Technology Operations/Cloud Compute Administrator

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Manager – Technology Operations/Cloud Compute Administrator to manage and optimize Sallie Mae’s cloud-based EC2 and container infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have proficiency in both Red Hat Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems and a strong background in containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes along with exposure to services like RedHat Openshift, AWS EKS and AWS Fargate. This role requires hands-on experience in cloud environments, automation, and system reliability to ensure seamless deployment, performance, and security of our applications.

What You'll Do

• Cloud Infrastructure Management: Maintain, configure, and optimize cloud-based compute environments (AWS, some Azure).

• Linux & Windows Administration: Perform system administration, troubleshooting, patching/vulnerability management, and CIS security hardening on Linux and Windows server OS using tools like Ansible, Microsoft Group Policy, Microsoft InTune etc.  This involves also managing the Sallie Mae AWS AMI’s and releasing them monthly with all the latest patch sets.

• Containerization & Orchestration: Deploy, manage, and troubleshoot containerized applications using Docker, Kubernetes, or other container platforms.

• Automation & Scripting: Develop scripts and automation tools using PowerShell, Bash, Python, Linux Shell Scripting, AWS CloudFormation, and Ansible/Ansible Tower for cloud and system management.

• Security & Compliance: Ensure infrastructure security, implement best practices, and maintain compliance with industry standards.

• Performance Monitoring: Utilize monitoring tools like Dynatrace or CloudWatch/CloudTrail to track performance, availability, reliability and optimize system efficiency.

• Storage: Configure and manage local EBS EC2 storage within the Sallie Mae cloud environment.  This includes understanding different workloads and allocating storage efficiently to avoid cost over-running.

• Collaboration & Documentation: Work with development teams to support CI/CD pipelines and document system processes for operational efficiency.

• Establish and maintain technology infrastructure standards, ensuring adherence to industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What you have

Minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or equivalent experience.

• 3-5 years of experience managing cloud-based compute infrastructure.

• Strong proficiency in Red Hat Linux and Microsoft Windows system administration. Microsoft Windows or RedHat Linux Certifications are a plus.

• Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and container orchestration and management.

• Familia