Linux System Engineer with Cloud & Automation Expertise

Alpha Sow

New York, NY ********.*****@*****.*** +1-646-***-**** LinkedIn

Summary:

Linux System Engineer with 5+ years of experience in enterprise IT infrastructure and cloud environments, including hands-on experience in Linux, Ansible, and AWS architecture. Experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7/8/9, CentOS, and Amazon Linux in enterprise and hybrid cloud environments. Skilled in server deployment, system hardening, automation, virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and network engineering. Expert in managing VMware ESXi, KVM, Docker, Kubernetes, and automating workflows using Bash, Ansible, YAML, Kickstart, and AWS CloudFormation. Strong background in AWS (EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, EBS, RDS), infrastructure optimization, and secure environment design. Proficient in OSI/TCP-IP networking, DHCP, DNS, LAN/WLAN, Apache, and enterprise storage solutions, including NAS, SAN, NFS, CIFS, and SAMBA. Experienced in LDAP/Active Directory integration, database support (PostgreSQL, RDS), and ITSM processes using ServiceNow. Recognized for improving system reliability, reducing manual work through automation, and ensuring high availability across mission-critical Linux environments. Skills:

Linux Operating Systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7/8/9, CentOS, Amazon Linux Virtualization Technologies: KVM, VMware ESXi, VMware Workstation, VirtualBox Containerization & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes Automation & Scripting: Bash, YAML, Ansible, Kickstart Infrastructure as Code (IaC): AWS CloudFormation

Package Management: YUM/DNF, RPM

Networking & Protocols: OSI Model, TCP/IP Model, TCP/UDP Protocols, DHCP, DNS, LAN, WLAN Storage & File Systems: NAS, SAN, NFS, CIFS, SAMBA, EBS Cloud Platforms & Services: AWS, EC2, S3, VPC, IAM Databases: RDS, DynamoDB, PostgreSQL

Web & Application Servers: Apache

Identity & Access: LDAP, Active Directory

Version Control: Git, GitHub

ITSM Tools: ServiceNow

Work Experience:

Linux System Engineer Jul 2023 – Present

McKinsey & Company, New York, NY

Deploy, configure, and manage Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 7/8/9) servers across production and development environments using Kickstart automation, ensuring standardized builds and reduced setup time.

Proven expertise in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ansible Automation Platform, and performance tuning to ensure the successful operation of the system.

Automated Ansible playbooks with Red Hat Satellite to patch hundreds of RHEL servers, improving compliance and reducing manual effort by 95%.

Perform backup, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis, resolving failed jobs and proactively preventing data loss with optimized configuration and monitoring.

Administer VMware ESXi and KVM virtual environments, optimizing compute and storage utilization through effective VM provisioning, snapshot management, and capacity planning.

Implement Docker containerization for microservices and application environments, improving deployment consistency and supporting agile development workflows.

Integrate and manage LDAP/Active Directory authentication with automount configurations for centralized user access and streamlined identity management.

Implement patch management and system updates using YUM and Red Hat Satellite, maintaining system reliability, security, and compliance with internal standards.

Configure and maintain Apache HTTP servers, enabling efficient web hosting and optimizing performance through virtual host and SSL/TLS configurations.

Perform comprehensive system hardening, vulnerability remediation, and compliance audits in accordance with CIS and corporate security benchmarks, strengthening overall infrastructure resilience.

Utilize Bash scripting and automation tools (Ansible) to streamline repetitive system administration tasks, reducing manual intervention and operational overhead.

Manage user accounts and permissions using Active Directory, ensuring secure access control and resource management.

Configure networking components based on the OSI model, ensuring proper communication flow across all layers.

Facilitate prompt issue resolution by employing DNS and DHCP protocols, improving system connectivity and stability.

Administer DynamoDB and PostgreSQL databases, ensuring seamless workflow and increasing operational speed by 20%.

Linux System Administrator Mar 2020 – Jun 2023

Dell Technologies, New York, NY

Installed, configured, supported, and secured local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems, including support of firewalls, routers, and switches.

Troubleshot pipeline issues in AWS environments (Linux EC2, RDS), debug integration problems, and resolved connectivity issues between API servers and databases.

Managed and maintained virtualization infrastructure using VMware vSphere, overseeing 50+ virtual machines with minimal downtime.

Spearhead the development and deployment of automation scripts using Bash and Ansible, resulting in a remarkable 30% reduction in manual tasks.

Configured and maintained backup and recovery processes for RHEL servers, troubleshooting failures and restoring data to minimize downtime.

Utilized RPM package management and custom repositories for software deployment, ensuring controlled versioning and compliance with internal standards.

Automated infrastructure provisioning and configuration with AWS CloudFormation, improving environment consistency and reducing deployment time by over 40%.

Implemented Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions to streamline user access and enhance security across multiple systems and applications.

Implemented a ServiceNow Ticketing system that reduced average resolution time by 30%, improving team efficiency and customer satisfaction

Built and managed cloud network components such as VPCs, subnets, route tables, security groups, and Internet/NAT gateways to enable secure connectivity.

Implemented system monitoring, performance tuning, log analysis, and capacity planning to maintain server health and reliability.

Created detailed documentation, runbooks, SOPs, architecture diagrams, and troubleshooting guides for operational excellence.

Enforced system hardening, access management, and security best practices to protect Linux servers across on-prem and cloud infrastructures.

Education:

Master’s Degree in Public Administration 2011

University of Nelson Mandela of Guinea

Core Classes in Human Resources 2017

Borough Manhattan Community College

Certifications:

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

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