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Senior Unix System Administrator Jobs in Novato, CA

Collabera

UNIX Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Having a UNIX systems administration background will be a major plus however it's very important to note that this is primarily an engineering role, not a sys admin one. Responsibilities: Typical ...

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Senior Unix System Administrator information

See Novato, CA salary details

$57.5K

$120K

$168.5K

How much do senior unix system administrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior unix system administrator in Novato, CA is $120,024.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,000.00 and $136,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior Unix system administrator?

Senior Unix System Administrators are experienced IT professionals who manage, maintain, and troubleshoot Unix or Linux-based server systems within an organization. They are responsible for ensuring system reliability, security, and performance by configuring servers, applying updates, monitoring system health, and responding to incidents. In addition to technical duties, they may also mentor junior admins, design system architecture, and implement automation tools to streamline operations. Their expertise is essential for organizations that rely on Unix or Linux servers for critical applications and data management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior Unix system administrator?

To thrive as a Senior Unix System Administrator, you need deep expertise in Unix/Linux operating systems, scripting languages (such as Bash, Python, or Perl), and a strong understanding of networking and security principles, usually backed by relevant certifications or degrees. Familiarity with configuration management tools (like Ansible or Puppet), virtualization platforms, and monitoring systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help you manage complex issues and mentor junior staff. These skills and qualities are crucial for maintaining system reliability, optimizing performance, and ensuring secure, efficient IT operations.

What are some common challenges senior Unix system administrators face when managing large-scale, multi-user environments?

Senior Unix System Administrators often deal with challenges such as maintaining system uptime across multiple servers, ensuring security compliance, and managing complex patching schedules in environments with numerous users. Balancing proactive monitoring with rapid incident response is crucial, as is collaborating with developers, network engineers, and support staff to troubleshoot issues efficiently. Additionally, adapting to evolving technologies and automating repetitive tasks are key to maintaining system performance and reliability.

What is the difference between Senior Unix System Administrator vs Linux Systems Engineer?

AspectSenior Unix System AdministratorLinux Systems Engineer
CertificationsUnix/Linux certifications (e.g., LPIC, RHCE)Linux certifications (e.g., RHCE, CompTIA Linux+)
Work EnvironmentUnix servers, enterprise data centersLinux servers, cloud environments
Industry UsageFinancial, telecom, large enterprisesTech companies, startups, cloud providers
Job FocusSystem maintenance, troubleshooting, scriptingDeployment, automation, infrastructure design

Both roles require Linux/Unix knowledge and certifications, but Senior Unix System Administrators focus more on maintaining enterprise Unix systems, while Linux Systems Engineers often work on deploying and automating Linux environments, especially in cloud and development settings.

What cities near Novato, CA are hiring for Senior Unix System Administrator jobs?

Cities near Novato, CA with the most Senior Unix System Administrator job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Unix System Administrator job openings in Novato, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,024 per year, or $57.7 per hour.

Senior Linux Systems Administrator

Info Way Solutions

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Job Summary
We are looking for a Senior Linux Systems Administrator with strong experience in Linux administration, Oracle database/infrastructure environments, enterprise systems operations, automation, and troubleshooting. The ideal candidate will be responsible for maintaining, supporting, securing, and optimizing Linux servers and Oracle infrastructure in a large-scale enterprise environment.
The candidate should have hands-on experience with RHEL/Linux, Oracle environments, shell scripting, system monitoring, patching, performance tuning, backup/recovery, and infrastructure automation.
Key Responsibilities
  • Administer and support enterprise Linux/Unix servers, primarily Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
  • Install, configure, upgrade, patch, and maintain Linux operating systems and related infrastructure.
  • Support Oracle database infrastructure, including server-level configuration, connectivity, storage, and performance-related activities.
  • Monitor system health, capacity, availability, and performance across production and non-production environments.
  • Troubleshoot complex Linux, networking, storage, application, and infrastructure issues.
  • Perform OS patching, vulnerability remediation, hardening, and security compliance activities.
  • Manage system services, filesystems, LVM, NFS, permissions, users, groups, and scheduled jobs.
  • Support high-availability and disaster-recovery environments.
  • Work closely with Oracle DBAs, application teams, network teams, security teams, and DevOps teams.
  • Automate repetitive administration and operational tasks using Shell scripting, Python, Ansible, or similar tools.
  • Participate in infrastructure upgrades, migrations, server builds, and technology refresh projects.
  • Monitor and analyze system logs and performance metrics to identify and resolve issues proactively.
  • Support backup, restore, and disaster recovery processes.
  • Maintain system documentation, operational procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
  • Participate in 24x7 on-call support and incident management when required.
  • Follow ITIL processes for incident, problem, change, and configuration management.
Required Skills
  • 7+ years of hands-on Linux/Unix system administration experience
  • Strong experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
  • Experience supporting Oracle database/infrastructure environments
  • Strong knowledge of Linux system troubleshooting and performance tuning
  • Experience with Shell/Bash scripting
  • Hands-on experience with Ansible or other configuration-management tools
  • Strong knowledge of LVM, filesystems, NFS, SSH, DNS, TCP/IP, and system services
  • Experience with Linux patching, hardening, and vulnerability remediation
  • Experience with enterprise monitoring tools such as Splunk, SolarWinds, Dynatrace, or similar
  • Knowledge of backup and disaster recovery technologies
  • Experience with incident, problem, and change management processes
Preferred Skills
  • Experience with Oracle Linux (OL) in addition to RHEL.
  • Experience supporting Oracle RAC, ASM, or Oracle Grid Infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of VMware or other virtualization technologies.
  • Experience with AWS, Azure, or OCI infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of Terraform or infrastructure-as-code concepts.
  • Experience with Python automation.
  • Knowledge of Kubernetes/containerized environments.
  • Experience with enterprise storage technologies such as SAN, NAS, and multipathing.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps practices.
  • Experience with high-availability and disaster-recovery solutions.

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