IaC & DevOps Automation SME - Remote LATAM — Columbus
Traveler-Friendly Insight
Location Flexibility & Async Potential: This role targets candidates across Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Costa Rica — all LATAM time zones (UTC-3 to UTC-6). The job description makes no mention of required office attendance or fixed hours, suggesting a remote-first setup. However, the enterprise nature of the role (cross-functional collaboration, production incident response) implies some overlap with business hours may be expected.
Nomad Viability: Infrastructure automation and DevOps work is inherently async-friendly — writing Terraform modules, Ansible playbooks, and documentation can be done on flexible schedules. That said, on-call or incident response duties common in SRE/IaC roles can disrupt travel routines. Confirm the on-call policy before committing to frequent timezone hops.
Visa Considerations: All six target countries offer pathways for remote workers:
- Brazil: Digital nomad visa available (up to 1 year, renewable)
- Colombia (Medellín): Digital nomad visa (up to 2 years); very popular with the tech community and affordable
- Costa Rica: Remote worker visa (Rentista/Digital Nomad) up to 2 years
- Argentina: No formal nomad visa, but tourist stays (90 days) are common and extendable
- Mexico & Chile: Temporary resident visas for remote workers available in both countries
Cost of Living Comparison: No salary was disclosed, but LATAM-based senior DevOps/IaC roles typically pay $60K–$100K USD annually. In Medellín (~$1,200/mo living costs) or Mexico City (~$1,500/mo), this provides strong purchasing power. Buenos Aires is similarly affordable post-exchange-rate considerations.
Position Summary
We seek an experienced IT Automation Specialist to lead infrastructure automation initiatives across our enterprise environment. As a subject matter expert, you will design, implement, and maintain scalable automation solutions using industry-leading tools including Terraform, OpenTofu, Ansible, AWX/Tower, and advanced DevOps platforms. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with strategic thinking to drive infrastructure modernization and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using Terraform and OpenTofu for cloud and on-premises infrastructure provisioning
- Develop and maintain Ansible playbooks and roles for configuration management, application deployment, and system patching across heterogeneous environments
- Architect and optimize Ansible Tower/AWX implementations for enterprise-scale automation, including RBAC, credential management, and workflow orchestration
- Lead adoption of agentic AI capabilities to automate decision-making processes and reduce manual operational overhead
- Establish the best automation practices, standards, and frameworks; conduct code reviews for infrastructure automation projects
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation issues; provide technical documentation for knowledge transfer to other teams
- Integrate automation solutions with CI/CD pipelines, monitoring systems, and ticketing platforms
- Document technical architecture, runbooks, and operational procedures for all automation systems
- Evaluate and recommend new automation tools and technologies that improve efficiency and reduce operational risk
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Cloud, Infrastructure, Security) to embed automation across IT operations
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of IT infrastructure and systems administration experience
- Expert-level proficiency with Terraform and/or OpenTofu; demonstrated ability to manage complex infrastructure states
- Advanced expertise in Ansible; proven experience in designing and maintaining Ansible Tower or AWX in production environments
- Strong Python programming skills; ability to write custom modules, plugins, and automation scripts
- Deep understanding of DevOps principles, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code best practices
- Experience with public cloud platforms (Azure, GCP) and hybrid/on-premises infrastructure
- Knowledge of version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities with demonstrated experience resolving production incidents
- Excellent communication skills; ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience implementing and managing agentic AI solutions for IT operations automation
- Experience with advanced Ansible Tower features (workflows, dynamic inventory, LDAP/SAML integration)
- Familiarity with configuration management databases (CMDB) and ServiceNow integrations
- Knowledge of GitOps methodologies and tools (ArgoCD, Flux)
- Certifications such as HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate, Ansible Specialist, or equivalent cloud/infrastructure certifications
- Open-source project contributions or demonstrated thought leadership in the infrastructure automation community
Technical Skills Matrix
- IaC: Terraform, OpenTofu, CloudFormation — Expert
- Config Management: Ansible, Ansible Tower, AWX — Expert
- Agentic AI: LLM orchestration, AI-driven automation, prompt engineering — Intermediate+
- Languages: Python, Bash, Go, HCL, PowerShell — Advanced
- Cloud: AWS, Azure, GCP, hybrid infrastructure — Advanced
Why This Role Matters
Automation is at the heart of our IT modernization strategy. In this role, you'll drive repeatability, reduce manual toil, and enable self-service capabilities across our infrastructure. You'll work with cutting-edge technologies including emerging agentic AI solutions, and your expertise will directly impact how efficiently we deliver infrastructure services to our clients.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace free from discrimination. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an environment where all employees feel valued and respected.
Frequently Asked Questions
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