Senior Computer Engineer (100% Remote)

Our customer is a large United States insurance company that is backed by more than 100 years of experience and provides insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the United States., Canada and Europe. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, they have more than 20 US locations.

We are seeking a contract Senior Computer Engineer responsible for engineering, automating, and modernizing heterogeneous enterprise compute platforms across Linux, Unix (AIX, HP-UX), and Windows environments in a hybrid context (private cloud + public cloud). The role delivers platform outcomes using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and repeatable automation - creating and maintaining version-controlled Terraform and Ansible assets that enable consistent provisioning, configuration, and lifecycle operations at scale.

This position operates in a fully outsourced delivery model and works day-to-day with MSP engineers to implement changes, run upgrades, execute IaC pipelines, deliver automation, and resolve complex incidents - providing technical direction, validation, and escalation support while remaining an individual contributor.

A key expectation is to help evolve operations toward AI-enabled run-the-business, including practical use of AI Agents / agentic frameworks for triage, remediation workflows, and CMDB hygiene - implemented with appropriate controls and operational rigor.

This role is hybrid (preferred) in Chicago, but can be 100% remote for the right candidate.

Responsibilities:

• Guide engineering and operations for Linux/UNIX and Windows Server environments across physical and virtual infrastructures.
• Ensure best practices for system reliability, security, and performance.
• Define and maintain OS configuration standards, gold images, hardening standards, patching approaches, and operational runbooks.
• Provide technical consultation for troubleshooting performance, storage, networking dependencies, authentication issues, and patch failures.
• Validate remediation plans and operational outcomes delivered by MSP teams.
• Develop and maintain technical standards and guardrails for Terraform modules and Ansible playbooks used in production environments.
• Ensure infrastructure automation assets are reusable, parameterized, and well-documented for operational execution.
• Partner with architecture teams to define reference architectures and provisioning/lifecycle blueprints.
• Collaborate with MSP teams to implement infrastructure workflows through automation pipelines and runbooks.
• Drive automation strategies to reduce operational overhead related to provisioning, configuration, patching, compliance checks, and drift remediation.
• Lead technical design and validation activities for lifecycle upgrades, including rollback readiness and change governance compliance.
• Guide infrastructure consolidation and rationalization initiatives focused on reliability, risk reduction, and cost optimization.
• Provide subject matter expertise for private cloud compute platforms and virtualization operations.
• Partner with CMDB and ITOM stakeholders to improve data quality through discovery and connector-driven integrations.
• Validate reconciliation processes and CMDB hygiene outcomes.
• Identify and support AI-driven operational use cases to improve MTTR and reduce manual operational tasks.
• Support the implementation of AI agents and agentic frameworks integrated with IT operations workflows.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Independently identify solutions, communicate risks, and drive issue resolution in fast-paced environments.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in enterprise Linux, AIX, HP-UX, and Windows Server engineering and administration.
• Strong experience leading and influencing technical outcomes within outsourced or MSP operating models.
• Strong expertise in computer troubleshooting, performance optimization, patching, hardening, lifecycle upgrades, and reliability engineering.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools, including Terraform and Ansible.
• Experience designing standards, architectures, and operational frameworks for production environments.
• Scripting experience with Shell, Python, and PowerShell.
• Experience driving modernization initiatives, including OS and broader stack upgrades.
• Understanding of CMDB processes, server and storage mapping, configuration item lifecycle management, and data quality practices.
• Working knowledge of hybrid cloud environments, including private and public cloud concepts.
• Experience designing reference architectures and standards for large-scale compute platforms.
• Experience working in highly available, regulated, or multi-environment infrastructures.
• Strong organizational, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to present complex technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and operate effectively in fast-paced environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with hyperconverged infrastructure platforms, including VxRail.
• Experience supporting AI operationalization within ITSM, automation, and CMDB workflows.

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.