Software Developer System Administrator Jobs in Illinois

Reporting to the Director, System Operations, the primary focus of this role is the administration of Central’s data protection (backup) platform. This position will also lead administrative support for Linux systems and assist with certificate management and monitoring.

The primary responsibility for this role will be managing the Rubrick data protection (backup) platform to secure enterprise data assets by designing, deployment, and managing automated data protection policies across hybrid environments. This role ensures data resilience, operational compliance, and instant system recovery from system failures or cyber threats.

This position will also administer Central’s Red Hat Linux environment by managing server installations, upgrades, backups, and leading platform troubleshooting efforts required to help resolve production issues with Central’s Epicor-Prelude ERP and Sterling EDI platforms. You will partner with business and application teams, who may have limited systems expertise, to understand requirements and translate them into technical deliverables, implementation plans, and operational runbooks. This position will also assist the System Operations team with certificate management and monitoring responsibilities.

The candidate must have experience with data protection platforms and server administration across the full lifecycle—from sizing and deployment through ongoing maintenance—along with monitoring/observability skills (alerting strategy, dashboards, and actionable runbooks) to improve availability and reduce mean time to resolution. Familiarity with Microsoft Azure preferred, including operating and troubleshooting Linux workloads in Azure and integrating monitoring, identity, networking, and backup practices across hybrid environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform planning, installation, and configuration of data protection/Linux systems to meet business requirements.
• Partner with application administrators and business stakeholders to refine requirements, align on technical approach, and produce clear implementation plans, documentation, and runbooks.
• Perform data protection/Linux operating system software, hardware, and associated software product installation, configuration and upgrades.
• Develop, test, and document disaster recovery processes for data protection/Linux server environments.
• Perform capacity planning and performance tuning for environments.
• Provide off-hour “on call” support in a dynamic, 24x7 high demand environments.
• Assist with monitoring/observability for platforms (metrics, logs, alert tuning, dashboards, and on-call readiness
• Manage certificate lifecycle management (issuance, renewal, revocation, and expiration monitoring)
• Manage certificate lifecycle management (issuance, renewal, revocation, and expiration monitoring)
• Troubleshooting Linux workloads in Azure (compute, networking, identity, and monitoring integrations) and support hybrid connectivity and operational consistency across on-prem and cloud environments
• Maintain up to date knowledge of hardware and software technology to support the data protection/Linux system environments.
• Manage and respond to tickets/requests in accordance with SLA/OLA time frames.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BS/BA in computer technology or related field
• Systems Administrator with 5 to 7 years of experience, recent experience with Rubrick and RHEL 9 preferred.
• Experience with enterprise backup and recovery products, processes, and methods. Rubrick experience preferred.
• Experience building both physical and logical Linux server environments using Red Hat Satellite Server and Ansible
• Experience with system monitoring/observability tools and practices (metrics, logs, alerting, dashboards, and runbooks); preferred experience with platforms such as Azure Monitor/Log Analytics, Prometheus/Grafana
• Familiarity with Microsoft Azure services and administration for Linux workloads (e.g., Azure Virtual Machines, storage, networking, Azure AD/Entra ID concepts, Azure Monitor/Log Analytics); ability to support hybrid operations is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to elicit requirements, challenge assumptions constructively, and communicate complex infrastructure concepts to non-systems audiences (including application administrators)
• Effective communication skills for collaboration, documentation, email, and team discussions
• Strong business and professional disciplines with the ability to develop new processes and procedures to bring improvement to the workplace.
• Self-starting, motivated, and a positive attitude

POSITION INFORMATION

• This position pays $115,000-$130,000 per year depending on experience

BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Free Life and Disability Insurance
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to thousands of free online courses
• Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
• Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
• Referral Program with cash bonus
• Access to on-demand pay
• Paid parental leave

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market‑leading brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Best Bully Sticks®, Cadet®, C&S®, Farnam®, Ferry‑Morse®, Kaytee®, Nylabone®, Pennington®, Sevin® and Zoёcon®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.