Linux Systems Administrator (Vulnerability, Patching, and Hardening)

At Ovation Healthcare (formerly QHR Health), we’ve been making local healthcare better for more than 40 years. Our mission is to strengthen independent community healthcare. We provide independent hospitals and health systems with the support, guidance and tech-enabled shared services needed to remain strong and viable. With a strong sense of purpose and commitment to operating excellence, we help rural healthcare providers fulfill their missions. 

The Ovation Healthcare difference is the extraordinary combination of operations experience and consulting guidance that fulfills our mission of creating a sustainable future for healthcare organizations. Ovation Healthcare’s vision is to be a dynamic, integrated professional services company delivering innovative and executable solutions through experience and thought leadership, while valuing trust, respect, and customer focused behavior. 

We’re looking for talented, motivated professionals with a desire to help independent hospitals thrive. Working with Ovation Healthcare, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with highly skilled subject matter specialists and operations executives, in a collegial atmosphere of professionalism and teamwork. 

Ovation Healthcare’s corporate headquarters is located in Brentwood, TN. For more information, visit www.ovationhc.com. 

Position summary
Performs hands-on vulnerability remediation, patch deployment, and secure configuration hardening for Linux environments. Ensures changes are executed safely in production, validated through Qualys Vulnerability Management, and measured through program metrics and service level agreement reporting.

Essential functions

• Review Qualys Vulnerability Management findings for Linux systems and define remediation plans aligned to maintenance windows.

• Execute Linux patching using approved automation where available and manual methods where required; validate successful installation and service stability.

• Implement Linux hardening baselines including secure Secure Shell configuration, service minimization, authentication controls, file permissions, and logging standards.

• Validate remediation closure through Qualys rescans and system compliance checks; maintain required evidence and documentation.

• Troubleshoot patch-related impacts and coordinate restoration; perform root cause analysis for recurring issues.

• Produce metrics for remediation throughput, vulnerability aging, patch success rates, and hardening compliance; support service level agreement reporting.

Required qualifications

• Five or more years of direct, hands-on Linux administration and production patching experience.

• Demonstrated experience implementing and validating hardening configurations in production.

• Hands-on experience using Qualys Vulnerability Management for remediation validation and closure.

Preferred qualifications

• Hospital information technology experience strongly preferred; broader healthcare experience preferred.

• Certifications highly desirable: Red Hat Certified System Administrator, Red Hat Certified Engineer, CompTIA Security+, or equivalent.

Work schedule expectations

• Participation in scheduled after-hours maintenance windows as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Reliable high-speed internet connection is required for all remote/hybrid positions. 

• Must have access to stable Wi-Fi with sufficient bandwidth to support video conferencing, cloud-based tools, and other online work-related activities. 

• A HIPAA-compliant work environment is required, including a secure workspace free from unauthorized access or interruptions, no use of public Wi-Fi unless connected through a secure company-provided VPN, and compliance with all applicable HIPAA privacy and security regulations.

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