Senior Infrastructure Systems Lead

ABOUT SPHINX

Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded by engineers and technologists with deep experience across commercial and defense technology, we were frustrated by the outdated and insecure technology America's service members are forced to rely on. We're here to do better. 

We’re focused on building modern, scalable products with an emphasis on using open source technologies. Expect talented, motivated, and interesting colleagues who emphasize collaboration, transparency, and individual responsibility.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Sphinx is hiring a Senior Infrastructure Systems Lead build and maintain the infrastructure that powers our software development environments. This role is responsible for standing up production-ready compute, storage, networking, and virtualization platforms that enable our engineering teams to deliver mission-critical software for national security programs.

You’ll be the technical bridge between infrastructure vendors and our internal engineering teams, ensuring new hardware is received, validated, configured, and ready for software deployment. From commissioning bare-metal systems to establishing standardized operating environments, you’ll play a key role in building reliable, scalable infrastructure across multiple development sites.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working hands-on with enterprise hardware, virtualization, networking, and systems administration while collaborating closely with software engineers, DevOps, and external vendors.

In this role, you’ll work closely with software engineers, DevOps engineers, systems engineers, cybersecurity, and external infrastructure vendors to ensure our development environments are secure, consistent, and ready to support mission success.

What you will be focusing on:

• Receive, inspect, and validate enterprise hardware deliveries, ensuring systems meet procurement and deployment requirements.
• Commission bare-metal servers, storage, and networking equipment into fully operational development environments.
• Configure virtualization platforms such as VMware ESXi or KVM and establish standardized infrastructure baselines.
• Deploy and configure enterprise storage solutions (SAN/NAS), VLANs, operating systems, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and foundational networking services.
• Configure and administer RHEL servers across development and deployment environments.
• Maintain hardware configuration consistency across multiple development sites and subcontractor environments.
• Partner with external systems integrators throughout infrastructure procurement, installation, and acceptance testing.
• Perform power-on validation, hardware acceptance testing, and infrastructure verification before deployment.
• Build clean, production-ready infrastructure environments that can be transitioned to internal DevOps teams for software deployment and automation.
• Document infrastructure standards, configurations, and deployment procedures to support repeatable implementations.
• Collaborate with engineering and cybersecurity teams to maintain secure, reliable, and scalable IT infrastructure.

You might be a good fit if you:

• Have 8+ years of experience administering enterprise IT infrastructure, server environments, or data center operations.
• Have experience building, configuring, and managing multi-rack server environments supporting software development or automated testing.
• Have hands-on experience commissioning enterprise hardware from initial delivery through operational deployment.
• Have hands-on experience installing, configuring, administering, and troubleshooting Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in enterprise environments.
• Are experienced configuring virtualization technologies such as VMware ESXi, KVM, or similar hypervisors.
• Have experience with enterprise networking concepts including VLANs, switching, routing fundamentals, and storage infrastructure (SAN/NAS).
• Have experience supporting infrastructure deployments across multiple locations or geographically distributed environments.
• Are comfortable collaborating with software engineering, DevOps, and infrastructure teams throughout the deployment lifecycle.
• Have experience documenting infrastructure standards and maintaining consistent system configurations.
• Have experience achieving and maintaining accredited classified systems through DoW (Department of War) or Intelligence Community Risk Management Frameworks (RMF).
• Have led teams or other engineers in a technical leadership and/or functional leadership capacity.
• Hold an active Secret Security Clearance and are eligible to obtain TS/SCI (or are willing and able to obtain one, if applicable).

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience supporting government, defense, or classified computing environments.
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Ansible, Terraform, or SaltStack.
• Experience supporting Kubernetes, GitLab Runners, or containerized development environments.
• Previous experience working with enterprise systems integrators or large-scale infrastructure deployments.
• Familiarity with automated software build environments or “software factory” infrastructure.
• Experience working within secure development environments or multi-site engineering organizations.

LOCATION

This role is based out of Colorado Springs, CO. This position requires approximately 30% travel, depending on program needs and where the selected candidate resides. 

COMPENSATION

This role is between $123,000 and $165,000 base salary.

BENEFITS

Compensation includes competitive salary, meaningful equity ownership, profit sharing, employer 401(k) contribution, and 100% employer covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be a US Citizen.

Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. TS/SCI security clearance.

EEO STATEMENT

At Sphinx Defense, we are devoted to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Sphinx Defense is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

At Sphinx Defense, we are devoted to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Sphinx Defense is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances:  click here . 

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR  here .