Sr. Systems Administrator

Sr. Systems Administrator

Annapolis Junction, MD

Full-Time

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Systems Administrator to join our IT team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing, maintaining, and improving the organization's IT infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance, security, and reliability. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, troubleshooting complex system issues, and implementing best practices for system administration and security. Active TS/SCI clearance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administer, configure, and maintain servers, networks, and cloud-based systems.
• Monitor system performance and ensure high availability and reliability.
• Implement security policies, patches, and updates to safeguard IT infrastructure.
• Perform system backups, disaster recovery planning, and data protection measures.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, minimizing system downtime.
• Manage user access, permissions, and authentication protocols.
• Automate system administration tasks using scripting languages such as PowerShell, Python, or Bash.
• Maintain documentation of IT infrastructure, configurations, and processes.
• Research and recommend new technologies to improve efficiency and security.
• Support IT projects, including migrations, upgrades, and integrations.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior IT staff.
• Provide Tier 1 (Help Desk) problem identification, diagnosis and resolution of problems
• Manage the daily activities of configuration and operation of IT systems
• Provide assistance to users in accessing and using IT systems
• Provide Tier 1 (Help Desk) and Tier 2 (Escalation) problem identification, diagnosis and resolution of problems (U) Provide support to IT systems including day-to-day operations, monitoring and problem resolution for all of the client/server/storage/network devices, mobile devices, etc.
• Provide support for the escalation and communication of status to agency management and internal customers
• Optimize system operations and resource utilization, and perform system capacity analysis and planning
• Provide in-depth experience in trouble-shooting IT systems
• Provide detailed analysis and feedback to agency management and internal customers for escalated tickets
• Provide support for the dispatch system and hardware problems and remains involved in the resolution process
• Configure and manage UNIX and Windows (or other applicable) operating systems and installs/loads operating system software, troubleshoot, maintain integrity of and configure network components, along with implementing operating systems enhancements to improve reliability and performance
• Support the design of systems, mission architecture and associated hardware
• Possess a working knowledge and understanding of system administration interdependencies as part of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• Analyze and resolve complex problems associated with server hardware, applications and software integration

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Expertise in Windows and/or Linux server administration.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V).
• Knowledge of networking principles (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Strong scripting and automation skills (PowerShell, Bash, Python).
• Experience with Active Directory, Group Policy, and identity management solutions.
• Understanding of cybersecurity best practices and compliance standards.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, or similar.
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Knowledge of database administration (SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.