Senior Unix Engineer

Role Title: Senior Unix Engineer

Duration: contract to run until 30/11/2026

Location: Knutsford, hybrid 3 days per week onsite

Rate: up to £506 p/d Umbrella inside IR35

Role purpose/summary

The SI Unix Engineer is a senior Unix/Linux infrastructure specialist with a strong focus on platform security, compliance, and stability within highly regulated enterprise environments. The role supports critical Unix/Linux platforms, including Legacy and modern systems, and plays a key part in data centre optimisation, migration, and security hardening initiatives.

This position requires deep hands-on Unix/Linux expertise combined with strong security awareness, operational discipline, and the ability to communicate effectively with global stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide L2/L3 support for Unix/Linux infrastructure platforms in production, including business critical and regulated systems
• Perform secure build, configuration, hardening, and ongoing maintenance of Unix/Linux Servers
• Support data centre optimisation, migration, and transformation programmes, including platform stabilisation and risk reduction activities
• Implement and maintain security controls, including access management, patching, vulnerability remediation, and configuration compliance
• Participate in incident, problem, and change management, ensuring adherence to ITIL and security governance standards
• Support audit, risk, and compliance activities, including evidence gathering and remediation of audit findings
• Work closely with security, platform, and architecture teams to ensure platforms meet enterprise security and operational standards
• Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and operational procedures
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to enhance platform reliability, security, and operational efficiency

Technical Skills & Experience (Essential)

• Strong hands-on experience administering Unix/Linux platforms in large enterprise environments
  • Linux (RHEL, Oracle Linux, SUSE or equivalent)
  • Unix variants (eg AIX, Solaris, HP UX or equivalent Legacy platforms)
• Solid experience with system hardening and security best practices on Unix/Linux
• Strong understanding of:
  • OS patching and life cycle management
  • User and privilege management (sudo, PAM, RBAC)
  • File system, storage, and performance management
  • Process monitoring, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis
• Experience working in regulated or security sensitive environments (eg banking, financial services, critical infrastructure)
• Familiarity with vulnerability management, security scanning, and remediation processes
• Experience supporting data centre migration or transformation programmes is highly desirable
• Working knowledge of ITIL processes (incident, problem, change)

Certifications (Preferred, not mandatory)

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or equivalent Linux certification
• Unix/Linux vendor certifications (AIX, Solaris, etc.)
• ITIL Foundation
• Security focused certifications (eg CompTIA Security+, CISSP - foundational exposure acceptable)

Soft Skills & Behavioural Attributes

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Ability to explain technical issues clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Proven ability to work effectively in global, distributed teams
• Strong analytical and problem solving mindset
• High attention to detail, particularly in security and compliance driven environments

All profiles will be reviewed against the required skills and experience. Due to the high number of applications we will only be able to respond to successful applicants in the first instance. We thank you for your interest and the time taken to apply!