Senior Unix systems administrator

This is a full-time, on-site Senior Unix Systems Administrator role based in the City of Cape Town. The Senior Unix Systems Administrator will be responsible for administering and maintaining FreeBSD and Linux servers that support Vanilla Networks’ ISP operations, including procurement, installation, configuration, patching, and performance tuning. Daily tasks include monitoring system health, ensuring high availability, managing backups and disaster recovery procedures, and maintaining security controls such as firewalls, access policies, and updates. The role involves diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues, providing advanced technical support to internal teams, and contributing to the design and improvement of infrastructure architecture. The administrator will collaborate with network engineers and support staff, document systems and procedures, and help implement best practices to sustain stable, scalable, and secure services. Responsibilities include almost 100 servers. Monitoring, server maintenance, setup and lifecycle management, hosting in four or more data centres, managing hosting of various Internet servers, SMTP (spam management and DKIM), IPv6, DNS, backups

Qualifications: 10+ years Unix and Linux system administration skills, including installation, configuration, and performance optimization. Proficiency in system administration and operating systems concepts, including file systems, process management, and resource monitoring. Demonstrated ability in troubleshooting and technical support, particularly in high-availability, production environments. Hands-on experience managing Linux-based ISP or hosting infrastructure is highly beneficial. Knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, routing, firewalls) and security best practices. Experience with scripting and automation (e.g., Bash, Python, configuration management tools) to streamline system operations. Familiarity with virtualization, containers, and cloud or hybrid infrastructure is an advantage. Relevant technical certification or equivalent practical experience. Ability to work methodically, document procedures clearly, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Pay: R50 000,00 - R95 000,00 per month

Education:

• High School (matric) (Preferred)

Work Location: In person