Systems Administrator (Linux Environment)

About the role

SmartNode Systems Ltd is a Malta-based managed IT and infrastructure provider supporting international clients across iGaming, fintech and professional services. We operate from offices in SmartCity and provide a hybrid working arrangement while maintaining on-site presence for hardware, network and project work.

The Systems Administrator will be part of a small, experienced infrastructure team responsible for Linux server estates, virtualization, cloud deployments and disaster recovery. You will work closely with DevOps, security and support teams to keep services resilient and performant for local and international customers.

Day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining Linux systems (Debian/Ubuntu, CentOS/RHEL), automation and scripting, patching, backups, monitoring and troubleshooting. The role suits a pragmatic engineer who enjoys hands-on work, documentation, and contributing to continuous improvement of operational procedures.

This is a strong opportunity for an engineer seeking steady career progression, technical training and exposure to cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure) and modern infrastructure tooling while based in Malta's growing tech hub near Msida and Ta' Xbiex.

About SmartNode Systems Ltd

SmartNode Systems Ltd is a Maltese IT services company specialising in managed infrastructure, cloud migrations and security for clients in iGaming, fintech and professional services. We combine local support with international standards and operate an English-speaking workplace with Maltese users across our client base.

What you can expect

• Hybrid working from SmartCity / Ta' Xbiex with modern office facilities
• Training budget and study leave for certifications
• Private health insurance contribution
• Clear progression into Senior Systems / DevOps roles
• Stable contracts with Maltese payroll and employee benefits

Key responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Linux servers (Debian/Ubuntu, CentOS/RHEL) in both cloud and on-prem environments
• Deploy, configure and manage virtualisation platforms (KVM, VMware) and container platforms (Docker)
• Implement automation using scripting (Bash, Python) and configuration tools (Ansible, Puppet or similar)
• Manage backup, restore and disaster recovery processes for critical systems
• Monitor system health and performance using tools such as Prometheus, Nagios, Grafana or equivalent
• Apply security best practices: patch management, access controls, vulnerability remediation and logging
• Respond to incidents and perform troubleshooting across OS, storage and network layers
• Maintain clear technical documentation, runbooks and change logs
• Participate in on-call rota for out-of-hours support and scheduled maintenance windows
• Collaborate with DevOps and engineering teams on deployments, capacity planning and performance tuning

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years' hands-on experience administering Linux systems in production
• Strong knowledge of Debian/Ubuntu and CentOS/RHEL family distributions
• Experience with virtualization platforms such as VMware or KVM
• Practical scripting skills (Bash, Python or similar) for automation and tasks
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure or GCP) and hybrid deployments
• Understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, routing, firewalls)
• Experience with monitoring, logging and backup solutions in production
• Good English communication skills; ability to document technical procedures
• Eligible to work in Malta or holding a valid Maltese work permit / right to work

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short cover note highlighting relevant Linux and cloud experience, along with your earliest availability and current notice period.