Systems Engineer IV

Overview

The Systems Engineer IV is a senior-level technical leader and subject matter expert responsible for architecting, designing, and driving the implementation of complex, enterprise-scale software-intensive systems that advance organizational efficiency and innovation. This role sets technical direction, defines engineering standards, and integrates software development with systems engineering principles to ensure solutions meet functional, performance, reliability, and security requirements at scale. The Systems Engineer IV owns the full system lifecycle—from shaping strategy and translating business needs into technical architecture, through development, testing, deployment, and long-term operational excellence. This role mentors and develops engineers at all levels, leads cross-functional initiatives, and serves as the senior escalation point for the most complex technical issues. A successful Systems Engineer IV brings deep expertise in software engineering, system architecture, programming, and testing, combined with strong leadership, influence, and the ability to partner effectively with engineering teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of enterprise infrastructure solutions, including hardware and software.
• Provide senior-level configuration, deployment, support, and advanced troubleshooting of infrastructure solutions and services including, but not limited to:
  
  • Red Hat Linux and other enterprise distributions
  • Windows Server
  • Containers and OpenShift (including cluster design, scaling, and operations)
  • Hypervisors – VMware ESXi and vSphere
  • Databases (IBM DB2, PostgreSQL) – including performance tuning and high-availability design
  • OpenLDAP and Red Hat IDM
  • Configuration management tools (Puppet, Ansible, etc.) at an expert level, including establishing standards and reusable automation patterns
  • Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) – including solution design, migration strategy, and cost optimization
  • SAN Storage (NetApp, Lenovo DM Storage)
  • Design, author, and govern Ansible Playbooks used across the organization to automate RHEL builds and infrastructure provisioning
  • Architect, deploy, and lead troubleshooting for Red Hat Satellite 6.x and 7.x across RHEL 7, 8, and 9 environments
• Author, review, and set standards for scripting across multiple languages including, but not limited to, KSH, bash, Python, Java, and Ruby.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for LAN networking architecture, advanced troubleshooting, and cross-team network problem resolution.
• Act as senior escalation point and lead within the on-call rotation for third-level, mission-critical support.
• Lead the design and real-time implementation of critical solutions under high-pressure, production-impacting conditions.
• Own the development, review, and continuous improvement of training materials and technical documentation for new and existing technology; coach and mentor junior and mid-level engineers.
• Demonstrate mastery of open-source technologies and deep expertise across widely adopted enterprise platforms; evaluate and recommend new technologies for organizational adoption.
• Partner with security, audit, and compliance teams to define, implement, and enforce security standards, controls, and remediation plans.
• Lead performance tuning and capacity planning across operating systems, hardware, and application stacks.
• Drive cross-functional technical initiatives, influence architectural decisions at the program level, and collaborate with leadership on technology roadmaps.
• Ability to travel 10% to 15%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in systems engineering, infrastructure engineering, or a closely related discipline, with a demonstrated track record of leading complex technical initiatives.
• Expert-level understanding of software engineering principles, system architecture, and programming fundamentals, with the ability to set direction across multiple technology domains.
• Mastery of coding, debugging, and documenting processes, including the ability to establish standards that other engineers follow.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop engineers, lead technical teams without direct authority, and influence across the organization.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering highly available, secure, and scalable enterprise infrastructure solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts for both technical and executive audiences.
• Industry certifications such as RHCE, RHCA, AWS/Azure/GCP Professional-level, VMware VCP/VCAP, or equivalent are strongly preferred.

Success Profile

• Leading Complexity
• Leading People
• Leading the Business
• Leading Self