About the group:
Cognizant’s Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services Practice (CIS), is all about accepting digital transformation by driving core modernization holistically across layers. We help customers transform infrastructure and workplace to meet the constantly evolving needs of the digital era. Our broad approach delivers key results for our customers by achieving cloud driven modernization and workplace and operational transformation to own the business in a secure environment.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Role: Patch Service Lead
Location: Toronto , ON
ROLE SUMMARY
The Linux Patching Tower Lead (Onshore) is the primary Linux interface to client L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours. This role owns the end-to-end Linux patch lifecycle across a 63,000+ node estate of RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu systems — driving Ansible/AAP and Red Hat Satellite-based patch execution, kernel errata management, EOL/EOS tracking, and compliance reporting while coordinating application-owner sign-off and weekend change windows.
ROLE IN THE OPERATING MODEL
▸ Tower/pod lead and SME for Linux patching — primary Linux interface to client L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours and weekend windows
▸ Owns Linux tower compliance reporting to the Patch Service Lead
▸ Coordinates app-owner sign-off post-patching; manages escalation to client Linux L2/L3 within agreed SLTs
▸ Operates as Linux execution layer under client direction; baseline/image engineering remains client L2/L3 owned
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
▸ Plan and execute OS patch cycles for RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu via Ansible/AAP, Red Hat Satellite, and YUM/DNF
▸ Manage kernel updates, errata and package updates, live patching where applicable, and reboot orchestration with service validation
▸ Run pre-flight readiness checks — disk space, repository connectivity, snapshot/backup validation — and execute Dev→Prod wave progression
▸ Track kernel currency, CVE backlog, and EOL/EOS posture; maintain compliance and update CMDB
▸ Coordinate application-owner sign-off and change-window adherence; manage Tenable/Qualys compliance tracking
▸ Perform first-level remediation, RCA, and rollback (package downgrade/snapshot revert); maintain KEDB
▸ Own Linux tower compliance reporting and present KPIs to the Patch Service Lead for governance reviews
▸ Coordinate with client NOC during weekend change windows; escalate to Linux L2/L3 within agreed SLTs
TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE SCOPE
▸ Execute OS patch cycles for RHEL, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu via Ansible/AAP, Red Hat Satellite, and YUM/DNF
▸ Manage kernel and errata updates, live patching where applicable, and service-validated reboot orchestration
▸ Run pre-flight readiness (disk, repo connectivity, snapshots/backups) and wave execution Dev→Prod
▸ Track kernel currency, CVE backlog, and EOL/EOS; update CMDB compliance posture
▸ Perform RCA and rollback — package downgrade or snapshot revert; maintain KEDB entries
▸ Author and submit RFC/CAB documentation for Linux patch waves; coordinate maintenance window scheduling
▸ Generate Linux tower compliance reports for cycle governance; coordinate app-owner sign-off
SKILLS, TOOLS & COMPETENCIES
Primary Skills
OS Expertise RHEL 7/8/9, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu LTS, Kernel/errata management, systemd, YUM/DNF
Patch Tools Ansible/Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), Red Hat Satellite (Foreman/Spacewalk), YUM/DNF, Live patching (kpatch)
Automation Ansible playbook authoring, Bash/Shell scripting, Python scripting, Cron/at scheduling
ITSM & Vuln ServiceNow (Change/CMDB), Tenable, Qualys, RFC/CAB lifecycle, KEDB management
Observability Splunk, Dynatrace, Moogsoft, PagerDuty
Secondary Skills
▸ Container/host patching awareness and configuration management (Ansible roles, Puppet/Chef awareness)
▸ Cloud Linux fundamentals — Azure Linux VMs, AWS EC2 (RHEL/Ubuntu)
▸ Shell and Python scripting for patch automation
CERTIFICATIONS
Mandatory
▸ ITIL 4 Foundation
Preferred (one or more)
▸ Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) — mandatory preference
▸ Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation (EX407/EX374)
▸ Red Hat Certified Specialist in Satellite/Patch Management — strong plus
▸ Oracle Linux or CompTIA Linux+ acceptable
NICE TO HAVE
▸ Experience patching large Linux estates (30,000+ nodes) using Satellite/Foreman
▸ Live kernel patching (kpatch/ksplice) operational experience
▸ Financial services Linux patching experience with regulatory compliance requirements
WORK MODEL & COMMITMENT
Hours Canada business hours + weekend change window coverage
Shift Model Hybrid onshore; scheduled maintenance and weekend patch windows
On-Call Yes — weekend patch cycles and zero-day CVE response
Language English (mandatory)
Compensation: We are offering between $60,000 – $85,000. Applications will be accepted until Aug 21, 2026.Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
关于高知特 (Cognizant)
高知特(Cognizant)（纳斯达克代码：CTSH）作为一家AI Builder和相关技术服务提供商，致力于通过打造全栈AI解决方案，帮助企业将人工智能投资转化为实际价值。公司凭借深厚的行业经验、流程优化和工程技术专长，将企业独特的业务场景融入科技系统，赋能组织释放人才潜能，推动切实成果，并帮助全球企业在瞬息万变的环境中保持领先。如需了解更多详情，敬请访问 cognizant.ai 或关注@cognizant。
补充雇佣信息
薪酬信息截至本职位发布之日为准。Cognizant 保留在适用法律允许的范围内随时修改该信息的权利。
申请人可能需要通过现场面试或视频会议的方式参加面试。此外，候选人在每次面试时可能需要出示其当前所在州或政府签发的有效身份证件。
Cognizant 是一家提供平等就业机会的雇主。在招聘过程中，您的申请和候选资格不会因种族、肤色、性别、宗教、信仰、性取向、性别认同、国籍、残疾、遗传信息、怀孕、退伍军人身份或任何其他受联邦、州或地方法律保护的特征而受到影响。
