Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Core Competencies
Certification
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Umaru Williams

Beltsville,MD

Summary

Accomplished and results-driven Senior Linux Systems Administrator with a decade of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining complex IT infrastructures. Proficient in overseeing large-scale deployments, optimizing system performance, and ensuring the security and reliability of critical systems. Specialized in administering Red Hat Linux-based operating systems within an AWS environment. Adept at troubleshooting intricate technical issues and providing innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with stakeholders to achieve organizational objectives.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Linux Systems Administrator

DYNAMIC TECH, LLC
11.2018 - Current
  • Execute customized Linux/Unix server installations and configurations, employing innovative methods such as kickstart, live upgrade, and Ansible
  • Implemented system integrity through enforcement of file permissions and management of mount points and directories, mitigating security risks and safeguarding critical data
  • Bolstered organizational security posture through maintenance of robust security policies, standards, and guidelines
  • Configured system storage strategies, including LVM utilization for disk management, log alerts, and CPU utilization optimization across Dev/Test/Prod environments
  • Troubleshoot file system issues, execute grub functions, and deploy shell scripts and cron jobs for efficient automation and process management
  • Implement robust systems security administration, executing role-based access control and sudo privilege assignments to fortify system integrity
  • Enable secure transfer of sensitive data by implementing encryption with GPG generated keys and self-signed certificates using Open SSL
  • Play a pivotal role in system hardening processes, installing patches for security, vulnerability assessment, bug fixes, and backup and restore operations
  • Proficient in network protocols, configuring Static IP, DHCP, IPtables, and maintaining DNS, NTP, TCP/IP, HTTP, and FTP services
  • Secured, cost-optimized, highly available, and fault-tolerant infrastructure in AWS, driving operational excellence and scalability
  • Enhanced production architecture designs by eliminating single points of failure through deployment of service instances across multiple isolated AZs, ensuring high availability and resilience
  • Managed and configured VM's/servers in VMware workstation and VMware ESXi as well as decommissioning virtual clients and virtual servers
  • Performed system hardening, and installed patches for security, vulnerability assessment, bug fixes, backup and restore
  • Implemented security best practices in AWS including multi factor authentication, access key rotation, role-based permissions, enforced strong password policy, configured security groups and NACLs, S3 bucket policies and ACLs
  • Implemented AWS Cloud cost effective solution for non-Production environment such as: development, and test
  • Eliminated single point of failure in production architecture designs by deploying service instances (e.g., EC2 or RDS) across two or more isolated AZs based on customer's actual resiliency and availability requirements
  • Designed secure, cost-optimized, highly available, and fault-tolerant infrastructure in AWS
  • Managed container lifecycle with Podman and Skopeo, including persistent storage attachment
  • Demonstrated expertise in automating and streamlining server configurations, deployments, and day-to-day operational tasks using Ansible, reducing manual workloads by 70%
  • Developed and maintained Ansible playbooks for automated system setup, software installation, and operational maintenance, improving deployment consistency and efficiency
  • Key rotation, role-based permissions, enforced strong password policy management.
  • ·Demonstrated expertise in using Ansible to automate configuration management, ensuring consistent environments from development through production.
  • · Authored and maintained numerous Ansible playbooks for deploying and managing applications across multiple environments, reducing manual deployment times by over 50%.
  • · Utilized Ansible to automate routine system administration tasks, including software installations, patch management, and network configurations, increasing team productivity and system reliability.
  • · Configured and managed dynamic inventories with Ansible, enabling scalable and flexible management of cloud resources and physical servers.
  • · Designed reusable, modular Ansible roles for software deployment, security hardening, and service configuration, shared across projects to streamline development and maintenance processes.
  • Reduced downtime by proactively identifying and resolving potential issues through monitoring tools and log analysis.
  • Facilitated successful migrations from legacy systems to modern Linux-based platforms, minimizing disruption to business operations.
  • Enhanced server performance by optimizing Linux system configurations and conducting regular maintenance.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of new servers into existing networks.
  • Improved overall system stability with thorough testing of software patches before deployment on production environments.
  • Increased infrastructure scalability with the implementation of virtualization technologies such as VMware and KVM.
  • Streamlined workflow for the IT team by automating routine tasks using shell scripting.
  • Maintained high availability of web applications by configuring and managing Apache HTTP Server and Nginx reverse proxy servers.
  • Assisted in the planning and execution of disaster recovery exercises, ensuring teams were prepared for unforeseen events.
  • Installed important security and functionality patches to maintain optimal protections against intrusion and system reliability.
  • Managed onboarding and offboarding of employees.
  • Completed reports detailing network and systems performance and downtime issues.
  • Oversaw file system and storage upgrades while safeguarding data integrity and redundancy.
  • Adopted cost-effective, useful solutions to implement into current systems.
  • Diagnosed and resolved hardware and software issues.
  • Resolved issues and escalated problems with knowledgeable support and quality service.
  • Planned and implemented upgrades to system hardware and software.

