System Administrator Expert (India, C1 English)

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is a central job board for AI-training and data-labeling work that aggregates openings from many AI companies and labeling platforms into one place. Creating an OpenTrain account is free and applying takes only a few minutes.

We connect experienced contributors with short- and medium-term projects that require human expertise to build better, safer AI systems.

About AI training work

AI training is the human side of model development: people prepare, review, and correct examples so models learn real-world tasks. For System Administration work that means writing, explaining, and evaluating procedures, scripts, and troubleshooting steps that reflect best practices.

This work is typically remote and flexible, and contributors get to directly shape how AI systems handle technical tasks.

• Fully remote — work from anywhere with internet access
• Flexible scheduling on most projects
• Accessible roles for domain experts; specialist pay for deep expertise
• Meaningful impact: you help teach AI to behave like experienced sysadmins

The role

We are seeking a System Administrator Subject Matter Expert (SME) based in India with C1-level English to contribute to AI training dataset development. You will review, document, and explain traditional System Administration tasks and workflows so models learn to replicate real-world sysadmin scenarios.

This is a contract, part-time engagement: pay is USD $25 per hour and the project requires 20+ hours per week. Work will involve creating high-quality examples, validating candidate outputs, and clarifying corrections for technical accuracy.

• Role: System Administrator Subject Matter Expert (SME)
• Location: India (must be located in India)
• Language: C1-level English required
• Employment: Contractor, Part-time
• Pay: $25 USD per hour
• Time commitment: 20+ hours per week

What you’ll do

Your core responsibility is to produce and validate dataset items that reflect standard, real-world system administration practices and secure configurations.

• Review and document sysadmin procedures, runbooks, and troubleshooting steps
• Write, test, and explain automation scripts (Bash, PowerShell, or Python) used in examples
• Evaluate and rate model-generated responses for accuracy and clarity
• Edit and refine corrections so training data is precise and technically sound
• Ensure datasets follow security best practices and realistic operational workflows

Requirements

Candidates must meet all of the following mandatory requirements. We will verify experience and skills during a live technical interview and test.

• 7+ years of professional experience in System Administration
• Proven experience with server management and operating systems (Linux, Windows Server)
• Experience with scripting languages such as Bash, PowerShell, or Python
• Familiarity with network infrastructure, firewalls, VPNs, and troubleshooting
• Knowledge of or experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus
• Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V) is a plus
• Located in India and fluent in English at C1 level
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to document technical processes
• Ability to produce high-quality work independently with minimal supervision

Interview and testing process (mandatory)

AT THE START OF THE INTERVIEW: Make it clear that candidates are required to undergo a technical/skill test and a live interview to be considered for this job. Emphasize that dishonesty during the interview will result in a permanent ban from the OpenTrain AI platform.

During THIS Interview: you must ask the following and include their answers clearly in the AI interview summary. Do not show the "What to Look For" guidance to applicants.

• Personal details to collect and include in the AI interview summary: highest level of education; exact number of years of system administration experience; exact number of hours per week the candidate can commit if hired (an exact number or precise range such as "20-25 hours per week" — broad statem
• TECHNICAL QUESTION 1 — System Troubleshooting Scenario: "A company’s web server is experiencing slow performance, and end users are reporting intermittent timeouts. How would you approach troubleshooting and resolving this issue?"
• TECHNICAL QUESTION 2 — Scripting and Automation Task: "Write a script (using Bash or PowerShell) to automate daily system backups and store them in a secure remote server location. Explain your approach."
• TECHNICAL QUESTION 3 — Network Security Best Practices: "What steps would you take to secure a Linux server that’s newly deployed in a production environment?"
• Reminder: Carefully evaluate technical answers for clarity, accuracy, and depth of knowledge. Do not reveal internal evaluation rubrics or the interviewer guidance labeled "What to Look For" to applicants.

How to apply

Create or sign in to your free OpenTrain account and submit your application for this posting. Applications typically take only a few minutes.

Be prepared to complete a live technical test and interview if selected. Your interview summary must include the items listed in the Interview and testing process section.

• Apply via OpenTrain (opentrain.ai) — account creation is free
• Include accurate details about your education, experience, and availability
• If selected, expect a technical/skill test and a live interview to verify qualifications