Linux Desktop Administrator

Key Responsibilities

• System Administration: Install, configure, and maintain Linux desktop operating systems (Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, etc.) across campus labs, faculty offices, and research environments.

• User Support: Provide technical assistance to faculty, staff, and students, including troubleshooting desktop issues, software installations, and performance optimization.

• Security Management: Implement and monitor security policies, including patch/package management, endpoint protection, and compliance with institutional IT standards.

• Software Deployment: Package, distribute, and update academic and research applications across Linux desktops using automation tools.

• Integration: Ensure interoperability between Linux desktops and services (Active Directory, LDAP, file servers, printing, cloud platforms).

• Documentation: Maintain clear technical documentation, user guides, and training materials for Linux desktop usage.

• Collaboration: Work closely with IT teams, faculty, and researchers to support specialized computing needs, including research computation resources and tools.

• Innovation: Evaluate emerging Linux desktop technologies and recommend improvements to enhance teaching, learning, and research outcomes.

Work Environment

• This position is part of the Computer-Aided Engineering group serving faculty, staff, and students across the College of Engineering. The Linux Desktop Administrator will balance day-to-day support with long-term strategic projects, ensuring that Linux systems remain a reliable and innovative platform for teaching, learning, and research.

Remote Work eligibility:

• This position will initially be required to work 100% onsite, but will be eligible for up to 1 day remote work after a successful training period.

Additional Information

• Applicants for this position will be considered for Technical Integration Engineer I, Technical Integration Engineer II, and the Technical Integration Engineer III titles. The title and compensation is determined by the experience and qualifications of the finalist.

• Additional information can be found here: https://www.cae.wisc.edu/about/college-of-engineering-linux-desktop-administrator-position/

• Creates user training materials and basic technical documentation regarding system operations and changes

• Serves as a point of contact for internal stakeholders, communicating issue updates and resolutions

• Assists with running, maintaining, and operating technical systems and infrastructure

• Integrates, identifies, troubleshoots, monitors, and resolves basic supported services, systems, network, and application problems according to established processes and procedures

• Configures, maintains, upgrades, develops, and tests IT systems and services in alignment with industry best practices

College of Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering

The starting salary for the position is $70,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

• 3+ years of Linux system administration, preferably in higher education or research environments

• Experience with multiple Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, Debian).

• Knowledge of scripting languages (such as Bash, Python, Perl, awk, javascript).

• Familiarity with configuration management tools (such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef).

• Experience with authentication systems (such as LDAP, Kerberos, Active Directory, Shibboleth ).

• Understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP v4 and v6, DNS, DHCP,.

• Experience with network storage integration (such as NFSv3/4 and SMB)

• Strong communication, problem-solving, documentation, and customer service skills; ability to work collaboratively in a diverse academic environment.

• Experience working in teams and negotiating different approaches to problem solving and technical solutions.

• Experience supporting Linux desktops in research labs or computing cluster environments.

• Familiarity with virtualization and containerization (such as: VMware, Docker, Kubernetes, incus, or proxmox).

• Experience with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive technology practices.

• Contributions to open-source projects or Linux community engagement

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience) preferred.

Please go to the "Apply Now" area and select your current UW Employment Status. Applicants are required to upload a resume and a cover letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience as it pertains to the required and preferred qualifications outlined in this job posting.

The search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly. References will be requested of final candidates. All applicants will be notified after the search is complete and a candidate has been selected.

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

Rob Kohlhepp

115 N Orchard St

Madison, WI 53715

rob.kohlhepp@wisc.edu

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.