Systems Administrator

Location: Manassas, VA (Hybrid / On-site as needed) Engagement Type: Part-Time, 1099 Independent Contractor Clearance: Active Secret preferred About Us 1Aardvark is a HUBZone certified and service disabled veteran-owned small business supporting national security, missile defense, and space-domain programs across DoD and IC customers. We operate in regulated environments where security, reliability, and compliance are mission-critical, not check-the-box exercises. We’re looking for a senior-level systems administrator who can own our IT environment end-to-end and help us maintain and mature CMMC / NIST 800-171 compliance Role Overview This role is ideal for a seasoned Senior Systems Administrator / IT Security Engineer who is comfortable operating independently, understands DoD compliance requirements, and can serve as the technical backbone for a growing cleared organization. You will be responsible for administering and securing our Microsoft GCC High tenant , managing endpoints and identities, enforcing STIG-based configurations, and supporting our DevSecOps toolchain. You’ll also play a key role in ongoing CMMC readiness and audit support. Key Responsibilities Security & Compliance Administer and maintain compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and evolving CMMC requirements Implement and enforce STIG-based system hardening across endpoints and servers Maintain system security documentation (SSP inputs, POA&M support, evidence artifacts) Support internal audits, assessments, and third-party reviews Coordinate with leadership on security posture, risk, and remediation priorities Microsoft GCC High / Identity Serve as GCC High Administrator (Azure AD / Entra ID, Exchange Online, Intune) Manage user accounts, RBAC, conditional access, MFA, and privileged access Configure and enforce compliance policies using Microsoft Intune Push security baselines, updates, and configuration changes via Intune Endpoint & Device Management Device enrollment and lifecycle management (Windows primarily) Ensure endpoints meet DoD security standards and organizational baselines Manage patching, updates, and configuration drift Oversee secure handling of laptops, removable media, and peripherals DevSecOps Tooling Administer and maintain: GitLab (access control, repo security, CI/CD permissions) Jira (project permissions, workflows) Confluence (access control, documentation governance) Enforce least-privilege access and secure collaboration practices Infrastructure & Systems Manage GPIOs / hardware interfaces as required for lab or development systems Monitor system health, backups, and logs Troubleshoot security, access, and system issues as they arise Required Qualifications Minimum Security+ (CISSP Preferred) 10+ years experience as a Systems Administrator or IT Security Engineer Hands‑on experience administering Microsoft GCC High environments Strong working knowledge of NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC practices Experience with Intune , endpoint compliance, and STIG enforcement Familiarity with GitLab, Jira, and Confluence administration Comfortable operating in regulated, cleared environments Ability to work independently and communicate clearly with leadership Preferred / Nice-to-Have Active Secret or TS/SCI clearance (or eligibility) Prior experience supporting CMMC Level 2 readiness Experience with DFARS, DoD RMF, or IC environments Security certifications (Security+, CISSP, CISM, etc.) Familiarity with Azure GovCloud integrations Engagement Details Part-time, flexible hours 1099 contractor role On-site presence in Manassas, VA as needed (not fully remote) Competitive hourly rate, commensurate with experience Why This Role High trust, high impact position Direct access to leadership and decision-making Opportunity to shape security and IT practices from the ground up Meaningful work supporting national security missions #J-18808-Ljbffr