation Integration of Ansible with ServiceNow and CI/CD pipelines Infrastructure modernization and transformation projects Compensation: We are offering between $94,000 – $109,000. Applications will be accepted until July 24, 2026.Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans. Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law. *Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

The Senior Linux Administrator will manage enterprise Linux infrastructure and VMware virtual environments, focusing on automation initiatives and platform reliability. Responsibilities include OS patching, vulnerability remediation, and ensuring security compliance.

Candidates should have strong expertise in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, VMware, and Ansible, with hands-on experience in Linux administration and automation. Familiarity with security compliance and patch management is also essential.

• Salary $94k–$109k • Discretionary annual incentive program

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Linux Administration
• VMware ESXi
• Ansible Automation
• Patch Automation
• Security Compliance
• Infrastructure Automation
• Troubleshooting
• Scripting
• CIS Hardening
• Vulnerability Management
• Incident Management
• Configuration Management
• Cloud Platforms
• Monitoring Tools
• Automation Solutions
• User Management

Minimum experience

5+ years

Apply by

Aug 13, 2026