Principal Systems Administrator

This position is for a systems administrator that enjoys building hardware-based operational platforms using internal and external products to include Linux OS images, Kubernetes cluster deployment, and logging systems. As a Systems Administrator, you will be responsible leading a small team in accomplishing project goals, responding to system anomalies, interfacing with the customer, and answering direct customer requirements. Additional responsibilities may include deploying OS images to hardware, managing an RKE2 multi-node Kubernetes cluster, managing additional containers, network policies, and other Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions to the cluster, and initial monitoring and maintenance of the cluster. As the systems administrator, on-site support is expected.

Role Expectations 

• Leads a small regionally separated team of System Administrators.
• Ensures completion of customer and team member assigned tasks and requirements.
• Provides guidance and assistance to junior individual contributors.
• Have a University Degree (BA/BS) or equivalent experience and minimum 5 years of prior relevant experience.
• Works to achieve operational targets with a significant impact on the job area and influence departmental results.
• Responsible for making adjustments or recommending enhancements to systems and processes to solve problems or improve effectiveness of job area.
• Communicates and collaborates within and occasionally outside of own job area and may work to influence parties within own job area at an operational level.
• Requires practical knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education combined with experience.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance (only US Citizens are eligible for security clearances).
• A strong desire to respond to and meet user needs, exemplified by listening, documenting, disseminating, and prioritizing user needs over "nice to haves."
• Willingness to ask questions and stay engaged with team members when tasks are unclear or blockers are encountered.
• Trustworthy and able to adapt when project requirements change.
• Familiarity with cloud-based computing resources (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Knowledge of security concepts, networks, and system internals to use on a daily basis.
• Ability to work with and troubleshoot real hardware of varying types (network switches, servers, routers, hubs, etc.).
• Proficient in Linux-based development environments (e.g., Debian- or RedHat-based distributions).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 15% of the year, including both travel that is local to the DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area and travel to multiple sites in the United States.