Linux Engineer

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid/On-site)

About the Opportunity

We are looking for a highly skilled Linux Systems Engineer to join a premier global proprietary trading firm. In this role, you will engineer and optimize large-scale Linux infrastructure that powers both ultra-low-latency financial systems and high-throughput research environments. This is a chance to manage a massive global footprint of over 10,000 bare-metal systems where automation, performance tuning, and technical initiative are the primary drivers of success.

Responsibilities

• Infrastructure Engineering: Lead the provisioning, configuration, and performance tuning of a global, large-scale Linux fleet to ensure maximum reliability and speed.

• Automation & Tooling: Design and maintain sophisticated internal tools using Python and Bash to streamline the management of thousands of bare-metal servers.

• Configuration Management: Develop and refine codebase for system configurations, ensuring consistency across diverse workloads including Kubernetes-based applications and high-frequency trading platforms.

• Fleet Visibility: Enhance system telemetry by extending monitoring, logging, and alerting frameworks to provide deep visibility into Linux performance metrics.

• Systems Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex kernel and network-level issues within a mission-critical enterprise environment.

• Collaborative Development: Engage in a rigorous technical environment through code reviews, merge requests, and cross-functional architectural discussions.

Requirements (Must-have)

• Expert Linux Administration: Extensive experience engineering and managing Linux distributions at scale, specifically on bare-metal hardware.

• Python Development: Strong proficiency in Python for automation, API design, and systems debugging.

• Configuration Management: Advanced experience using enterprise-grade configuration tools (e.g., Puppet/Hiera or equivalent) to manage large server fleets.

• Automation Frameworks: Proven ability to author complex playbooks and automate tasks using Ansible.

• Systems & Network Diagnostics: Deep knowledge of low-level troubleshooting tools such as EBPF, tcpdump, strace, and systemd.

• Build & Deploy: Solid experience with CI/CD pipelines, Git version control, and RPM package management/repository administration.

• Network Fundamentals: Strong understanding of TCP/UDP, Multicast, DNS, and routing protocols.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred Qualifications

• Containerization: Experience building Docker images and working within Kubernetes environments.

• Observability: Familiarity with Prometheus, Grafana, and AlertManager, particularly in developing custom exporters for Linux telemetry.

• High-Stakes Environments: Previous experience in fintech, high-frequency trading, or large-scale research environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary:$150,000 – $225,000 USD

• Total Rewards: This role is eligible for a discretionary performance bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including premium health insurance and paid leave.