Unix Specialist at South African Post Office

Key Responsibilities

• Design systems; install hardware and operating systems; identify solutions through constant interfacing with appropriate management levels, clients, departments, and vendor organizations to ensure a cost effective and efficient infrastructure environment is available to provide the processing power essential to department operations
• Install software and systems hardware; troubleshoot, maintain, upgrade and provide solutions to complex hardware/OS problems; alert management, help desk team, and other IT groups when sensitive issues arise or a major problem is suspected; minimize client productivity loss caused by technology outages, and provide necessary infrastructure for clients to meet their business needs
• Monitor and control infrastructure performance in the areas of response, throughput and availability.
• Proactively research and locate the necessary tools and processes to identify troublesome trends as they develop; analyse trends and develop a longrange plan designed to resolve problems and prevent them from recurring; maintain high service levels for the user community, and establish a method to easily compare the installation of performance against established performance objectives.
• Participate in various IT projects intended to continually improve/upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure; for example, evaluate new software and hardware required to meet business needs or to make a process more cost effective.
• Handle times of peak service demands or as needed to solve complex problems aimed at delivering consistent quality service to clients within predefined service levels; review assigned service requests daily, following up and providing status updates to clients; ensure data pertaining to the status of service requests is entered into the help desk problem tracking systems (Remedy) accurately and promptly on a daily basis to provide an upto-date picture of service delivery status and backlog.
• Identify opportunities and recommend solutions for improving service efficiency and effectiveness; participate in IT initiatives to address service issues;
• keep abreast of technical enhancements; have a working knowledge of department-specific applications; attend seminars and other educational opportunities; seek out insight and on-the-job training from peers and other internal and external resources
• Configure, install and maintain necessary hardware and OS for hardware and software to provide a suitable environment to run production applications and perform development; perform maintenance and release upgrades on a timely basis or as needed; monitor performance and availability of Unix/Linux platforms
• Assist in developing strategic and tactical planning of Unix/Linux environments for internal customers, including discovery and documentation of user requirements before development design
• Audit the Unix/Linux environment for security strength and apply necessary changes and patches to keep security up to ISO standards.
• Design and implement System architectures.
• Develop/ follow procedures for Unix/Linux administration.
• Assist in setting priorities and managing resources to achieve unit, division and corporate goals.
• Recommend standards and guidelines.
• Recommend/select specific products as necessary, participating in tool and vendor evaluations.
• Participate in and contribute to task forces and special projects initiated within departments/divisions.
• Continuously strive to improve client support, identifying opportunities and recommending solutions for improving service efficiency and effectiveness; have a working knowledge of department-specific applications

Minimum Requirements:
Qualifications:

• IT Diploma (NQF Level 6) or NQF equivalent
• 3 – 5 years relevant IT experience
• Valid Code B Driver’s

Experience:

• 3 – 5 years relevant IT experience

Knowledge and understanding of:

• In depth knowledge of IBM Aix Technology, Sun Solaris, Redhat Linux (Other Favours), IBM Virtualisation Technology and Storage Disk Management,
• Extensive knowledge of Cloud Technologies will be an added advantage, In depth knowledge of hardware and OS software, Supervisory and
• interpersonal skills, In depth knowledge of operating systems, Knowledge of operating systems planning, enhancements and installations,
• Demonstrated experience in effectively managing small to large projects within a cross-functional environment, Knowledge of Management tools and
• Applications, Understanding of the enterprise business and business processes, knowledge of business unit functions and cross-group
• dependencies/relationships, Quality assurance & control and Project Management.

Skills:

• Broad range of Unix/Linux OS knowledge and skills desired, primarily IBM Aix 6.1, Linux Redhat, Cloud Technologies and IBM Virtualisation
• Technology, Thorough understanding of distributed systems architecture and comprehensive knowledge of multiple technical disciplines,
• Excellent technical knowledge and aptitude in the areas of networks, hardware, software and troubleshooting techniques,
• Ability to solve operating system problems and to manage the performance and capacity of a Unix/Linux systems environment,
• Experience in effectively communicating with a broad base of end users and multiple management layers,
• Ability to effectively adapt to rapidly changing technology and apply it to business needs,
• Ability to anticipate user requirements and identify and resolve complex problems with minimal supervision; strong customer service and communication skills,
• Good judgement and analytical skills; strong follow-up and organizational skills,
• Ability to conduct and prepare feasibility studies; develop client proposals, including estimates for costs, time and resources; prepare statistical reports: complete cost/benefit analysis and conduct business,
• Ability to assess internal and external operating practices, anticipate future system requirements and research and analyse emerging technologies