DevOps & Systems Tech Wizard Wanted

// who we're looking for
We are looking for a tech wizard — a genuine enthusiast, a self-described nerd, a person who tinkers because they can't help themselves. Someone who has opinions about encryption protocols at midnight and has probably already broken and rebuilt their own home server stack for fun.

This is a long-term relationship, and we're treating it like one. We are starting small — a handful of hours per week — while we mutually vet and validate fit. We'll be testing your knowledge, your thinking, your instincts. If you're the real deal, the hours grow, the trust grows, and so does the opportunity.

If you have the credentials, the curiosity, and the character — we're not just hiring you. We're building with you. Equity conversations are on the table for the right long-term partner.
We are building an advanced, multi-layer technical infrastructure. We need someone who can grow into it, ideally from the ground floor. You don't need to check every box. But you need to be deeply, personally invested in technology — and we need to be able to see that in how you write, what you know, and where you spend your time online.

// core technical requirements
Server & Infrastructure

VPS server stack setup, management, and maintenance
Back-end network infrastructure design and administration
Linux proficiency — command line fluency is non-negotiable
VOIP system configuration and network integration
Webhooks, CI/CD concepts, automated deployment pipelines
N8N workflow automation (preferred over simpler drag-and-drop tools)
Web Development

Full-stack or strong back-end web development capabilities
API integration — building, connecting, and maintaining third-party APIs
Database management: design, optimization, and security
WordPress and web design experience a plus
Security & Privacy

Linux penetration testing fundamentals
Encryption and privacy protocol literacy
Cipher knowledge, VPN configuration and management
Familiarity with Tails OS, Tor, Qubes OS
Crypto and digital asset basic operations
// tooling & workflow proficiency
You will be working inside a modern, tool-rich environment. Comfort navigating and connecting these systems is essential:

ClickUp Google Workspace Obsidian N8N GitHub / Git Webhooks REST APIs Linux CLI VPS Providers VOIP Systems
LLM & AI Integration — this is a serious requirement, not an afterthought:

Must have genuine, working knowledge of multiple leading LLM platforms
Understand prompt engineering at a functional level — tokens, context windows, model selection for specific use cases
Know the differences between models and when to deploy which for what purpose
Capable of doing all work manually and independently — AI tools enhance your output, they do not replace your skill
We will provide full subscription access to multiple leading AI platforms for use in our projects. You bring the expertise; we supply the tools.

Blockchain Familiarity (preferred, not required):

You don't need to be a blockchain developer, but a working familiarity with blockchain fundamentals is a meaningful plus. If it's already in your world — even casually — flag it.

// programming languages
We expect proficiency in at least several programming languages relevant to systems, back-end, and automation work. In your application, please tell us specifically:

Which languages you are proficient in
How comfortable you are in each — be honest, be specific
What you have actually built or maintained with them
We're not running a quiz — we're looking for self-awareness and depth. Someone who knows three languages deeply interests us more than someone who lists twelve and masters none.

// compensation & hours
Starting rate: $6/hr, sliding scale based on demonstrated skill and validated expertise. We know what someone with this full stack of capabilities commands on the market — we're not pretending otherwise. We are specifically looking for someone who sees the value in getting in early, growing with us, and earning more as we do.

Initial engagement: 2–4 hours/day, 5 days/week, as we establish the working relationship. Growth toward full-time (8 hrs/day) is the goal, and we have real client work that can fill those hours.

If you are a seasoned senior-level engineer who sees this and thinks the rate is beneath you — we still want to hear from you. We are maintaining a talent file. As our infrastructure scales, higher-tier paid engagements will follow, and we'd rather already know who we want to call.

Additionally, this position can be paired with our general Virtual Assistant opening (posted separately). If you have the technical chops for this role, the admin side is well within reach. That position pays at its own rate for qualifying admin tasks, giving you a potential path to a fuller day's work from day one.

// how to apply — read this carefully
We are not interested in AI-generated cover letters that mirror our job posting back at us with different formatting. We can spot it. It will disqualify you immediately.

What we want to see in your application:

Your actual background — where your technical experience came from, how you developed it, what you've built
What you are personally into — the technologies you explore on your own time, the rabbit holes you go down for fun
The communities you're part of — forums, ---------- servers, GitHub communities, subreddits, open-source projects, anything that shows you live in this world
The specific tools and programs you use — be precise, not vague
A demonstration that you are a genuine enthusiast — not someone who learned these things for a job, but someone for whom this is a way of life
English proficiency is preferred for this role, as a portion of the work involves live collaboration with tea ---------- mbers on calls. That said, if you are a legitimate technical savant who speaks passable English and can communicate clearly in writing, we will prioritize your technical depth over polish.

Additional requirements: Strong typing speed, fast reading comprehension, quick analytical thinking, and the ability to context-switch across complex tasks without losing the thread.

We are looking for a diamond in the rough. If you don't meet every requirement but you are deeply invested in this world, you learn fast, and you can prove it — apply anyway and make your case.