Overview

We are seeking a Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Satellite Architect to lead the standardization and modernization of our RHEL infrastructure. This role is for a thought leader with deep expertise in RHEL, Red Hat Satellite, Identity Management (IdM/FreeIPA), and Ansible automation, capable of defining and enforcing architectural best practices across a large and diverse Linux estate.

You will be responsible for architecting and executing the in-place upgrade strategy from RHEL 6 and 7 to RHEL 8 or 9, standardizing Satellite and IdM implementation, and implementing our Infrastructure Standard Adoption Model (ISAM) across all RHEL systems. This is a high-impact role demanding a mix of technical excellence, strategic thinking, and strong leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and standardize Red Hat Satellite and IdM (FreeIPA) configurations across all RHEL hosts to enforce consistency, compliance, and best practices.
• Lead and execute the in-place upgrade strategy for RHEL 6 and RHEL 7 servers to RHEL 8 or RHEL 9, minimizing downtime and operational risks.
• Implement the Infrastructure Standard Adoption Model (ISAM) to align all RHEL systems with enterprise infrastructure and security standards.
• Develop and maintain Ansible playbooks and roles to automate deployment, configuration, and compliance enforcement across the RHEL estate.
• Establish governance for lifecycle management, patching, and system hardening using Satellite and Ansible Tower/AWX.
• Collaborate with security teams to ensure IdM is integrated with enterprise identity systems and implements role-based access controls (RBAC).
• Act as a technical authority on RHEL-related initiatives, advising stakeholders and mentoring team members on best practices.
• Deliver architectural diagrams, high-level designs (HLDs), low-level designs (LLDs), and as-built documentation.
• Conduct technical assessments of existing environments and develop remediation or modernization roadmaps.
• Provide guidance during incident resolution, performance tuning, and capacity planning for RHEL infrastructure.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in enterprise environments.
• Deep knowledge of Red Hat Satellite 6.x+, including provisioning, content management, lifecycle environments, activation keys, and Capsule server design.
• Strong expertise in Red Hat Identity Management (IdM) / FreeIPA, including replication, HBAC, SSSD, DNS integration, and trust relationships.
• Proven experience with Ansible for infrastructure as code (IaC), ideally using Ansible Tower or AWX in production.
• Demonstrated success in leading in-place upgrade projects from legacy RHEL 6/7 systems to RHEL 8 or 9.
• Hands-on experience with security hardening, SCAP compliance, SELinux, and enterprise patch management strategies.
• In-depth understanding of enterprise infrastructure standards, system lifecycle, configuration drift management, and compliance enforcement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of producing executive-level summaries and detailed technical documentation.
• Ability to drive decisions with confidence, backed by experience and best practices.
• Self-starter with the ability to take ownership and lead multi-disciplinary teams in a matrixed organization.

Preferred Certifications

• Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)
• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Satellite
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
• ITIL Foundation (a plus)

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A strategic thinker and hands-on technologist who is not afraid to express opinions and challenge the status quo with data and experience.
• Comfortable in enterprise-scale environments managing thousands of Linux hosts.
• A leader with a strong sense of ownership, integrity, and commitment to quality.
• Stays current with RHEL ecosystem advancements and proactively incorporates new technologies and methods into their designs.