Engineer-Intermediate Linux System

Job Type: Officer of Administration Bargaining Unit: Regular/Temporary: Regular End Date if Temporary: Hours Per Week: 35 Standard Work Schedule: Building: Salary Range: 90,000-104,000 The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.

The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is seeking an Intermediate Linux Systems Engineer for a full-time career opportunity. Reporting to the Director of Research Computing and Campus Infrastructure, the Intermediate Linux Systems Engineer will manage LDEO’s portfolio of Research Computing systems—designing and implementing new solutions as needs arise, while providing ongoing maintenance and operational support.

This role is integral to architecting and developing solutions for LDEO’s hybrid computing infrastructure, supporting both on-premises and cloud environments. The incumbent will work within the LDEO Information Technology group, supporting research computing and networking across the Palisades campus and beyond.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute system deployment plans tailored to research needs and our core services, aligning with institutional policies. Linux System Administration: Provide administration and support for Linux-based systems across both cloud-hosted and on-premises virtualized environments. Hardware & Maintenance: Administer and maintain server hardware, including rackmount servers, storage arrays, and network equipment.

Software Testing & Upgrades: Test new software versions, participate in upgrades, and create documentation such as flowcharts and diagrams. Operational Support: Perform daily user support, system operations, upgrades, and institutional audits. Problem Resolution: Ensure timely resolution of all server and client computing/application issues.

Knowledge Development: Develop, maintain, and share knowledge of best practices for troubleshooting recurring issues. Monitoring & Reporting: Create automated reports, respond to hardware and software alerts, and implement new monitoring processes as needed. Documentation & Feedback: Provide ongoing documentation of configuration and installation processes, and report resource or knowledge gaps as needed.

Perform related duties as assigned or requested.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field is required. Experience : Minimum of 3 years of related professional experience in Linux system administration. Technical Expertise : Experience installing, configuring, and maintaining Unix/Linux systems on bare-metal, virtualized environments, or public cloud providers.

Proficient in troubleshooting Linux server and operating system issues in a networked environment. Linux System Administration, Scripting languages in the Linux environment, VMware v. Sphere, including ESXi and v. Center , Networking (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP,LDAP).

Preferred Qualifications

Data Lifecycle Management processes. Cloud service providers, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS). UNIX/Linux (RHEL) systems administration. Backup systems for physical and virtual hardware (e.g., Avamar, Veeam). Monitoring tools (e.g., Nagios) NAS/SAN hardware and software. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks under short deadlines.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively. Strong attention to detail, with the ability to align IT goals with institutional objectives. Excellent analytical, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills. Experience using ticketing systems (e.g., Osticket, Jira, Bugzilla, Service. Now). Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and tact in a professional setting.

Ability to monitor and manage multiple communication channels simultaneously. Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.