diff --git a/elasticsearch/tasks/plugin_head.yml b/elasticsearch/tasks/plugin_head.yml
index 2c4fd264..4be19572 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/tasks/plugin_head.yml
+++ b/elasticsearch/tasks/plugin_head.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     home: "{{ elasticsearch_plugin_head_home }}"
     createhome: yes
     system: yes
-    shell: /bin/false
+    shell: /bin/bash
 
 - block:
   - name: Head repository is checked-out
@@ -53,3 +53,21 @@
     - restart elasticsearch
   tags:
     - elasticsearch
+
+- name: Install systemd unit
+  template:
+    src: elasticsearch-head.service.j2
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/elasticsearch-head.service
+  tags:
+    - elasticsearch
+    - systemd
+
+- name: Enable systemd unit
+  systemd:
+    name: elasticsearch-head
+    daemon_reload: yes
+    enabled: yes
+    state: started
+  tags:
+    - elasticsearch
+    - systemd
diff --git a/elasticsearch/templates/elasticsearch-head.service.j2 b/elasticsearch/templates/elasticsearch-head.service.j2
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4e409ed0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elasticsearch/templates/elasticsearch-head.service.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/npm run start
+User={{ elasticsearch_plugin_head_owner }}
+Group={{ elasticsearch_plugin_head_group }}
+StandardOutput=syslog
+StandardError=syslog
+SyslogIdentifier=elasticsearch-head
+Restart=always
+WorkingDirectory={{ elasticsearch_plugin_head_clone_dir }}
+Environment=NODE_ENV=production
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target