Position: Systems Operations Specialist – Linux Infrastructure
Department: Department of the Secretary of State – Office of Information Services
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Job Class: 0870
Salary: $66,952.08 – $94,077.37 annually (Includes 15% recruitment & retention stipend)

Closing Date: June 24, 2025

Join Our Team at the Department of the Secretary of State

At the Department of the Secretary of State, we are a team dedicated to providing efficient and exceptional service to our community. We prioritize work-life balance and offer great benefits to support our team in achieving professional success while maintaining personal well-being. Join a team that fosters a culture of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement, offering opportunities for growth and making a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens.

Are you ready to make a difference?
We are looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals who thrive in a dynamic, solutions-focused environment. If you are passionate about supporting mission-critical infrastructure and building reliable systems that serve the people of Maine, we want you on our team.

About the Position:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Systems Operations Specialist – Linux Infrastructure to join our Office of Information Services. This is an advanced technical position responsible for supporting, maintaining, and securing Linux-based infrastructure across our primary and alternate data centers, as well as cloud-based platforms. In this role, you will monitor, install, troubleshoot, and enhance server operations, contribute to system automation, and coordinate with both internal teams and external vendors to ensure system reliability and performance.

This position is also eligible for an additional 5% training stipend.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, with remote work eligibility after successful completion of a six-month on-site probationary period.

What We’re Looking For:

• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of Linux server environments, backup systems, and modern infrastructure tools.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Analytical thinking and a proactive approach to troubleshooting and security awareness.
• Communication: Clear and concise communication, both verbal and written, with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Teamwork: A collaborative mindset that supports IT colleagues, developers, and vendors to drive shared success.
• Adaptability: Ability to navigate and learn new systems, platforms, and best practices in a fast-evolving environment.

Key Competencies We Value:

• Systems Thinking: Understanding interrelated infrastructure components to enhance uptime and performance.
• Security Vigilance: Awareness of risk, data protection, and mitigation strategies in system administration.
• Project Coordination: Ability to manage complex technical upgrades, vendor interactions, and system rollouts.
• Documentation & Standards: Commitment to consistent procedures, change tracking, and performance measurement.
• Continuous Learning: Interest in staying current with new technologies, scripting methods, and infrastructure tools.

In this role, you will:

• Install, maintain, and update Linux operating systems, ensuring reliability and security.
• Monitor the performance and availability of Linux servers, network equipment, and storage infrastructure.
• Develop and implement system patching and upgrade plans, addressing operating systems, software, and firmware.
• Administer backup solutions and conduct routine restoration tests to verify data integrity and recoverability.
• Collaborate with development teams to ensure smooth software integration and deployment on managed servers.
• Coordinate and oversee vendor activity within the datacenter, ensuring adherence to internal protocols.
• Remain alert to potential security issues during system changes and escalate findings to leadership or security staff.
• Maintain and enhance automation scripts for server and system administration using appropriate tools.

Preferences will be given to candidates who have:

• Experience supporting high-availability Linux environments in enterprise or government settings.
• Working knowledge of backup and disaster recovery protocols.
• Proficiency in scripting languages used for system automation and monitoring.
• Prior work with datacenter operations and vendor management.

Minimum Qualifications:

A minimum of 6 years of a combination of related post-secondary education, technical certifications, or technology-related work experience.
Related training, internship experience, etc., may be credited as related experience on a month-for-month basis.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions, and successful candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form upon hire.

Why Join Our Team?

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you’ll be part of a workforce that embodies our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—providing essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and well-being with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit: Take time for yourself with 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage: The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance: The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.62 annual value).
• Retirement Plan: The State contributes the equivalent of 13.89% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Matthew Dudley at Matthew.S.Dudley@Maine.Gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period.  Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE or contact our office at 207-441-4512.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Secretary of State Office of Human Resources, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-624-9313.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job, and then there’s purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in different ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note that reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.