Linux Systems Administrator - OCC

At the Technology Innovation Department (TID), our mission is to apply modern principles of research, design, and technology to make our transit system easy for all riders to use. Effective and equitable public transit is essential to the social, economic, and environmental progress of Greater Boston. The MBTA Technology Innovation team is working to transform how people get around the Boston area. We are a team of designers, engineers, product and content specialists charged with bringing novel ideas, modern standards and a user-centered approach to technology at the T. As the MBTA works to reinvent itself, we have a rare opportunity to craft the future of transportation for Boston and communities all around Eastern Massachusetts, as well as pioneer innovations for other transit agencies around the country. Do you want to improve the daily transportation experience for 4.7 million people in the Boston region? Ready for the challenge? Then read on.
At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system.  Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation.  MBTA’s core values are built around safety, service, equity, and sustainability and each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values.  This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

Purpose and scope:

• The OCS System Administrator is responsible for the Linux administration of the MBTA Operations Control System (OCS). The OCS System Administrator will be responsible for supporting, maintaining, and enhancing the real-time distributed system used to manage the MBTA’s Operations Control Center Train Control System. This role will report directly to the Deputy Director Operations Control System (OCS).

Duties and responsibilities:

• Support, maintain, and enhance the real-time distributed system used to manage the MBTA’s Operations Control Center Train Control System.
• Respond to system emergencies (automated and end user identified) twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
• Monitor the functioning of installed equipment/systems in order to detect hazards and the need for adjustments, reallocation, or replacement.
• Improve the automated system monitoring and problem auto resolution systems.
• Troubleshoot and document resolutions of failures with computer hardware, operating system, network, and control system.
• Design/implement/integrate new systems, hardware, and technologies into the Operations Control Center.
• Read, update, and create detailed documentation such as system schematics, hardware layout diagrams, operating system installation procedures, and maintenance procedures.
• Create, execute, and analyze database reports and ad-hoc queries.
• Create, review, and execute system test procedures.
• Utilize change control and version management procedures.
• MySQL database setup configuration and maintenance monitoring.
• Maintain system backups
• Apache Web Server setup configuration and maintenance monitoring.
• Configuration of network Firewall, Routers and Switches and maintenance monitoring.
• Coordinate with Schedules Department on train schedule loading.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned


• Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations.   See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Physical demands and working conditions:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Available to work all shifts and locations as assigned or directed
• Available to work as per assignment by the MBTA twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as directed by supervisory staff for severe weather conditions, emergencies or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service
• Have the ability to work any and all shifts and/or locations assigned or directed. 

Minimum experience and required skills:

• Four (4) years system administration experience with Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Should have working knowledge of: Desktop/Server hardware configuration, real-time systems, general networking (router/switch/firewall configuration), redundant configuration setups, MySQL/MariaDB database and SQL query, Apache web server, RAID Disk array configuration, Experience with shell scripting (sh/bash/csh/Pearl or similar)
• Have excellent analytical, problem solving