Computer Systems Analyst

Computer Systems Analyst 

JOB SUMMARY:   

Southern Company is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Computer Systems Administrator to join our Generation Specialized Infrastructure team as a Unix / Linux Systems Administrator. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in designing, supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and administering both physical and virtual systems in an enterprise environment. This role requires proficiency in installing, configuring, deploying, and maintaining Redhat Linux systems, as well as a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Windows-based and Oracle Solaris-based systems and software.

The Systems Administrator will be responsible for managing storage and backup system technologies, including NetBackup servers and appliances, ExaGrid storage retention and management, NetBackup proxy management, and virtual tape library (VTL) technologies. Storage Area Network administration, storage provisioning and storage systems design experience is also desired.

A comprehensive understanding of troubleshooting and diagnosing network traffic flows, firewall connectivity, ports, and services using networking tools is essential. Experience with Palo Alto Firewalls is preferred. The successful candidate will design and implement the server side of the virtual and physical networking needed to support a Purdue Reference Model networking environment and associated network segmentation.  This will require demonstrating a solid working knowledge of assessing both North-South and East-West traffic when deploying and maintaining systems within segmented networks.

The Generation Specialized Infrastructure team supports the compute and data management needs of our Generation Fleet Operations and Trading, Commercial Operations and Real-Time Operations business partners.  The successful candidate will operate in a Sarbanes-Oxley regulatory controls environment, requiring meticulous attention to detail with consistent adherence to compliance standards. The ability to effectively organize tasks, manage multiple priorities/details, meet schedules, and deliver on customer commitments is crucial. 

Exceptional oral and written communication skills are critical for this role, including the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise. The successful candidate must also demonstrate strong self-initiative and a commitment to continuous learning, while leading collaborative efforts that ensure every participant is heard and understood, resulting in well‑informed, high‑quality solutions.

Employment in this position is contingent upon successfully completing a comprehensive background screening. This screening may include verification of education, employment history, credit review, driving records, and checks against county, state, federal, and terrorist databases, in accordance with Southern Company policy and applicable laws.

Additionally, the successful candidate must meet all requirements of the Southern Company Insider Threat Prevention (ITP) Program, which is designed to protect critical operations and sensitive assets. Participation in the ITP Clearance Process is mandatory for roles with access to key resources that could significantly impact company operations. This process includes enhanced screening and ongoing compliance obligations, such as reporting foreign travel and legal actions, as outlined in the ITP policy.

By applying for this position, candidates acknowledge and agree to comply with these requirements as a condition of employment.

Join our team and contribute to the integrity and security of Southern Company's Generation IT infrastructure, ensuring the seamless operation of our power generation systems in support of our Fleet Operations and Trading business partners.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• 7+ years of designing, supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and administering physical and virtual systems.
• Proficient installing, configuring, deploying and maintaining Redhat Linux systems in both VMWare and physical hardware based environments.
• Proficient with backup system technologies like NetBackup servers and appliances, storage retention management, NetBackup proxy management and virtual tape library technologies.
• Storage Area Network administration, storage provisioning and storage systems design experience. Hitachi and Brocade based SAN systems experience preferred.
• Interoperability between Linux, Solaris and Microsoft Windows based systems and software.
• Virtual infrastructure lifecycle management including VM guest deployments and Ansible Automation Platform build streams.
• Experience with troubleshooting and diagnosing traffic flows, firewall connectivity, ports and services, using the related networking tools.
• Palo Alto Firewall experience is preferred.
• Ability to engineer the server side of the virtual and physical networking needed to support a Purdue Reference Model networking environment and its associated network segmentation.
• Solid working knowledge of deploying and maintaining systems within segmented networks.
• Ability to operate in a Sarbanes Oxley regulatory controls environment with consistent adherence to compliance standards.
• Ability to effectively organize tasks, manage multiple priorities/details, meet schedules, and deliver on customer commitments.
• Professional oral and written communication skills required especially pertaining to managing a regulatory environment, collecting evidence, and documenting potential noncompliance events.
• High level of demonstrated self-initiative and self-learner.
• Ability to meet the requirements of the Southern Company Insider Threat Program, including required background checks.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:   

• Consistently communicate progress, problems and best practices to management, team leads and teammates.
• Engineering, installation and maintenance of server hardware, hypervisors, and system software while following compliance and security standards, meeting project timelines, following documented processes and change procedures, and meeting customer requirements.
• Engineering, installation and maintenance of Linux Servers and system software in clustered / high availability configurations while following compliance and security standards, meeting project timelines, following documented processes and change procedures, and meeting customer requirements.
• Provide full life-cycle management for servers and system software including host deployments, cluster deployments, cluster workload migrations, and performing DR scenarios.
• Provide second level technical support to team members, customers, and other areas both within and outside of the Technology Organization.
• Performance tuning of Unix and Linux based server deployments.
• Installations for security patches, functional patches, and version upgrades.
• Knowledge of security policies and how cyber security impacts the technology environment.
• Understanding of rules and regulations that govern the use and management of technology, such as Sarbanes Oxley and internal policies.
• General knowledge of Southern Company’s core business.
• Demonstrate Our Values: Safety First, Unquestionable trust, Superior Performance, and Total Commitment.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in CS or MIS strongly preferred; seven (7) years of relevant technical experience is an acceptable substitute.
• Appropriate technology, networking, security, and/or compliance certifications are highly desired.

LOCATION

This role is in-office four (4) days a week. The successful candidate must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the following location:

• Energy Center: 3535 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243

Regular on-site presence is required to support collaboration and business needs.