Technology Design, Specialty Workstations

Role & responsibilities

Position name: Technology Design Expert / Specialist, Specialty Workstations

Reports to: Head of Digital Enabling Platform

Purpose of role: Design, maintain and/or analyze KONE information systems that are appropriate for users' and business needs. These systems should be consistent with the overall design of the organisation's information systems architecture. Owns the Solution configuration within his/her area of responsibility.

Location: India

Key accountabilities and responsibilities:  Kone is seeking a Technology Design Expert / Specialist with a primary focus on Linux workstation management. This role will take ownership of the design, implementation, and central management of Linux environments across the organization, catering specifically to the unique needs of our R&D teams. The candidate will work closely with stakeholders to understand R&D requirements and deliver solutions that standardize, secure, and optimize Linux workstations. Additionally, the role will support macOS devices and ensure that devices are up-to-date and secure.

Responsibilities & Key activities

• Primary Focus – Linux Management: Take charge of the central management of Linux workstations, ensuring compliance with security standards and performance optimization. Tailor solutions to the needs of Kone’s R&D teams, ensuring these workstations meet the specific requirements for development, testing, and research activities.
• R&D Collaboration: Work directly with R&D stakeholders to gather requirements, understand workflows, and design Linux workstation environments that enhance productivity and meet technical specifications. Provide solutions that align with both operational security and research flexibility.
• Cross-Platform Support: In addition to Linux, provide support for Apple Mac workstations, implementing best practices for security and performance across both platforms.
• Standardization & Security: Develop and implement standardized configurations, security protocols, and best practices for Linux and macOS environments. Ensure that these workstations are secure, consistent, and aligned with organizational policies.
• Centralized Linux Management: Design and deploy centralized tools for managing Linux systems (e.g., Puppet, Ansible, Intune, or similar), allowing for streamlined patching, software deployment, monitoring, and configuration management.
• Manufacturing Floor Device Management: Collaborate with supply chain and operations teams to ensure that manufacturing floor devices remain secure, updated, and function in compliance with Kone’s operational standards. Implement segregation strategies where necessary to minimize risks to production-critical systems.
• Automation & Efficiency: Leverage automation tools to ensure the smooth deployment, monitoring, and management of Linux and macOS workstations. Ensure that these processes are efficient, scalable, and reduce manual intervention.
• Lifecycle Management: Manage the full lifecycle of Linux and macOS workstations, including patch management, software updates, and troubleshooting, with a special focus on research and development needs.
• Incident Management: Act as a point of escalation for Linux and macOS workstation issues, providing timely resolutions with minimal impact on business or R&D operations.

Technical Skills:

• Expert knowledge of Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL) and experience with Linux workstation deployment and automation.
• Strong proficiency in scripting and configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Bash, Python, Intune).
• Experience with security best practices for Linux workstations.
• Familiarity with mobile device management (MDM) solutions for Mac devices
• Familiarity with tools for endpoint management and configuration (e.g., Satellite, Puppet, Chef).

Key Competencies:

R&D Focus: Ability to understand and anticipate the needs of the R&D environment, providing flexible yet secure Linux solutions that enhance productivity.

Linux Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in managing Linux workstations, particularly in environments where research, security, and performance are critical.

Centralized Management: Proven track record of designing and implementing centralized management solutions for Linux systems to ensure consistency, security, and ease of administration.

Preferred candidate profile

6 to 10+ years of hands-on experience with Linux workstation management in a corporate or R&D setting.

Proven experience in designing centralized management solutions for Linux environments.

Familiarity with R&D workflows and a track record of delivering tailored Linux solutions for research and development purposes.

Experience with macOS and workstation lifecycle management.

Perks and benefits