📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Staff Systems Engineer - Splunk Administrator - PRE
• Company: Visa
• Location: Austin, Texas, United States
• Job Type: Full-time (Hybrid - 2-3 days on-site per week)
• Category: DevOps, System Administration
• Date Posted: 2025-06-24
• Experience Level: 5-10 years
• Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This role is part of Visa's Product Reliability Engineering (PRE) Observability team, focusing on the Logging Platform. The team collaborates with various product development teams and other teams within the Operations & Infrastructure organization to engineer, build, and operate innovative, reliable, scalable, secure, and cost-effective Observability platform solutions.

• The Staff Systems Engineer - Splunk Administrator - PRE role requires a passionate and talented engineer to have total ownership of solutions focusing on availability, performance, security, and reliability aspects critical to the Logging platform's success. This role involves working in a dynamic environment as a member of Agile Scrum teams, with strong technical leadership, problem-solving abilities, coding, testing, and debugging skills being key for success.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• 📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities of this role revolve around Splunk administration, software development fundamentals, and troubleshooting. The candidate will be expected to set up Splunk forwarding for new application tiers, identify and improve performance issues, monitor the Splunk infrastructure for capacity planning and optimization, and troubleshoot log feeds, field extractions, search time, and more.

• Splunk Administration:

  • Manage and maintain Splunk infrastructure, ensuring high availability and optimal performance.
  • Troubleshoot Splunk performance issues and open support cases with Splunk when necessary.
  • Monitor Splunk infrastructure for capacity planning and optimization.

• Software Development & Troubleshooting:

  • Develop, test, and debug software solutions to address complex challenges at a global scale.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to engineer, build, and operate innovative Observability platform solutions.
  • Troubleshoot log feeds, field extractions, search time, and other issues to ensure the smooth operation of the Logging Platform.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree or relevant experience is required. An advanced degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or a PhD can substitute for some years of experience.

Experience:

• 5+ years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor's degree or 8+ years of relevant work experience.
• 6+ years of work experience with a Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of relevant experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or up to 3 years of relevant experience with a PhD.

Required Skills:

• Extensive working knowledge of Splunk architecture and various components (indexer, forwarder, search head, deployment server) as a Splunk system administrator.
• Strong software development fundamentals and skills.
• Experience in setting up Splunk forwarding for new application tiers.
• Ability to identify and improve performance issues in searches and dashboards.
• Proficiency in monitoring Splunk infrastructure for capacity planning and optimization.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for log feeds, field extractions, search time, and other issues.
• Experience working with Linux environment and Unix scripting.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with effective communication (both written and verbal) skills and the ability to present complex ideas in a clear and concise way.

Preferred Skills:

• Splunk Certified Admin.
• Experience with MLTK and/or other data science tools/packages.
• Experience with container platforms: Docker, K8S, and alternatives.
• Experience with any Observability tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, and/or tenants of Observability (Monitoring, Logging, and/or tracing).
• Experience with GitOps, Terraform, CloudFormation, or GCP Deployment Manager.
• Experience with any programming language: Java, GoLang, Python.
• Experience with CI/CD: pipeline management with GitHub, Ansible.
• GCP/AWS Cloud certifications.
• Experience implementing solutions for low-latency, distributed services using open standard technologies.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

📝 Enhancement Note: As this role focuses on Splunk administration and software development, candidates should highlight their relevant projects and accomplishments in their portfolio. Examples of successful Splunk implementations, performance optimizations, and troubleshooting case studies would be particularly valuable.

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of Splunk architecture and components through relevant projects or case studies.
• Showcase your ability to optimize Splunk performance and capacity planning through real-world examples.
• Highlight your troubleshooting skills by presenting complex log feed or search time issues you've resolved in the past.

Technical Documentation:

• Provide clear and concise documentation for your Splunk-related projects, including setup instructions, configuration details, and troubleshooting guides.
• Include code samples or snippets that demonstrate your software development skills and problem-solving abilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is 124,700.00 to 180,650.00 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Working Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year.

Company Size: Visa is a large, global organization with a significant presence in the payments and technology industry. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and teams.

Founded: 1958

Team Structure:

• The PRE Observability team collaborates with various product development teams and other teams within the Operations & Infrastructure organization.
• The team consists of highly talented System Engineers focused on Visa's Logging Platform.

Development Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum methodologies for sprint planning and project management.
• Code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
• Deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management.

Company Website: Visa

📝 Enhancement Note: Visa's company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and customer focus. The PRE Observability team works closely with various teams to ensure the reliability and performance of Visa's Logging Platform, contributing to the company's mission to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is a Staff Systems Engineer position, indicating a high level of technical expertise and leadership within the organization. The candidate will be expected to provide technical guidance, mentor junior team members, and drive strategic decisions related to the Logging Platform.

Reporting Structure: The candidate will report to the PRE Observability team lead and collaborate with various product development teams and other teams within the Operations & Infrastructure organization.

Technical Impact: The Staff Systems Engineer - Splunk Administrator - PRE will have a significant impact on the Logging Platform's performance, reliability, and security. Their work will directly influence the quality and availability of data for Visa's customers and internal stakeholders.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Growth: Visa offers opportunities for technical specialization and skill development, with exposure to various technologies and projects within the Observability domain.
• Leadership Development: The candidate can grow into a technical leadership role, mentoring junior team members and driving strategic decisions related to the Logging Platform.
• Architecture Decisions: As a Staff Systems Engineer, the candidate will have the opportunity to influence the Logging Platform's architecture and contribute to its long-term success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Visa's offices are designed to foster collaboration and innovation, with open workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas for team members to connect and share ideas.

