Linux Systems Engineer - RHCSA - HPC & Automation Expert

Marie Theresia Nkeh

Linux Systems Engineer

Location: Bowie, MD

Clearance: Public Trust Citizenship: U.S. Citizen

Professional Summary

Red Hat Certified System Administrator/Engineer (RHCSA), with a B.Sc. in Information Technology and nearly 15 years of extensive experience in Linux enterprise environments.

Proven expertise in managing over 8,000 servers, provisioning workstations, leading technical training, and ensuring compliance with DISA STIG standards for LinuxandWindows OS including hosted applications. Specialized in HPC and systems cluster management, optimizing compute environments for high-performance workloads and ensuring seamless integration of parallel computing resources.

Advanced scripting and automation skills, including PowerShell, Bash, Python, and Puppet, to streamline processes, automate system deployments, and enhance operational efficiency.

Skilled in project management, including writing detailed project plans, defining milestones, and tracking progress using Smartsheets and Quads.

Experienced workshop leader, including conducting Linux BootCamps at Dynamic Technology and participating in Train-the-Trainer Red Hat workshops at Red Hat Headquarters.

Recognized for delivering operational excellence, maintaining high system availability, and successfully leading critical projects, including data center decommissioning, AAP deployments, HPC cluster provisioning, and compliance initiatives.

Professional Experience

Linux Systems Engineer/Onboarding Trainer with Cyberdata, AceInfo, and Guidehouse Digital and IBM at NOAA, College Park, MD (Sept 2017 – Present)

●Developed robust automation scripts in PowerShell, Bash, Python, and Puppet to streamline server provisioning, configuration management, and system deployments across over 3,000 systems.

●Designed and implemented HPC cluster solutions to support high-performance computing workloads, leveraging technologies.

●Wrote comprehensive project plans, designed project milestones, and tracked progress using Smartsheets and Quads to ensure timely and successful project completion.

●Spearheaded a compliance initiative to implement RHEL DISA STIG baselines, ensuring systems adhered to federal security standards. Conducted regular audits, remediated non-compliant configurations, and automated compliance checks using Ansible Tower.

●Designed, deployed, and configured GitLab CI/CD pipelines to streamline development workflows and automate system configurations. Successfully implemented and managed Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) for efficient playbook execution and inventory management.

●Directed the planning and execution of decommissioning obsolete systems and infrastructure. Coordinated with stakeholders to migrate critical services, recover hardware, and secure sensitive data before final decommissioning.

●Automated workstation and VM provisioning using Foreman, VMware, and Red Hat Satellite, improving deployment efficiency.

●Monitored production systems with tools like Zabbix and Big Brother; enforced security through SELinux policies, firewalls, and ACLs.

●Trained newly onboarded system administrators, developed detailed technical documentation, and conducted workshops to enhance team efficiency.

Unix/Linux Systems Administrator & Instructor at Dynamic Technologies (Feb 2010 – Sept 2017)

●Designed and delivered intensive Linux BootCamps, equipping IT professionals with hands-on skills in Linux server administration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.

●Provided in-depth training in Linux Administration, Oracle Databases, and SQL, preparing students for industry certifications like RHEL and Oracle.

●Wrote custom Bash and Python scripts to automate system tasks, enhancing deployment speed and reducing errors.

●Supported enterprise environments by troubleshooting issues related to performance, security, and application functionality.

●Conducted quarterly patching and system upgrades, ensuring minimal downtime.

System Administrator / Database Administrator at Ngoketunjia Cooperative Credit Union League (Feb 2006 – Oct 2009)

●Automated routine database maintenance tasks and log analysis using Bash and Python scripts.

●Configured LAN networks, implemented security protocols, and monitored systems using Snort and Nagios.

●Designed and managed Oracle Databases, resolving contention issues and improving performance.

●Migrated Oracle 9i databases to 10g and 11g on Linux platforms with minimal downtime.

Education

●B.Sc. in Information Technology

●Pursuing a Second Bachelor's in Cloud Computing

Certifications

●Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

●Red Hat Certified Instructor (RHCI)

●AWS Cloud Practitioner

●ITIL Foundation Certification

●Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification

●CompTIA Project+ Certification

●CompTIA Security+

●CompTIA Network+

●CompTIA A+

●CompTIA Cloud+

Technical Skills

●Operating Systems: RHEL, Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, AIX, Windows

●HPC Technologies: Slurm, OpenMPI, InfiniBand, Lustre, GPFS

●Automation Tools: Ansible, Puppet, Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), GitLab CI/CD, Bash scripting, PowerShell scripting, Python, Cron jobs

●Project Management: Smartsheets, Quads

●Storage: NetApp, LVM, DVO, NFS, Autofs

●Programming Languages: Python, PowerShell, Bash, Puppet, SQL

●Databases: MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB

●Networking: DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, Static Routes, VLANs

●Monitoring Tools: Zabbix, Big Brother, Xymond, CheckMK

●Security: SELinux, Firewalls, ACLs, TCP Wrappers

Workshops and Training

●Conducted intensive Linux BootCamp Workshops at Dynamic Technologies, equipping participants with hands-on experience in Linux server configuration, automation, and troubleshooting.

●Participated in Train-the-Trainer Workshops at Red Hat Headquarters to refine teaching methodologies and enhance expertise in delivering advanced Red Hat training.

Awards and Recognitions

●Peer Recognition Awards for troubleshooting excellence and customer service at Cyberdata and AceInfo.

●Successful Project Completion Awards from ACE (2019).

●Recognized for professionalism and technical expertise by federal clients.

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