Got RHEL in your blood and a knack for making networks behave? Senior Linux Systems Engineer (Networking) | Adelaide, SA | Most Linux roles will have you maintaining someone else's decisions, chasing tickets, and wondering if your skills are actually being used.
This one is different.
We're looking for a Senior Linux Systems Engineer who wants to own something real where your RHEL expertise and networking knowledge directly underpin critical infrastructure for one of the world's leading advanced engineering organisations. An organisation trusted by governments to solve their most complex challenges across defence, science, and sustainability.
The hosts you manage ARE the network. You're not supporting the infrastructure you ARE the infrastructure.
The Quick Version: - $170,000 base salary + flexibility for the right person
- Adelaide, SA — Hybrid (3-4 days on-site, remainder from home)
- Full-time, permanent
- NV1 clearance minimum / NV2 preferred — non-negotiable
- Global organisation. Serious engineering. Real ownership.
About the Organisation Our client is a globally recognised leader in advanced engineering and technology solutions with a footprint spanning multiple continents and tens of thousands of employees worldwide. They support some of the most consequential programs on the planet — defence, science, and sustainability missions that genuinely matter. Their Adelaide team is a critical part of that picture, and they build the kind of infrastructure that can't afford to get it wrong.
About the Role This is not a generalist sysadmin position. The RHEL 9 hosts in this environment serve as the organisation's primary routers, firewalls, and service gateways. That means you'll be operating at the intersection of Linux systems engineering and network engineering — simultaneously. You'll be configuring OS-level firewall rules, managing advanced routing, maintaining nginx as a reverse proxy, overseeing KVM virtualisation, and owning the full lifecycle of RHEL administration, including patching, provisioning, security hardening, and monitoring.
The team is also actively migrating to RHEL 9 — so there's genuine project work on the horizon, not just BAU.
What You'll Own - Design, implement, and manage OS-level network security using firewalld and/or nftables — zones, services, rich rules
- Configure and troubleshoot advanced networking on RHEL — static routing, policy-based routing, network teaming
- Maintain and configure nginx as a reverse proxy for internal web services
- Manage KVM virtualisation (libvirt) and bridged/routed networking for guest VMs
- Secure and manage remote access — primarily OpenSSH
- Drive the migration to RHEL 9 alongside the broader systems team
- Contribute to infrastructure planning and new system implementation
- Own patching cycles, software deployment, security remediation, and account management
- Manage monitoring and logging solutions end-to-end
What You'll Bring:The technical bar here is high, and that's the point.
Here's what you need on day one:
- Expert-level RHEL 8/9 administration, RHCE-level or equivalent hands-on experience
- Deep Linux networking stack knowledge iproute2, firewalld, nftables not just surface familiarity
- Red Hat Satellite Server experience lifecycle management, patch deployment, provisioning at scale
- Proven nginx experience for reverse proxy and load-balancing configurations
- Strong command of core networking protocols TCP/IP, subnetting, routing, DNS, DHCP
- KVM/QEMU and libvirt virtualisation experience on RHEL
- Solid understanding of SOEs, security hardening, and risk mitigation
- Clean, structured technical documentation habits — Confluence or equivalent
- The ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly across all levels of the business
- Relevant Linux or Red Hat credentials
Why This One is Worth Your Time: - You'll own infrastructure that actually matters, not a ticket queue, not a support function
- The role sits at the intersection of Linux engineering and network engineering, which is rare and genuinely interesting
- Global scale, serious programs, and a team that takes the work seriously
- Hybrid flexibility: 3-4 days on-site, driven by defence network access, not rigid policy
- A people-first culture built on safety, inclusion, and doing the right thing
- Stable, permanent role with a globally recognised organisation
Security Clearance: Active NV1 is the minimum. NV2 is preferred. There is no pathway into this role without a current clearance — please don't apply if yours has lapsed.
If you've been waiting for a role that actually matches your skill level, this might be it.
Reach out for a confidential conversation. No lengthy process, no runaround, just an honest chat about whether it's the right fit.
Ph: 0452 415 858Email: anthony.buccat@decipherbureau.com
Anthony Buccat | Senior Consultant | Decipher Bureau