Linux Systems Administrator

TIMELESS SOLUTIONS INC, LLC
02.2016 - 01.2018
  • Diagnosed and resolved network connectivity issues, utilizing advanced commands including snoop, trace route, and nslookup
  • Setup and configuration of network computers, optimizing network interfaces to enhance efficiency and performance
  • Delivered comprehensive hardware and software support for workstations, servers, and storage products, maintaining 99.9% uptime
  • Optimized user management procedures, increasing account security and access control effectiveness through meticulous account and group management
  • Enhanced overall system security via implementation log monitoring protocols, resulting in early detection and mitigation of system vulnerabilities
  • Reduced manual intervention through implementation and configuration of AutoFS for automated file system management
  • Increased web server functionality by expertly installing and configuring Apache web servers and establishing virtual hosts
  • Minimized downtime through adept utilization of ticketing systems including Remedy, Jira, and OSTicket for efficient issue resolution
  • Showcased proficiency in bash shell scripting, kernel visualization management, and SELinux management
  • Oversaw operation and administration of key production applications including Apache, Nginx, and MySQL
  • Ensured high availability and optimal performance in a high-traffic online environment
  • Automated deployment processes using Ansible, significantly reducing downtime and human error
  • Configured and optimized software and related dependencies to enhance performance
  • Regularly updated applications and servers with latest security patches, minimizing vulnerabilities
  • Utilized tools like Yum, Apt, and custom scripts to automate updates
  • Utilized monitoring tools such as Nagios and Zabbix to track application performance metrics
  • Actively responded to and resolved alerts, preventing potential outages and performance degradations
  • Provided end-user support for application issues, including diagnosing and resolving complex technical problems
  • Created detailed documentation on application setups, configurations, and daily operations to ensure knowledge sharing and continuity
  • Worked closely with software development teams to optimize application performance and resolve bottlenecks
  • Played key role in transition to a DevOps culture, enhancing collaboration and speeding up go-to-market strategies
  • Reduced application deployment times by 50% through automation and deployment and configuration tasks
  • Enhanced security posture by leading quarterly audit and patch management schedule, addressing critical vulnerabilities ahead of potential exploits.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Tactical Medicine/Biology

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Field Medical Service Technician (Corpsman) - Operational Emergency Medical School (OEMS)

UNITED STATES NAVY

Skills

  • RHEL 6-9
  • CentOS 7
  • Solaris 9-11
  • Software Installation
  • Network configuration
  • Patch management
  • GitHub
  • Red Hat Satellite
  • Network Configuration and Management
  • Security Hardening and Compliance
  • Virtualization and Containerization
  • Scripting (Bash) and Automation (Ansible)
  • Hardware troubleshooting
  • Monitoring and Performance Tuning
  • Configuration Management
  • Load Balancing
  • Virtualization Technologies
  • Linux Server Management
  • System Performance Tuning
  • Containerization Tools
  • Nagios monitoring software
  • Network Troubleshooting
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Firewall Management

Core Competencies

· Linux System Administration

· Network Configuration and Management

· Security Hardening and Compliance

· Virtualization and Containerization

· Scripting and Automation

· Disaster Recovery Planning and Implementation

· Monitoring and Performance Tuning

· Incident Response and Problem Resolution

· Team Leadership and Collaboration

Vendor Management and Negotiation

Certification

RHSCA, https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/ex200-red-hat-certified-system-administrator-rhcsa-exam?section=objectives

Skills

Title: Seasoned Linux Systems Administrator | RHSCA Certified | Problem Solver | Troubleshooter

Timeline

Senior Linux Systems Administrator

DYNAMIC TECH, LLC
11.2018 - Current

Linux Systems Administrator

TIMELESS SOLUTIONS INC, LLC
02.2016 - 01.2018

Bachelor of Science - Tactical Medicine/Biology

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Field Medical Service Technician (Corpsman) - Operational Emergency Medical School (OEMS)

UNITED STATES NAVY

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Umaru Williams