Linux Systems Administrator

Job Title: Linux Systems Administrator - (Active secret clearance required)
Duration: 3+ years
Client: Defense Research Lab
Location: Lexington, MA 02421

Description: Maintains operation of multi-user computer systems, including coordination of infrastructure and cloud responsibilities. Develops and designs core operating system builds. Responsible for coding, virtualization, and automation of systems. Sets up administrator and service accounts, maintains an active directory of users and system documentation, tunes system performance, installs system-wide software, and allocates mass storage space. Assesses and resolves user access problems related to security controls to minimize business impact and risk exposure. Identifies and evaluates vendor products and establishes vendor monitoring and tracking processes. Performs capacity planning and monitors/tunes systems. Recommends appropriate platforms for purchase, coordinates installation, and provides backup recovery. Serves as a point of escalation for major incidents that are unresolved at the helpdesk level. Develops and monitors policies and standards for allocation related to the use of computing resources. May draft general IT communications to end-users including notifications of outages/downtimes. May serve as the primary liaison for mergers, acquisitions, and divesture activities as it relates to user access, network, security, and support.

Background/Need: The Technology Group supports the development of advanced technologies and systems for application to sensors and interceptor missiles to be used in future surveillance, missile defense, and air defense systems. The Group is currently supporting programs in the development of air and space-based visible/IR surveillance and tracking for missile defense. The group is also developing and evaluating seeker and missile system technology. These programs cover a range of activities including advanced electro-optical sensors and algorithms, mission simulation and modeling, laboratory and field/flight tests and data reduction and analysis.

Other information relevant to the job requirement?

Computer and network systems administrator will join a technical R&D group with a diverse set of information technology activities and requirements, including a significant Linux-oriented project support component.

Responsibilities will include:

• System imaging, customization, configuration management, and maintenance of Linux, Windows, and Mac systems in desktop, mobile, server, virtual, and field-test form factors
• Support of software development teams in the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of a variety of development tools (version control, integrated development environments, continuous integration tools, and collaboration tools), development libraries, kernels, and hardware drivers
• Support field test deployments, including pre-shipment system preparation, on-site setup and networking, test support, and data management/backup
• Collaboration with an experienced team of IT professionals to support the group s desktop users, enterprise infrastructure, and IT equipment
• Development of automated methods for setting up and maintaining system configurations, monitoring health of deployed systems, and performing security audits of deployed systems
• Deployment, operation, and maintenance of enterprise-grade services, servers, networks, storage, virtualization, and backups
• Maintenance of compliance with all required Information Assurance (IA) requirements
• Analysis and development of solutions for failures and outages, and coordinating the troubleshooting and repair of servers, applications, and systems.

Skills: Required

• Min 5 years professional experience in an enterprise IT environment. BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, IT, or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of Red Hat / CentOS variants of Linux to include system administration, user management, security hardening, backup procedures, disk and file management, software and kernel compilation and installation, and system troubleshooting
• Proven ability to quickly and effectively learn new technologies, adapt to new environments and methodologies, and work outside one s own comfort zone
• Strong teamwork experience, self-motivation, and organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Proficient in multiple common scripting languages, e.g. sh/csh /zsh, Perl, and Python, for automation of common systems administration tasks
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Windows desktop and server administration
• Familiarity with the architecture of x86-based computer hardware, and comfortable configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining desktop and server-grade hardware
• Strong knowledge of enterprise-grade networking, virtualization, storage, and backups
• Ability to participate in field testing, sometimes involving multi-week travel (domestic and international)

Skills: Desired

• Proficient in one or more compiled programming languages (e.g. C, C++, Java)
• Experience with tools for system imaging, system configuration, configuration management, and security auditing
• Expertise in enterprise-grade networking, virtualization, storage, and/or backups
• Experience with DoD security procedures and requirements, especially DIACAP or RMF
• Experience with low-SWaP, ruggedized, flight-qualified computer hardware
• Working knowledge of Mac desktop administration
• Strong backup experience and proven ability to protect mission critical data
• Applied understanding of DoD STIG s and SCAP
• Enterprise VMWARE experience to include VM Management, snapshots, SAN and iSCSI Storage systems
• PKI, Multi-Factor Authentication, and PIV Technologies.

Others:

• Clearance: Candidates must possess active secret clearance to be considered
• Work Location: Hybrid - Should expect to be onsite 4 days a week w/flex to be onsite 5 days as needed. Opportunity for remote as work allows
• Interview Process: Initial pre-screen with HM. If candidate advances to next round, larger group interview w/technical team.