Linux Systems Administrator

Description

Do you thrive in and love a fast-paced, dynamic classified environment?

Do you want to be empowered to take ownership and stake in the overall
engineering and operations of the IT infrastructure?

Are you interested in learning new technologies and creating new IT capabilities?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to apply and join our team at APL!

We are ranked as one of Computerworld 's Top Places to Work in IT for 6 years
running, and seek a Linux Systems Administrator

with experience working in a
classified environment to join our team and help protect APL's information technology

infrastructure. As a Linux System Administrator, you will play a vital role designing and
deploying robust scalable physical and virtual systems, managing security, consulting
on projects and maintaining the performance of our on-premise classified Linux systems
and infrastructure.

As Linux Systems Administrator you will...

• Manage, configure, and maintain classified Linux-based systems. This includes
  OS installation and configuration management, deploying security patches,
  system monitoring and performance management, troubleshooting hardware and
  software issues, and completing daily system administration health checks.
• Implement security measures to protect classified information, following relevant
  compliance policies, guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Perform security
  audits, vulnerability assessments, apply necessary security patches and updates.
• Work closely with ISSO/ISSM’s to validate systems, maintain network security
  posture and verify security vulnerabilities are addressed. Ensure enhanced
  security requirements balance with project requirements and functionality.
• Provide technical support to end-users in a classified environment, lead problem
  root cause analysis and resolution. Assist on projects, software installation and
  responding to customer inquiries. Provision user accounts, enable permissions,
  and verify access controls comply with security protocols.
• Respond to and resolve system-related incidents and issues promptly, engaging
  IT peers and external resources, when necessary, to ensure minimal downtime
  and disruption to operations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including standard
  operating procedures (SOPs), system configurations, troubleshooting guides,
  and knowledge base articles. Continuously improve processes and procedures to
  enhance system reliability, efficiency, and security.

Qualifications

• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology,
  related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Have in-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems (Red Hat, CentOS, or
  similar) and their administration, including system installation, configuration,
  maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Hands‑on experience administering/maintaining classified computer networks.
• Have 5+ years Linux systems administration experience.
• Possess a demonstrable understanding of Linux firewalls and SELinux.
• Can work independently and as part of a team to identify and resolve issues, both
  at a system and network level, minimizing downtime and customer impact.
• Relevant certifications such as Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA).
• Have working knowledge of Linux Single Sign-on (SSO) utilizing realm, adcli,
  sssd tying into Active Directory.
• Have familiarity with virtualization technologies (VMware, KVM, or similar) and
  containerization (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes).
• Have familiarity with hosting and administrating software packages such as
  Gitlab, Confluence, Jira.
• Experience administering and maintaining network license servers
• Possess Backup and Recovery experience using Legato/Networker utilizing both
  tape library and storage as media
• Experience utilizing NPE certificates, public/private keys, SSL/TLS
  communications and protocols.
• Automation experience to automate manual efforts.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting layer 2 networks.
• Experience applying STIGs to operating systems, applications and network
  peripherals.
• Experience with monitoring software such as Nagios and Thruk.
• Superb communication and collaboration skills effectively working and interacting
  with a team.
• Current DoD 8570 certification (Security+ or CISSP), or ability to obtain DoD
  8570 certification within 6 months of employment required.
• Have an active Top Secret SCI w/poly security clearance. If selected, you will be
  subject to a government security investigation and must meet the requirements
  for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S.
  citizenship.

You 'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...

• A Master’s degree in Information Systems/Technology, Cybersecurity or
  Computer Science or related field.
• Possess an active G2/G3 clearance with active poly.
• Experience working with configuration management tools such as Salt-Stack,
  Puppet, Ansible, or Chef.
• DevOps experience integrating CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience implementing NAS/SAN enterprise storage solutions.
• Experience with Linux HPC’s utilizing Slurm.
• Experience working with Windows Servers and Server functions such as Group
  Policy, Active Directory, DNS etc.
• Working Experience with Exchange, RSA, Radius a plus

About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at