RHEL Engineer (Contractor) for Enterprise-Wide Migration

Role: RHEL Engineer

Duration: 6 months - with potential for extension/conversion

Location: 100% Remote

Project Scope:

We are seeking an experienced IT Systems Engineer (Contractor) to support our enterprise-wide RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 migration project using Leapp. This role is part of a critical systems modernization initiative and requires strong expertise in RHEL systems, Leapp upgrade processes, and managing upgrades at scale. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, process-driven, and experienced in identifying and mitigating upgrade risks in enterprise environments. (2500 total Linux Servers)

Team Size: Team of 11 total (working with internal-facing application owners as well)

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute in-place upgrades from RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 using the Leapp tool across physical and virtual servers.

• Assess system readiness and compatibility, including applications, third-party tools, and kernel modules.

• Conduct pre-upgrade analysis, resolve blocking issues, and ensure systems meet Leapp prerequisites.

• Develop and follow upgrade checklists, testing procedures, and rollback plans.

• Collaborate with application owners, DBAs, and infrastructure teams to coordinate upgrade schedules and minimize disruption.

• Troubleshoot upgrade-related issues across system performance, services, SELinux, and network configurations.

• Automate repeatable upgrade processes where appropriate using Ansible or similar tools.

• Ensure upgrades align with internal security and compliance requirements.

• Document upgrade activities, outcomes, and system changes.

• Use Remedy to track tasks, incidents, and changes related to the upgrade project.

Required Experience:

• 3-5+ years of Linux system administration experience, with a strong focus on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

• Hands-on experience performing RHEL 7 to RHEL 8/9 upgrades & migrations using Leapp in enterprise environments.

• Strong understanding of RPM, system boot processes, GRUB, kernel modules, systemd, and SELinux.

• Experience identifying and remediating Leapp upgrade blockers and compatibility issues.

• Proficiency in scripting (e.g., Bash, Python) and automation with Ansible.

• Familiarity with system backup and recovery procedures, including snapshots, rsync, and LVM.

• Excellent troubleshooting skills across system, network, and service layers.

• Comfortable working independently and managing work in a remote, team-based environment.

• Experience using Remedy for ticketing and change management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• RHCE or equivalent Red Hat certification.

• Experience in virtualized environments (e.g., VMware, Nutanix).

• Prior work on large-scale upgrade or migration projects in production environments.

• Previous experience as a contractor or consultant on IT infrastructure projects.

Required Education:

• •Related Bachelor's degree in an IT related field or relevant work experience

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