DevOps / System Administration

CONTRACT OVERVIEW

• ROLE TITLE: DevOps / System Administration Opportunity
• START / END: 05/16/25 to 06/30/2025, with a reasonable possibility of a multi-year extension. The state cannot post any job beyond the end of the current fiscal year (June 30, 2025, in this case). So, while many state jobs can run for multiple years, they are all capped for the first contract to the end of the current fiscal year.
• WORK ARRANGEMENT:
  • 100% Remote. This position may be worked remotely, but work must be performed from within Wisconsin. Relocation is allowed. Must be relocated by the start date.
• JOB ID: 141916
• AGENCY: DOA
• AGENCY-BUREAU: DET - BBAS
• CLIENT LOCATION: 101 E. Wilson Street, 8th Floor, Madison, WI 53703
• SUBMISSIONS DUE: 04/21/25 4PM CST

REPOST COMMENTS FROM MANAGER
This is a repost of job 141221 sent out on 3/24. Please do not resubmit previous candidates. The interview panel felt that the candidates of the prior posting could not demonstrate technical knowledge when asked more technical questions.
We had a candidate interview on the first post of this (141221). Here is a summary of them so you know the bar we are looking for: 10+ years, DevOps focus (some SRE roles ok), Certified on DevOps on AWS/Azure/GCP, Worked with Postgres since 2021 with good bullet detail (not just list mention), Only had PERN on last gig but again good bullet detail, Github Actions since 2019, Azure DevOps pre-2021, Ansible since 2016, Python since 2016 (PowerShell one mention), DevSecOps since 2019, OIDC since 2019, VMWare most jobs and Hyper-V one job.
REQUIRED SKILLS: (Need Majority; 5+ Years)

• Strong expertise in PostgreSQL administration, including replication, backup strategies, and performance tuning.
• Experience deploying PERN stack applications in a cloud or on-premises environment.
• Knowledge of CI/CD tools like GitHub actions, Azure DevOps pipelines, or Ansible for automation.
• Scripting and automation experience with Bash, Python, PowerShell, or similar scripting.

NICE TO HAVE SKILLS:

• Prior experience in IT infrastructure, DevSecOps, or SRE roles.
• Proficiency in Linux app and database server administration, with experience such as Ubuntu or RHEL.
• Understanding network security, firewalls, VPNs, and SSH hardening.
• Knowledge of OpenID Connect (OIDC) or LDAP and IAM tools such as Entra ID, Okta, Active Directory, or centralized authentication mechanisms.
• Familiarity with virtualization platforms (VMware or Hyper-V).

INTERVIEW PROCESS:

• 1-2 rounds conducted via Microsoft Teams.

DESCRIPTION OF ROLE:

We are seeking a skilled Platform Engineer to manage, maintain, and optimize our on-premise commercial software applications built on PostgreSQL, Express.js, React, and Node.js. The ideal candidate will be responsible for deploying, monitoring, securing, and scaling the PERN stack infrastructure within a Linux-based virtualized environment. This role requires expertise in database administration, Linux system management, scripting/automation, and security best practices.
Responsibilities include app administration, installation, deployments, configurations, versioning, app patching, performance monitoring, and optimizations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Platform Administration & Maintenance
  • Manage and optimize PostgreSQL databases, including backups, replication, indexing, and query performance tuning.
  • Deploy, configure, and maintain Express.js, React, and Node.js applications on Linux virtual machines. This includes NGINX and PM2 platforms.
  • Oversee on-premises system infrastructure, ensuring high availability and performance.
  • Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve system, application, and network issues.
• Security & Operations
  • Review system hardening, data encryption, and access control policies align with security best practices.
  • Work with other teams to monitor vulnerabilities and apply security patches and updates.
  • Assist in defining firewall rules, intrusion detection, and role-based access control (RBAC).
  • Review compliance with data governance and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure proper backup, disaster recovery, and redundant configurations.
• Support & Documentation
  • Provide technical support for platform-related issues and troubleshooting.
  • Maintain clear documentation for deployments, configurations, and troubleshooting guides.
  • Train and support developers and IT staff in the best practices and operational procedures.