Linux / AWS Int DevOps Engineer
Summary
Hands-on DevOps role in Johannesburg owning the Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu) servers hosting mission-critical GemStone/S environments across dev, test, pre-live and production: patching, backups/recovery, security, monitoring with DataDog, and automation via Ansible, Jenkins, Git and Bash/Python scripts. AWS experience is advantageous.
Johannesburg, South Africa
We are looking for a skilled and proactive Linux/Windows Systems Administrator to take primary ownership of the GemStone/S application environment. You will install, configure, administer, monitor, and optimise the Linux servers that host these mission-critical systems across development, test, pre-live, and production.
This is a hands-on DevOps-focused role at the intersection of infrastructure and application platforms. You will ensure stability, security, performance, and availability while partnering closely with development, infrastructure, and operations teams. Ideal candidates thrive on ownership, enjoy troubleshooting complex systems, and are motivated to continuously improve reliability through automation and observability.
Key Responsibilities
- Configure and maintain Linux operating systems (RHEL, Ubuntu, or similar) across all environments
- Coordinate OS upgrades, patching, and security updates with infrastructure and stakeholder teams
- Manage user accounts, permissions, groups, and access controls
- Monitor and maintain storage, file systems, network services, and system services
- Troubleshoot server, operating system, and infrastructure issues
GemStone/S Administration
- Monitor and maintain GemStone/S environments and core processes (stone, netldi, gem, repository)
- Configure and upgrade GemStone/S environments in collaboration with senior developers
- Monitor user and bulk processes, backups, replication, and recovery procedures
- Oversee repository integrity checks and elevate or resolve repository-related issues
- Monitor deployment pipelines and respond to issues
- Support application deployments and environment configuration changes using Jenkins, Git, Ansible, and OS scripts
- Assist development teams with performance analysis and troubleshooting
- Maintain and enhance automation scripts (Jenkins, Ansible, Terragrunt, Bash/Batch)
- Support CI/CD processes and implement configuration management / infrastructure-as-code practices where applicable
Monitoring, Performance & Observability
- Monitor server health, application availability, disk usage, memory, and overall system performance
- Implement and improve proactive monitoring and alerting
- Enhance observability through integration with organisational tools (DataDog)
Security & Compliance
- Enforce Linux security standards and best practices
- Manage SSH access, certificates, firewall configurations, and vulnerability remediation
- Ensure compliance with security policies and audit requirements
- Participate in security reviews and incident response activities
Backup, Recovery & Business Continuity
- Monitor daily restore procedures and maintain backup/recovery processes
- Develop, test, and document recovery procedures
- Perform regular disaster recovery validation exercises
- Ensure RTO and RPO objectives are met
- Maintain accurate technical documentation, operational runbooks, and troubleshooting guides
- Document architecture changes and system dependencies
- Support production incident investigation, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement preventative measures
- Collaborate with internal teams to resolve complex issues
- Use approved AI-assisted tools to enhance coding, testing, troubleshooting, and documentation (while applying appropriate governance and validation)
Qualifications & Experience
- Diploma or Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of Linux systems administration experience
- 2+ years supporting enterprise application platforms
- Proven experience administering mission-critical production environments
- Relevant Linux certifications are advantageous
- Experience supporting GemStone/S environments is highly advantageous
- Shell scripting (Bash, Python, or similar)
- Systems, networking (TCP/IP), storage management, and performance tuning
- Ansible or similar automation/configuration management tools
- Monitoring and observability tools (DataDog; Prometheus knowledge beneficial)
- CI/CD tooling knowledge (Jenkins advantageous)
- Cloud platform experience (AWS advantageous)
- GemStone/S skills, including backup/recovery, performance monitoring, capacity planning, and MFA/client token integration (advantageous)