Linux Systems Administrator

About the role

We are seeking a Linux Systems Administrator to join our team at APL. Our team is ranked as one of Computerworld's Top Places to Work in IT for 6 years running and we are looking for someone who loves to [area of expertise] and wants to be empowered to take ownership and stake in the overall engineering and operations of the IT infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Had 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.
• 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.

Additional 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.
• Experience with Exchange, RSA, Radius a plus.

About Us

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 https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.