Lead IT Engineer

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress.

Lumen’s commitment to workplace inclusion and employee support shines bright. We’ve made the Newsweek 2024 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list and achieved a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the fifth consecutive year. Plus, we’re the top employer in the communications and telecom industry, ranking 12th overall across all industries in The American Opportunity Index.

We’re looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled UNIX Lead IT Engineer to join our dynamic Infrastructure Engineering team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing our UNIX-based systems and infrastructure. This role requires a deep understanding of UNIX systems, network administration, and VMware technologies, as well as leadership and project management skills to ensure the stability and performance of our global infrastructure. As a Lead IT Engineer, you will be part of a dedicated team of global engineers managing and maintaining the infrastructure in support of the managed hosting products.

The Main Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement comprehensive infrastructure solutions based on Linux Server operating systems. Ensure alignment with organizational goals and industry best practices.
2. Oversee the installation, configuration, and maintenance of Linux servers, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
3. Implement and manage security protocols and procedures to safeguard the infrastructure. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
4. Lead infrastructure projects from inception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
5. Implement monitoring tools, automations, and processes to proactively identify and resolve issues. Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
6. Maintain comprehensive documentation of infrastructure design, configuration, processes, and procedures.
7. Work closely with other teams, including operations, product, network, security, and application teams, to ensure seamless integration and operation of the infrastructure.
8. Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends. Propose and implement improvements to the infrastructure to enhance performance and efficiency.
9. Maintain 99.999% availability for all Hosting Infrastructure and provide 24 x 7 support.

What We Look For in a Candidate

Required Qualifications

1. Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in Red Hat Enterprise Linux and ESXi, including significant experience in a lead or senior role.
2. Experience with virtualization technologies, such as VMware.
3. Experience in scripting languages (e.g., Shell, Perl, Python).
4. Understanding of complex network topologies, protocols and services (e.g., VLAN, Load balancing, TCP/IP, DNS, NFS).
5. Experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef).
6. Knowledge of storage systems and SAN/NAS/vSAN technologies.
7. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
8. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment. Strong interpersonal skills.
9. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Willingness to take on new challenges and learn new technologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced certifications (e.g., RHCE, RHCA, RHCSA) are highly desirable.
2. Experience working in a DevOps role, utilizing CI/CD pipelines, version control and containerized approaches to server deployment (such as GitLab, Podman, Docker, Kubernetes, Morpheus, Jenkins).
3. Experience with Red Hat Satellite.
4. Knowledge of ITIL processes and frameworks.
5. Experience in information security best practices and regulatory obligations (SOC, PCI).

Compensation

The starting salary for this role differs based on the employee's primary work location. Employees typically do not start at the top of the range, though compensation depends on each individual's qualifications.

Location Based Pay Ranges:

1. $94,420 - $125,890 in these states: AR ID KY LA ME MS NE SC SD
2. $99,390 - $132,510 in these states: AL AZ FL GA IA IN KS MO MT ND NM OH OK PA TN UT VT WI WV WY
3. $104,360 - $139,140 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
4. $109,330 - $145,770 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

As with the pay range variety that's based on the region of a country, specific offers are determined by various factors such as experience, education, skills, certifications and other business needs.

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.