Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud)

About the Role

We are searching for a Systems Administrator to join the Reston, VA office of the Digital Engineering Department of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. You will maintain the integrity of various high-performance computing (HPC) systems including operating systems, physical servers/workstations, and applications; administer, install, and troubleshoot a variety of Cloud tooling and applications, perform systems maintenance tasks such as troubleshooting and performance evaluation as well as back-up and recovery; perform configuration changes to address customer needs; schedule, install, and test system software upgrades; monitor and maintain software licensing. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

Responsibilities

• Execute, improve, and monitor scripts and automation tools to aid in systems management
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve server, workstation, and audio-visual (A/V) issues and/or respond to outages during normal working hours
• Test and implement upgrades and patches to installed operating systems, software container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes), and modeling & simulation (M&S) applications
• Maintain reliability of systems by monitoring, running tests, and troubleshooting
• Monitor backups and plans for installed systems; review adequacy of emergency response plans
• Manage, research, and resolve common as well as complex end-user issues
• Evaluate and recommend new or existing software/infrastructure improvements and/or solutions
• Create and maintain system documentation of processes, procedures, plans, and configurations with a focus on continuous improvement

Required Skills & Experience

• Assist with installing, configuring, and updating systems and software, focusing on Linux (Red Hat), basic Ansible scripting, and working with GitLab pipelines
• Help diagnose and troubleshoot issues on servers, workstations, and A/V equipment, including responding to outages during normal business hours
• Support testing and applying updates, patches, and upgrades for operating systems, Kubernetes platforms, and modeling and simulation (M&S) applications

Qualifications

If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Intermediate Professional:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Professional:

• Associate Degree
• No prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education

Clearance & Eligibility

• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply
• Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies
• Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors
• ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas

Work Location

Your working location will be fully on-site, located in Reston, VA.

Pay & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $62,304.00 - $102,900.00.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.