A Red Hat OpenShift & OpenStack Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a highly specialized IT professional who architects, implements, and manages complex hybrid cloud infrastructure platforms. This dual-focus role sits at the intersection of container orchestration and private cloud virtualization, making these experts invaluable for organizations building modern, scalable, and agile IT environments. Professionals in these jobs are the go-to authorities for designing robust platforms that enable developers to deploy applications efficiently while ensuring operational stability, security, and performance. Typically, an SME in this field is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of both OpenShift (Red Hat's enterprise Kubernetes platform) and OpenStack (an open-source cloud computing platform) environments. Common responsibilities include architecting and designing scalable cluster deployments, integrating these platforms with existing CI/CD pipelines and DevOps toolchains, and automating provisioning and management using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles. They ensure high availability, implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting, and perform regular upgrades and security patching. A critical part of the role involves deep troubleshooting across the entire stack—from container runtime and Kubernetes networking in OpenShift to hypervisor (KVM) and software-defined networking/storage layers in OpenStack. Furthermore, these SMEs establish and enforce security best practices, manage role-based access control, and ensure compliance with organizational policies. The typical skill set required for these jobs is extensive and multifaceted. Core technical proficiencies include expert-level knowledge of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, container technologies like Docker, and Kubernetes core concepts. For OpenStack, deep understanding of its core services (Nova, Neutron, Cinder, Keystone, Glance) is essential. Strong scripting and automation skills in languages like Python or Bash, coupled with tools like Ansible, Terraform, or Puppet, are fundamental for efficiency. These professionals must also possess a solid grasp of underlying infrastructure domains: networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, load balancing), storage solutions, and security frameworks. Familiarity with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI) and monitoring stacks (Prometheus, Grafana) is standard. Beyond technical prowess, successful SMEs exhibit excellent problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills to mentor teams and advise stakeholders, and the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in often fast-paced, Agile environments. For those seeking advanced, high-impact roles in cloud platform engineering, Red Hat OpenShift & OpenStack SME jobs offer a challenging and rewarding career path at the forefront of enterprise technology.
