Principal Linux Systems Administrator

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Linux Systems Administrator in our Intelligence Sector's, Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management.At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!This position is eligible for a 10k Sign on Bonus!Leidos is seeking a Principal Linux Systems Administrator to support the administration, security, reliability, and operational performance of mission-critical production environments. This position requires a highly experienced Linux systems professional capable of independently managing complex infrastructure, troubleshooting issues across multiple technology domains, and driving technical problems through root-cause analysis and resolution.The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on Linux administration experience and is comfortable operating in secure, highly available environments using command-line tools, system logs, automation, and established change-management processes. The Principal Linux Systems Administrator will serve as a senior technical resource responsible for system configuration, automation, security hardening, vulnerability remediation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of Linux-based infrastructure and operational practices.Primary ResponsibilitiesAdminister, configure, secure, monitor, and troubleshoot Linux systems supporting mission-critical production workloads.Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex operating system, application, storage, authentication, performance, and network connectivity issues using Linux command-line tools, system logs, and monitoring platforms.Manage Linux system lifecycle activities including account and permission administration, patching, package management, software installation, service configuration, upgrades, and system maintenance.Maintain STE/STN Compliance: Ensure systems meet security and compliance standards. Implement and maintain system security controls, Linux hardening standards, vulnerability remediation, and configuration baselines in accordance with organizational and mission security requirements.Develop automation and configuration-management solutions using Ansible, Bash, Python, or comparable technologies to improve consistency, reliability, and operational efficiency.Develop and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, operational runbooks, system configurations, and change records supporting repeatable operations and knowledge transfer.Provide senior-level technical guidance for Linux infrastructure operations, system improvements, and problem resolution while identifying opportunities to improve availability, security, scalability, and maintainability.Basic QualificationsBachelor’s degree in a technical discipline from an accreditedcollege or university is required. Five (5) years of additional related experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.Fifteen (15) years’ of directly related experience supporting programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is requiredExtensive hands-on Linux systems administration experience, including platforms such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu, or comparable enterprise Linux distributions, with demonstrated ability to independently support complex production environments.Experience with Linux account and permission management, package management, patching, system services, storage, authentication, process management, system configuration, and performance monitoring, including experience supporting Linux systems in virtualized or cloud-hosted environments such as VMware or AWS EC2.Strong knowledge of networking fundamentals including DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, IP addressing, ports, routing, and firewalls, with demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex Linux operating system, application, storage, authentication, performance, and connectivity issues using command-line utilities, system logs, and structured root-cause analysis.Experience with Linux security hardening, vulnerability remediation, configuration management, and formal change-control processes.Experience developing scripts and automation using Bash, Python, Ansible, or comparable technologies.Security Clearance Requirement: Active TS/SCI with polygraph ​Desired QualificationsAdvanced experience with Ansible for Linux configuration management, automation, provisioning, and repeatable system administration.Experience administering Linux infrastructure within AWS, including EC2 and associated monitoring and operational services.Experience with Git-based workflows for configuration management, automation, infrastructure changes, and technical documentation.Experience with infrastructure-as-code technologies such as Terraform or AWS CloudFormation.Experience supporting Kubernetes nodes, clusters, containerized platforms, or Linux infrastructure underlying container environments.Experience with monitoring, logging, and security platforms such as Splunk, Elastic, CloudWatch, SIEM solutions, and Nessus, including vulnerability identification and remediation.Experience administering Linux systems within secure government, Intelligence Community, DoD, or other highly regulated environments.conmdCSSRCIf you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.Original Posting:August 7, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.Pay Range:Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.SummaryLocation: Annapolis Junction, MDType: Full time