Position Title: Senior Linux Platform Engineer

Location: Hyderabad

Grade: L2-2

Role Purpose

The Senior Linux Platform Engineer serves as the organization's technical authority for enterprise Linux platforms, combining operating system expertise with automation-first engineering principles. This role is responsible for designing, automating, and operating Linux infrastructure across hybrid cloud environments (Azure, AWS, on-premises VMware) while serving as an escalation point for critical Linux operations. The ideal candidate is a pragmatic technologist who partners with application teams, security, and business units to deliver standardized, compliant, and highly automated Linux platforms that accelerate pharma

innovation while maintaining rigorous GxP regulatory standards.

This position is pivotal to our organization's digital transformation journey. As pharma increasingly relies on cloud infrastructure, data platforms, AI/ML capabilities, and advanced analytics, the Linux platform becomes the foundation enabling innovation. This role ensures our scientists, researchers, and business partners have reliable, secure, and agile infrastructure that accelerates drug discovery and improves patient outcomes while maintaining the compliance rigor and quality standards our industry demands.

By leveraging our existing AAP investment and GitHub Actions integration, you'll drive automation maturity that reduces operational toil, accelerates delivery, and enables the organization to focus on high-value innovation rather than repetitive infrastructure tasks.

 

Key Responsibilities

Platform Engineering & Automation

Enhance and extend our enterprise Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) implementation, building sophisticated automation workflows for Linux provisioning, configuration management, and orchestration

Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions integrated with Ansible playbooks and AAP for automated OS image baking, testing, and deployment

Develop and optimize golden image pipelines for RHEL and other Linux distributions across Azure, AWS, and VMware environments using Infrastructure as Code principles

Create reusable Ansible roles, collections, and Python-based automation tools that enable self-service capabilities for application teams

Build integration workflows between GitHub Actions, AAP, and enterprise tooling via REST APIs (ServiceNow, monitoring platforms, CMDB, orchestration tools)

Drive containerization initiatives, supporting application teams with RHEL-based container strategies and platform readiness

Continuously improve automation framework performance, reliability, and maintainability based on operational feedback

Enterprise Linux Operations & Architecture

Serve as subject matter expert for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) across all versions and deployment models

Architect and manage Red Hat Satellite infrastructure for patch management, content lifecycle, and GxP compliance reporting

Own the Linux platform lifecycle: planning, hardening standards (CIS, STIG), patching strategies, and end-of-life migrations

Design and implement scalable solutions for Linux workloads across multi-cloud and hybrid environments

Establish and enforce Linux standards, best practices, and architectural patterns aligned with pharma GxP compliance requirements

Evaluate and integrate emerging Linux technologies and distributions as business needs evolve

Ensure Linux platforms meet validation requirements for GxP-regulated systems

 

Stakeholder Partnership & Integration

Partner with application owners, Oracle DBAs, integration teams, and development groups to understand requirements and embed them into standardized platform offerings

Translate complex business and application requirements into technical Linux platform capabilities

Collaborate with Cloud Engineering, Security, Network, and Storage teams on cross-functional initiatives

Lead technical discovery sessions and provide consultative guidance on Linux platform capabilities

Participate in architecture review boards and provide Linux expertise for new initiatives and M&A integrations

Work with Quality Assurance and Validation teams to ensure Linux automation supports GxP compliance and validation activities

 

Technical Leadership & Escalation Support

Function as Tier 3/4 escalation point for Service Desk and IT Operations on all Linux-related incidents and problems

Lead root cause analysis for critical Linux platform issues and drive permanent remediation

Mentor junior engineers and operations staff on Linux fundamentals, automation techniques, and troubleshooting methodologies

Provide on-call support rotation for critical production Linux infrastructure

Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and knowledge base articles aligned with GxP documentation standards  

 

Linux Platform Management

Assist with the maintenance of our CMDB

Maintain and evolve our Linux platform management environment

Audit participation and remediation

Collaborate and assist with other core tools to be integrated in the platform

Expected Skills

Technical Expertise

7+ years of hands-on Linux system administration experience with deep expertise in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 7, 8, 9)

Expert level of proficiency with Ansible Automation Platform (AAP/Tower/Controller), including complex workflow development, role creation, dynamic inventories, and job templates

Advanced proven experience with GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipeline development and integration with Ansible automation workflows

Advanced scripting capabilities in Python and Bash for automation, API integration, and systems programming

Extensive Experience managing Red Hat Satellite (6.x) for content management, patch orchestration, and compliance reporting

Strong understanding of Linux internals: systemd, kernel parameters, storage management (LVM, filesystems), networking, and security (SELinux, firewalld)

Experience with cloud-native Linux deployments in AWS (EC2, Systems Manager, AMI building) and Azure (VMs, Azure Automation, custom images)

Hands-on experience with VMware vSphere Linux guest management and integration

Proficiency with Git/GitHub for version control, branch strategies, and Infrastructure as Code workflows

Experience consuming and developing REST APIs for system integration and automation

Understanding of CI/CD principles and GitOps methodologies

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Platform & Integration Experience

Working knowledge of application requirements for Oracle databases, middleware platforms, and enterprise integration patterns

Experience with package management (RPM, yum/dnf) and custom repository management

Understanding of configuration management principles and desired state configuration

Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, Datadog, or similar)

Experience building and maintaining golden images with security hardening and compliance controls built-in

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Soft Skills & Business Acumen

Excellent communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders

Proven track record of partnering with application teams and understanding business requirements

Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with methodical problem-solving approach

Self-directed with ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment

Customer service mindset with experience in escalation management

Collaborative team player who can work effectively across organizational boundaries

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Preferred Qualifications

Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Experience in regulated pharmaceutical/life sciences environments with GxP system validation

Knowledge of additional Linux distributions (Ubuntu, SLES, Oracle Linux, Amazon Linux)

Container platform experience (OpenShift, Kubernetes, Docker/Podman)

Infrastructure as Code tools: Terraform, Packer for image building

Experience with HashiCorp Vault or secrets management platforms

Cloud certifications (AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Administrator)

Agile/DevOps methodology exposure and experience working in sprint-based delivery models

Experience with security hardening and compliance automation (SCAP, OpenSCAP, Ansible security roles)

Understanding of GAMP 5 principles and CSV (Computer System Validation) processes

GitHub Advanced Security or similar DevSecOps tooling experience

 

Background & Experience

Education: Bachelor's degree 

Proficiency in English Language 

Pharmaceutical experience preferred, or other regulated industry

Hybrid platform experience (Cloud (specifically AWS and Azure) and on-premises)

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