Systems Administrator

Summary

Join NIST as an IT Specialist within the Office of Information Systems Management (OISM) - Infrastructure Services Division, operating at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) in Rockville, MD. You will handle day-to-day Windows/Linux administration, security, cloud infrastructure, and configuration automation. This role maintains an agile operation at NCCoE while supporting broader enterprise infrastructure projects across OISM.

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Duties

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This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Working as a System Administrator for the Infrastructures Service Division, you will be responsible for the administration, security, and operational management of a diverse technical environment, including Windows and Linux Server systems, Cloud Services (IaaS/PaaS), and Infrastructure Automation. You will implement technical solutions, maintain CI/CD pipelines, and manage containerized environments to ensure the reliability and security of NIST's OISM infrastructure.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

This standard allows eligibility through meeting either the requirements specified in the section titled Education or the requirements specified in the section titled Experience .

Education : All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions

Undergraduate or Graduate Education : Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks.

Experience must be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate.

For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.

1.Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

2.Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

3.Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

4.Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

In addition to the basic requirements , applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting with the routine maintenance and troubleshooting of Linux or Windows server environments. Utilizing basic scripting or automation tools (e.g., executing Python scripts or running established Ansible playbooks) and performing basic administrative tasks within cloud-based services or containerized environments.

OR

3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This position allows applicants to qualify with education . Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.

Use of foreign education for qualifications. An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S. to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with course-by-course listing) is required with your application.

Additional information

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here!

• We may share your application package with other selecting officials. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.
• Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.
• You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY to be considered for this position.
• All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible to make qualification or eligibility determinations.
• A probationary period may be required.

NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.