About the Position

Enterprise Compute Tower Lead (Windows & Linux Infrastructure)

Location: Des Moines, IA - Hybrid (3 days work from office)

Experience: 11-15+ years

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

Responsibilities

Tower Leadership & Service Delivery

Own the overall delivery and operational performance of the Enterprise Compute Tower.
Lead Windows and Linux infrastructure support teams across multiple support tiers.
Manage SLA, KPI, availability, capacity, compliance, and operational excellence objectives.
Act as the primary escalation point for critical compute-related issues.
Drive service quality, customer satisfaction, and operational stability.
Lead customer governance meetings, operational reviews, and executive reporting.

Windows & Linux Infrastructure Management

Oversee day-to-day operations of:
- Windows Server Infrastructure
- Linux Server Infrastructure
- Virtual Machines
- Physical Servers
- Hybrid Cloud Compute Platforms
Ensure high availability and optimal performance of enterprise computing environments.
Manage operating system lifecycle activities including:
- Installation
- Configuration
- Upgrades
- Patch Management
- Security Hardening
- Decommissioning
Ensure standardization across enterprise server environments.

Server Operations & Administration

Windows Environment

Windows Server 2016 / 2019 / 2022
Active Directory
Group Policy
DNS
DHCP
IIS
PowerShell Automation
Failover Clustering

Linux Environment

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Rocky Linux
Oracle Linux
Ubuntu
SUSE Linux
Shell Scripting
Ansible Automation
Linux Security Administration

Virtualization & Cloud Infrastructure

Manage enterprise virtualization platforms including:
- VMware vSphere
- VMware ESXi
- VMware vCenter
- Hyper-V
Support cloud-hosted workloads across:
- Microsoft Azure
- AWS
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Lead cloud migration and workload modernization initiatives.
Ensure optimal resource utilization and cost optimization.

Incident, Problem & Change Management

Lead resolution of Priority 1 and Priority 2 incidents impacting compute services.
Participate in Major Incident Management activities.
Drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Problem Management initiatives.
Ensure compliance with Change Management processes.
Review and approve high-risk infrastructure changes.
Participate in Change Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.

Capacity, Availability & Performance Management

Define and implement capacity planning strategies.
Monitor utilization trends and forecast future resource requirements.
Ensure compliance with availability targets.
Drive performance optimization initiatives across server environments.
Maintain infrastructure health dashboards and scorecards.

Security & Compliance

Ensure server security compliance with organizational standards.
Lead vulnerability remediation and security patching programs.
Partner with Cyber Security teams to address risks and audit findings.
Support regulatory and compliance requirements.
Implement CIS, NIST, and industry-standard hardening practices.

Automation & Continuous Improvement

Drive infrastructure automation initiatives using:
- PowerShell
- Ansible
- Terraform
- Python
- Azure Automation
Reduce manual effort through orchestration and self-healing solutions.
Improve operational efficiency through automation and standardization.
Identify service improvement opportunities and execute transformation initiatives.

Asset & CMDB Governance

Ensure server assets and configuration items are accurately maintained in CMDB.
Drive configuration compliance and infrastructure inventory accuracy.
Support Asset Management and Configuration Management processes.
Ensure relationships between infrastructure components are maintained and documented.

Team Leadership & People Management

Lead a team of Windows and Linux administrators, engineers, and technical leads.
Manage staffing, workload distribution, and resource planning.
Conduct technical mentoring and capability development initiatives.
Establish operational standards and best practices.
Develop succession and cross-skilling plans across teams.

Requirements

Required Technical Skills

Windows Technologies

Windows Server Administration
Active Directory
Group Policy Management
DNS / DHCP
PowerShell
IIS
Windows Clustering

Linux Technologies

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Oracle Linux
Ubuntu
SUSE Linux
Shell Scripting
Linux Security & Hardening
Performance Tuning

Virtualization

VMware vSphere
ESXi
vCenter
Hyper-V

Cloud Platforms

Microsoft Azure
AWS
GCP

Automation

PowerShell
Ansible
Terraform
Python
Git

Monitoring & ITSM

ServiceDesk Plus
ServiceNow
SolarWinds
PRTG
Nagios
Dynatrace
Splunk

Preferred Skills

Windows and Linux Migration Projects
Cloud Modernization Programs
Data Center Consolidation
Disaster Recovery Planning
Enterprise Monitoring Solutions
Power BI Reporting
AI-Ops and Infrastructure Automation

Preferred Certifications

Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
VMware VCP
Azure Administrator Associate
AWS Solutions Architect Associate
ITIL Foundation
Terraform Associate
Ansible Automation Certification

We Offer

Competitive Salary: Between $119,000 - $137,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
Incentives: Eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.
Benefits:
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
- Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
- 401(k) plan and contribution
- Long-term/Short-term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan

About the Company

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is an AI Builder and a digital services company delivering end-to-end AI solutions that maximize investments for real results. Its deep expertise in business, process, and technology enables it to embed the unique context of each organization’s systems of engagement and execution at scale. Its goal: to improve the efficiency of teams, create value, and enable leading companies to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information: cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application will be considered independently of your race, color, sex, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by European or French laws.

If you are a person with a disability and need assistance with the application process, please contact us at [email protected] to discuss the necessary accommodations for the position or upcoming interviews.

Candidates may be invited to participate in face-to-face or video interviews. Additionally, candidates may be required to present a valid ID during each interview.

Benefits That Make a Difference

Financial Well-being

We regularly review market data to ensure that compensation reflects the value you bring. Your benefits go beyond salary and may include retirement plans with matching contributions, financial training, and more.

Physical and Mental Well-being

We encourage you to prioritize your well-being with paid time off, flexible work where possible, health care plans, clinical counseling, our mental health alliance program, and more.

Your Career, Your Way

With over 350,000 roles at Cognizant, you’ll have the opportunity to explore new technologies, industries, and locations-and develop the skills you need to advance your career.

Real Impact

Think about the brands you rely on every day. Chances are, they also rely on us to power their business. Here, you’ll turn bold ideas into solutions that improve people’s lives around the world.

Your Journey to Cognizant

Here’s what you can expect from our recruitment process. Please note that it may vary by role and location. Check our FAQ for more information.

Step 1: Find Your Role and Apply

Find an open position that matches your skills and career goals, then show us why you’re the perfect fit for that role. If no positions match your profile right now, please join our talent community.

Step 2: Chat with a Recruiter

If one of our recruiters determines that you’re a good fit for the role, they’ll contact you to set up a brief conversation to better understand your background and skills.

Step 3: Showcase Your Talent

If you and our team want to move forward, you’ll meet with our hiring team. Some roles may also require technical assessments and/or client interviews.

Step 4: Final Decision

Our team will then review each candidate’s potential to succeed in the role. This step may take some time as we want to make the right decision-but you can count on us to keep you informed.

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Enterprise Compute Tower Lead (Windows & Linux Infrastructure)

Job description