What does a senior linux engineer do?
Senior Linux engineers are lead information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for implementing and monitoring computer programs that are created through the Linux system. These senior engineers are required to lead their departments to develop and implement solutions by using project management principles for disaster recovery. They are required to provide various system administration support tasks for Linux program users. Senior Linux engineers must also work with their networking teams to provide troubleshooting procedures for complex application issues.
Senior linux engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior linux engineer resumes:
- Experience on shell scripting and bash to accomplish day to day system administration tasks.
- Involve in configuring yum repository, RHEL satellite servers and manage rpm's using rpm commands.
- Manage and editing Perl scripts and configurations pertinent to the transaction process for the bank and various clients.
- Design applications on AWS taking advantage of disaster recovery design guidelines.
- Configure and automate the build process using Jenkins to achieve continuous integration.
- Experience shell scripting to automate administration jobs including backups for Websphere administration repository.
- Experience in network administration, deploying and troubleshooting of DNS, LDAP, NIS, NFS and DHCP etc.
- Develop standards and guidelines for the use of Linux CentOS.
- Design and develop Java interface library functions to communicate with ESP/COINSERV Unix servers through TCP/IP ports.
- Install and configure NAGIOS monitoring tool on CentOS and also configure its plugins on different distributions.
- Handle admin tasks in Linux OS such as server restart, application installation and setting up monitor dashboards.
- Evaluate new Linux enterprise and virtualization technologies.
- Network monitoring using NAGIOS, Introscope & Splunk tools.
- Debug in the cloud when need and roll back if issues are find.
- Perform migration of production windows servers from windows 2008 R2 to windows 2012 R2.
Senior linux engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Senior Linux Engineers are proficient in Python, AWS, and Cloud. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Linux Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 10%
Design and implement/customize OpenStack features, fix defects and provide improvements wherever required in Python.
- AWS, 4%
Installed Puppet on different machines and upgraded current versions of Puppet to later versions on AWS (Amazon Web Services).
- Cloud, 4%
Involved in Automating delivery of secure, always-on infrastructure and enable IT as a service with Enterprise Hybrid Cloud.
- Java, 4%
Developed server-side classes using Java/J2EE.
- Bash, 4%
Created a custom monitoring and intrusion detection system from scratch comprising approximately 6000 lines of bash and Perl script.
- Troubleshoot, 4%
Worked closely with IaaS provider to troubleshoot and resolve infrastructure-related issues impacting the PaaS.
Common skills that a senior linux engineer uses to do their job include "python," "aws," and "cloud." You can find details on the most important senior linux engineer responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior linux engineer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Senior linux engineers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "utilized postgres sql to provide back end data holding for java app to do data plotting and discover of internal network. "
Communication skills. Many senior linux engineer duties rely on communication skills. "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers.," so a senior linux engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior linux engineer responsibilities rely on communication skills: "install and configure tomcat and flash mx communications services for development and production servers. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for senior linux engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how senior linux engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior linux engineer: "installed and configured bmc patrol, net-snmp, powerpath and emc solutions enabler, symcli on linux/unix hosts. ".
The three companies that hire the most senior linux engineers are:
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Senior linux engineer vs. Unix systems administrator
UNIX system administrators install, configure, and maintain the UNIX systems of organizations. The administrators are in charge of the troubleshooting of server errors. They install new system hardware for their respective organizations and respond to the issues raised by the users. It is part of their job to monitor the network's performance. Usually, they are working in an office using UNIX multiuser operating system. They supervise the execution of data conversion projects such as database hardware replacements.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between senior linux engineers and unix systems administrator. For instance, senior linux engineer responsibilities require skills such as "python," "aws," "cloud," and "devops." Whereas a unix systems administrator is skilled in "database," "unix systems," "web servers," and "disaster recovery." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Unix systems administrators earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $110,380. On the other hand, senior linux engineers are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $129,917.The education levels that unix systems administrators earn slightly differ from senior linux engineers. In particular, unix systems administrators are 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior linux engineer. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior linux engineer vs. Unix administrator
Administrators are administrative professionals who oversee the whole office or department. They manage office activities and supervise administrative functions in the office. They work the office calendar and oversee the appointment-setting process. They coordinate office events and ensure that all preparations are made and that there are no conflicting schedules. They also maintain a database of external providers of various office needs. Administrators also oversee office supplies and prepare purchase requisitions. They also manage janitorial services and other functions that are related to the maintenance of the physical office space. Administrators ensure that all fixtures and equipment in the office are functioning well and have no problems.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior linux engineer resumes. While senior linux engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "python," "aws," "cloud," and "java," unix administrators use skills like "database," "web servers," "disk space," and "sql."
On average, unix administrators earn a lower salary than senior linux engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, unix administrators earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $93,829. Whereas senior linux engineers have higher pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $129,917.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Unix administrators tend to reach similar levels of education than senior linux engineers. In fact, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior linux engineer vs. Administrator
A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior linux engineer is likely to be skilled in "python," "aws," "cloud," and "java," while a typical administrator is skilled in "customer service," "data entry," "payroll," and "financial reports."
Administrators earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $78,798. Senior linux engineers earn the highest pay from the utilities industry, with an average salary of $129,917.When it comes to education, administrators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior linux engineers. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior linux engineer vs. Network administrator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior linux engineers and network administrators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior linux engineer might have more use for skills like "python," "aws," "cloud," and "java." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of network administrators require skills like "windows server," "network hardware," "routers," and "lan. "
In general, network administrators earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $74,936. The highest-paying industry for a senior linux engineer is the utilities industry.The average resume of network administrators showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to senior linux engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.6%.Types of senior linux engineer
Updated January 8, 2025











