From your post I think you've got enough of a power user inclination to reccommend Arch. Depending on how quickly you need a system up don't be afraid of trying one of it's derivatives such as endeavor, but there's tons of good guides and documentation in the arch eco system that a technically inclined person should definitely be able to swim. From my experience starting with Manjaro (wouldn't reccomend now) and quickly swapping to Arch, it's very doable and a good way to learn how parts of your operating system interact.