Cloud Engineer - Linux and Automation

Position Overview The Cloud, Engineer - Linux and Automation is responsible for the administration, automation, and continuous improvement of Thrive's Linux-based infrastructure. This role serves as an escalation point for Tier 1 issues and works closely with senior engineers and architects to design and implement repeatable, code-driven infrastructure solutions. The engineer will maintain and develop automation frameworks using Ansible and Terraform, assist with managing Thrive’s private cloud on HPE Morpheus Enterprise and VMware ecosystems, and ensure Ubuntu-based systems are secure, patched, and operating within established SLAs. The ideal candidate brings hands-on IaC experience, strong Linux troubleshooting skills, and a mindset oriented toward automation and operational excellence – all with a security first focus required to avoid unexpected downtime. Responsibilities Administer, monitor, and troubleshoot Linux systems (primarily Ubuntu) across physical and virtual environments. Serve as a Tier 2 escalation point for infrastructure incidents; perform root cause analysis and implement remediation actions. Manage and operate virtual machine workloads within HPE Morpheus Enterprise HVM and VMware ESXi, including VM provisioning, lifecycle management, and hypervisor-level troubleshooting. Define and enforce standardized build documentation Develop and maintain Ansible playbooks for configuration management, OS patching, application deployment, and compliance enforcement. Write and manage Terraform configurations for infrastructure provisioning and lifecycle management. Enforce infrastructure-as-code best practices including version control and peer review. Maintain and update NetBox as the authoritative source of truth for IP address management (IPAM), DCIM asset records, and network topology documentation. Integrate Netbox with IaC tools for automation of routine physical equipment commissioning Participate in change management processes, ensuring all changes are documented, reviewed, and approved in alignment with Thrive's ITSM standards. Perform routine system health checks, capacity reviews, and performance tuning for Linux servers. Maintain and improve internal runbooks, technical documentation, and knowledge base articles. Collaborate with networking, security, and cloud teams to resolve cross-functional infrastructure issues. Participate in an on-call rotation to support critical infrastructure incidents outside of standard business hours. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency through automation and standardization. Requirements: 3-5+ years of hands-on Linux system administration experience with strong proficiency in Ubuntu Linux including systemd, networking, storage management, and security hardening 2+ years of experience with Infrastructure as Code tools, specifically Ansible (roles, playbooks, inventories) and Terraform (state management, CI/CD plan/apply workflows) Hands-on familiarity with HPE Morpheus Enterprise or similar HVM/KVM platforms for VM provisioning, template management, and self-service automation; experience with VMware vCenter is a strong plus Working knowledge of NetBox for IPAM, DCIM, and network source-of-truth management; experience with NetBox API integrations preferred Proficiency in scripting languages for automation and tooling development Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing, and firewall rules as they apply to virtualized and cloud environments Familiarity with Git-based version control and collaborative workflows (GitLab or GitHub) Ability to diagnose and resolve complex system and infrastructure issues independently and under pressure Strong documentation habits - able to produce accurate and maintainable runbooks, topology diagrams, and change records Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a diverse workload Strong team player - collaborates effectively with peers and cross-functional teams to solve problems Proactive, change-oriented mindset - actively seeks process improvements and drives automation-first approaches Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or a related discipline — or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience Knowledge of ITIL and ITSM best practices Preferred Certifications: Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC-1/LPIC-2) or Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA); Red Hat Enterprise Linux Automation with Ansible (RH294) or better; HashiCorp Terraform Associate (003 or 004); Other: Work Schedule: Standard business hours with participation in an on-call rotation. Remote work eligible Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required for datacenter activities. Less than 10% Applicant selected will be subject to a criminal and credit background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to restricted information. Candidate must be able to pass CJIS clearance for the state of Florida. Thrive is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation practices for all employees and strive to provide competitive salaries that reflect the value and skills each team member brings to our organization. Salaries are determined according to the job's scope, market data, location, and the candidate’s qualifications, including experience and relevant education. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.