Office Location(s): Austin, Texas, United States

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Workspace: The PRE Observabulary team works closely with various teams, requiring a collaborative workspace that facilitates communication and knowledge sharing.
• Development Tools: Visa provides team members with access to the necessary tools and resources to perform their jobs effectively, including multiple monitors and testing devices.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The PRE Observability team works closely with product development teams, designers, and stakeholders, requiring a workspace that supports cross-functional collaboration and communication.

Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role varies upon the needs of the department, with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

• Technical Assessment: The candidate will be required to complete a technical assessment, demonstrating their Splunk administration and software development skills through coding challenges and troubleshooting exercises.
• Behavioral Interview: The candidate will participate in a behavioral interview to assess their problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and cultural fit with Visa.
• Final Evaluation: The final evaluation stage may include a presentation of the candidate's portfolio, case studies, or a technical deep dive into a specific aspect of the Logging Platform.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Splunk Projects: Highlight your most relevant Splunk administration projects, demonstrating your ability to optimize performance, capacity planning, and troubleshooting.
• Software Development: Showcase your software development skills through examples of projects that required problem-solving, coding, testing, and debugging.
• Case Studies: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to drive strategic decisions and improve the Logging Platform's performance, reliability, and security.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• Splunk Challenges: Brush up on your Splunk administration skills, focusing on architecture, component management, and performance optimization.
• Software Development Challenges: Prepare for coding challenges that focus on problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and data structures.
• Communication Skills: Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely, as communication is a critical aspect of this role.

ATS Keywords:

• Programming Languages: Java, GoLang, Python, Bash, Shell Scripting
• Web Technologies: Splunk, Observability Tools (Grafana, Prometheus), Container Platforms (Docker, K8S), Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP), CI/CD Tools (GitHub, Ansible), Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, GCP Deployment Manager)

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Splunk Administration:

• Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Cloud, Splunk Lightweight Forwarder, Heavy Forwarder, Universal Forwarder, Indexer, Search Head, Deployment Server, Splunk Processing Language (SPL), Splunk Web, Splunk DB Connect, Splunk Phantom, Splunk IT Service Intelligence (ITSI), Splunk User Behavior Analytics (UBA)

Software Development:

• Programming Languages: Java, GoLang, Python, Bash, Shell Scripting
• Development Tools: Git, GitHub, Ansible, Terraform, CloudFormation, GCP Deployment Manager
• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation, GCP Deployment Manager
• Container Platforms: Docker, K8S
• Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP

👥 Team Culture & Values

Visa's Core Values:

• Visa's core values include customer-centricity, innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and integrity. These values guide the company's approach to work and interactions with customers, partners, and team members.

Team Culture:

• Collaboration: The PRE Observability team works closely with various teams to ensure the reliability and performance of Visa's Logging Platform. Collaboration is key to driving successful outcomes and fostering a positive work environment.
• Knowledge Sharing: Team members are encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise with one another, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
• Technical Excellence: The PRE Observability team strives for technical excellence in all aspects of its work, driving innovation and improvement in the Logging Platform's performance, reliability, and security.

📝 Enhancement Note: Visa's team culture emphasizes collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence. The PRE Observability team works closely with various teams to ensure the reliability and performance of Visa's Logging Platform, contributing to the company's mission to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network.

🌐 Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

• Splunk Performance Optimization: Identify and address performance issues in Splunk searches, dashboards, and infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
• Capacity Planning & Optimization: Monitor Splunk infrastructure for capacity planning and optimization, ensuring the Logging Platform can handle growing data volumes and user demands.
• Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and trends in Observability, and evaluate their potential integration into the Logging Platform.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Technical Skill Development: Visa offers opportunities for technical specialization and skill development, with exposure to various technologies and projects within the Observability domain.
• Conference Attendance & Certification: Visa supports team members' professional development by providing opportunities to attend industry conferences, obtain relevant certifications, and engage with the broader technology community.
• Mentorship & Leadership Development: The candidate can grow into a technical leadership role, mentoring junior team members and driving strategic decisions related to the Logging Platform.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

• Splunk Administration: Be prepared to discuss Splunk architecture, component management, performance optimization, and troubleshooting strategies in-depth.
• Software Development: Brush up on your software development skills, focusing on problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, and data structures. Be prepared to discuss your approach to coding, testing, and debugging.
• System Design: Familiarize yourself with system design principles and best practices, as you may be asked to discuss your approach to designing scalable, reliable, and secure systems.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Visa's Mission & Values: Research Visa's mission, vision, and core values, and be prepared to discuss how your work on the Logging Platform contributes to the company's goals.
• Team Dynamics: Understand the PRE Observability team's structure and dynamics, and be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with various teams to drive successful outcomes.
• Customer Focus: Visa places a strong emphasis on customer-centricity. Be prepared to discuss your approach to understanding customer needs and ensuring the Logging Platform meets their expectations.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Splunk Projects: Highlight your most relevant Splunk administration projects, demonstrating your ability to optimize performance, capacity planning, and troubleshooting.
• Software Development Projects: Showcase your software development skills through examples of projects that required problem-solving, coding, testing, and debugging.
• Case Studies: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to drive strategic decisions and improve the Logging Platform's performance, reliability, and security.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Systems Engineer - Splunk Administrator - PRE position at Visa:

• Submit your application through the application link provided.
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant Splunk administration and software development skills and experiences.
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your most relevant projects and accomplishments, with a focus on Splunk administration, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Practice your technical interview skills through coding challenges and troubleshooting exercises, focusing on Splunk administration and software development.
• Research Visa's mission, values, and company culture to ensure a strong fit with the organization and the PRE Observability team.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.