AIX HMC / Frame Administrator
Infrastructure Operations | Hardware & Virtualization | Senior
Reports To: Team Lead, AIX Infrastructure | Department: IT — Infrastructure Operations | Headcount: 2 FTEs | Location: Fully Remote
Position Summary
The HMC / Frame Administrator is responsible for the virtual and physical infrastructure layer underpinning the AIX estate — 50 IBM Power Systems frames managed through Hardware Management Consoles. This role owns frame-level firmware management, VIO server operations, SAN zoning, and hardware incident resolution, all executed remotely through HMC CLI/GUI, REST API, and vendor coordination. Working closely with the LPAR Operations team, the HMC Administrator ensures the foundation is stable, current, and appropriately configured to support all LPAR workloads.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
HMC and Frame Management (35%)
Administer all Hardware Management Consoles across the 50-frame estate via remote access. Manage Power Systems firmware at the frame, CEC, and FSP level using Fix Level Recommendation Tool (FLRT) guidance. Schedule and execute firmware updates in coordination with the change management process. Maintain frame configuration, partition profiles, and resource pools.
VIO Server Operations (25%)
Install, patch, and maintain VIO servers supporting vSCSI and Shared Ethernet Adapter (SEA) configurations. Manage virtual optical media and virtual disk mappings remotely. Coordinate VIO patching to maintain IBM support currency without disrupting client LPAR workloads.
SAN and Multipath Management (20%)
Perform SAN zoning in coordination with the storage team. Manage MPIO and SDDPCM multipath configurations across the estate. Validate path redundancy, perform failover testing, and maintain driver currency. Troubleshoot and resolve storage path incidents remotely.
Hardware Incident Response and Vendor Management (20%)
Act as the primary remote point of contact for IBM hardware support cases. Coordinate IBM field engineer dispatches, part replacements, and concurrent maintenance activities through remote oversight and vendor management. Maintain accurate hardware inventory in ServiceNow CMDB. Perform root cause analysis on hardware-related incidents.
Required Skills and Qualifications
RequiredPreferred / Nice to Have5+ years of IBM Power Systems hardware administrationAnsible automation for HMC REST API integrationDeep expertise with HMC CLI and GUI — firmware management, partition profiles, DLPAR operationsExperience with IBM Power Private Cloud or PowerVCHands-on VIO server administration: vSCSI, SEA, virtual opticalIBM Certified Systems Expert — Power SystemsExperience with SAN environments — zoning, LUN masking, path managementFamiliarity with HMC REST API for automation and reportingProficiency with MPIO and/or SDDPCM multipath configuration and troubleshootingExperience in concurrent maintenance planning for Tier 1 workloadsIBM FLRT familiarity for firmware remediation planningKnowledge of AIX LPAR workload characteristics to inform capacity decisionsExperience managing IBM hardware support cases remotely (SR/PMR process)ITIL Foundations certificationServiceNow for change management and CMDB asset trackingStrong scripting skills (ksh/bash, HMC CLI scripting)
Education
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent experience accepted in lieu of degree.
This is a fully remote position. All administration is performed through remote HMC access, secure VPN, and vendor coordination. No travel or on-site presence is required — IBM field engineers handle physical hardware activities under remote direction from this role.
Pay: $50.00 - $75.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: Remote
