DevOps Analyst

USC Online IT is seeking a skilled DevOps Analyst to join our dynamic team. This role plays a pivotal function in designing and maintaining Docker-based lab environments, supporting ETL/data warehouse workflows, and managing CI/CD pipelines. The DevOps Analyst will also act as a key liaison between academic faculty and technical teams, ensuring lab environments are reliable, reproducible, and aligned with curricular goals.

This position requires expertise in Linux/Unix, Docker, CI/CD pipelines, Microsoft SQL, and SSIS/ETL data flows and will play a central role in maintaining the stability, scalability, and usability of USC Online's technical and student-facing infrastructure.

This position is a remote role and includes participation in a rotating on-call schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Docker Image Development & Management

• Maintain and update Docker images for each course assignment, ensuring consistency in naming conventions, interaction, and usage.

• Implement version control for Docker repositories and support multi-developer collaboration.

• Standardize naming conventions and maintain consistent environment configurations.

• Ensure compatibility and reproducibility across different student platforms and OSs.

Student Lab Support & Documentation

• Serve as the first line of support for students experiencing issues with Docker, Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and lab setup.

• Create and maintain clear technical documentation and support materials.

• Collaborate with course designers, SMEs, and faculty to align lab content with academic goals.

• Assist with updating lab environments in sync with curriculum revisions and tool versioning.

• Be available for on-call support approximately one week per month (rotation shared among team members).

Data Warehouse Support and Development

• Support and enhance ETL processes for USC Online's data warehouse.

• Maintain and develop SQL queries, stored procedures, and views for Tableau dashboards.

• Troubleshoot integration issues and work closely with upstream data providers.

• Contribute to the redesign and optimization of data architecture and pipelines.

DevOps & CI/CD

• Design, implement, and maintain automated CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions).

• Use YAML and source control to enforce consistency in development workflows.

• Ensure smooth deployment processes with minimal student disruption through change management.

• Automate updates and deployment processes across lab environments.

Application Development & Support

• Develop and maintain moderately complex software tools and scripts using Python, Bash, and C#.

• Translate requirements into technical specifications, mockups, and functioning applications.

• Perform unit testing and debugging; document code in support of maintainability.

• Collaborate with other developers for peer reviews and cross-training.

The hourly rate for this position ranges from $41.73- $49.08. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Required Qualifications
2-5 years of relevant experience in DevOps, Software Engineering, or related field.
Proficiency with Docker and container lifecycle management.
Strong experience in Linux/Unix systems, including package and permission management.
Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and/or GitHub Actions.
Solid understanding of Microsoft SQL Server, T-SQL, and database development.
Familiarity with version control systems (Git, GitHub, Azure DevOps).
Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with academic and technical stakeholders.
Availability to participate in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours support as needed, including evenings and weekends.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting educational technology or student lab environments.
Familiarity with Jupyter Notebooks, Python, and Bash scripting.
Experience with SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) and data integration processes.
Knowledge of Tableau and creating data visualizations from SQL-based sources.
Experience with infrastructure automation and monitoring tools.
Comfortable acting as a liaison between academic content creators and technical teams.