RHEL Network Management Systems (NMS) Engineer (w/ active Secret)

RHEL Network Management Systems (NMS) Engineer

Location: Norfolk, VA Clearance: Secret Type: Full-time, On-site

Role Summary

The Network Management Systems (NMS) Engineer is responsible for the design, deployment, administration, and support of an enterprise network management infrastructure. This role blends Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 back-end operations with comprehensive application-level management of NMS tools suites. The engineer ensures high availability, optimization, and security compliance of the platform performing critical network monitoring, fault detection, and performance management utilities.

Key Responsibilities

1. RHEL 8 Back-End Operations & System Administration

• Operating System (OS) Lifecycle Management: Provision, configure, and maintain RHEL 8 servers hosting the core NMS applications across physical, virtual, and air-gapped environments.

• Kernel & Performance Tuning: Optimize Linux kernel parameters, memory allocation, and storage subsystems to handle massive telemetry and configuration data intake (SNMP, NetFlow, Syslog, SSH, SCP) without data loss.

• Patching & Vulnerability Mitigation: Leverage Red Hat Satellite or custom repositories to manage package rollouts, applying routine security errata and OS updates.

• Automation & IaC: Write and maintain Ansible playbooks and other language scripts to automate server provisioning, user management, and repetitive operational tasks related to NMS tool objects.

• Security & Compliance: Enforce security Linux policies, access rules, and STIG compliance to ensure the monitoring platform resists compromise.

• Storage & File System Management: Configure and expand LVM (Logical Volume Manager) structures to manage high-write NMS databases and syslog partition scaling.

2. NMS Application & Tool Support

• Platform Administration: Deploy, upgrade, and troubleshoot enterprise-grade NMS applications (Open Text NNMi, Open Text Network Automation, Cisco Catalyst Center, Arista Cloud Vision, Aruba Airwave and others).

• Data Integration: Architect and maintain integrations between NMS engines, CMDB asset databases, and ITSM platforms like ServiceNow via APIs.

• Polling & Telemetry Management: Configure polling intervals, customize SNMP MIBs and traps, and set up NetFlow collectors to build clear network matrices.

• Fault Isolation & Alerting: Construct alerting logic, thresholds, and notification profiles to minimize alert fatigue while ensuring critical outages surface instantly.

Core Tool Functionality & Strategic Benefits

The NMS team member must possess expert command of the monitoring ecosystem, leveraging specific tools to deliver core organizational advantages:

Functional Domain Tool Mechanics / Features Business & Operational Benefits

Fault & Performance Monitoring

• Continuous SNMP/ICMP polling

• Real-time alerting mechanisms

• Synthetics & packet analysis

• Minimizes MTTR: Faster root-cause isolation lowers Mean Time to Resolution.

• Reduces Downtime: High-availability metrics prevent outages before they cascade.

Configuration & Change Control

• Automated backups of device configs

• Real-time configuration drift detection

• Mass configuration deployments

• Ensures Compliance: Restores safe baseline settings rapidly during bad changes.

• Secures Network: Flashes alerts on unauthorized or rogue configuration alterations.

Traffic Analytics & Planning

• NetFlow / sFlow / IPFIX collection

• Historical data trending charts

• Dynamic topology mapping

• Cost Optimization: Validates bandwidth usage patterns for smarter capacity planning.

• Uncovers Bottlenecks: pinpoints bandwidth hogs and abnormal traffic spikes.

Required Qualifications & Technical Competencies

• Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, IT, Network Engineering, or an equivalent technical field.

• OS Specialization: Hands-on experience administering RHEL 8 environments (RHCSA or RHCE certifications preferred).

• Core Linux Skills: Advanced knowledge of systemd, system logging (rsyslog, journald), and native RHEL troubleshooting utilities (top, iotop, netstat, tcpdump).

• Protocols: Deep knowledge of networking protocols including SNMP (v3), Syslog, SSH, ICMP, NetFlow, and TACACS+/RADIUS.

• Automation: Proficiency in Ansible and scripting languages (Python, Bash) to run configuration infrastructure as code

LOCATION:

• Onsite 100%

• Norfolk, VA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT: Must possess an active DoD Secret Clearance. In addition, selected candidate must undergo background investigation (BI) and finger printing by the federal agency and successfully pass the preceding to qualify for the position. US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED.

CRITICAL SOLUTIONS PAY AND BENEFITS:

Salary Range: $87,000 - $112,000 per year. The salary range for this position represent the typical salary range for this job level and this does not guarantee a specific salary. Compensation is based upon multiple factors such as responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, certifications, and other requirements.

BENEFIT SNAPSHOT: 100% premium coverage for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Supplemental Insurance, 401K matching, Flexible Time Off (PTO/Holidays), Higher Education/Training Reimbursement, and more