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 (e.g. 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 lifecycle 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 (e.g. 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