Senior System Engineer - Linux Environment

Vertical Scope Group; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/wellness allowance

Annual performance bonus

Salary sacrifice options

Additional 1 week of annual leave

Job summary

Vertical Scope Group is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer in Canberra to lead the design and deployment of secure data management platforms in defence environments. An ideal candidate will have 8+ years of IT infrastructure experience and a passion for secure systems.

This position offers an attractive salary, superannuation, an annual performance bonus, and additional leave benefits, ensuring a rewarding work environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience in system administration or IT infrastructure.
• Proven expertise in Active Directory and Linux system administration.
• Active NV2 security clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, deployment, and maintenance of secure data management platforms.
• Administer Active Directory, IAM, and network configurations.
• Maintain production Kubernetes clusters across on-premises environments.

Skills

Linux system administration

Active Directory

Troubleshooting skills

Communication skills

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Kubernetes

PowerShell

Bash

Python

Job description

• Be the driving force at the centre of our client’s Australian expansion.
• Gain global exposure and work closely with this leading U.S. company.
• Grow your team as you embed into this long-term leadership position, shaping System architecture and best practice in Australia.

About the Client

Our client is a rapidly growing technology company at the forefront of secure data management and enterprise software engineering. Founded within the past decade, the organisation has built a strong reputation for delivering mission-critical technology solutions across defence, government, and national security sectors.

With a culture defined by innovation, integrity, and technical excellence, they are expanding their Australian operations to support projects that strengthen the nation’s digital sovereignty and resilience. The team values ownership, curiosity, and trust, and they’re looking for professionals who thrive in high-impact, security-conscious environments where technology truly makes a difference.

About the Role

The Senior Systems Engineer will lead the design, deployment and maintenance of secure data management platform in defence environments. This role encompasses full system lifecycle management, user support and technical leadership to ensure secure, compliant and high performing IT operations in defence aligned environments.

In this role, you will:

• Architect and maintain a resilient Linux server environment
• Administer Active Directory, Group Policy, identity and access management (IAM) and network configurations
• Configure and manage firewalls, routers and switches, including VLANs, DNS and IAM integration
• Lead ongoing system maintenance, software installation, configuration, integrated testing and troubleshooting
• Assist end users by addressing technical inquiries and resolving access or configuration issues
• Oversee patch management, configuration compliance, change control and vulnerability mitigation
• Implement system hardening in alignment with the ASD Essential Eight and conduct regular audits
• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders; provide technical updates and recommendations to leadership
• Maintain production Kubernetes (K8s) clusters across multiple on-premises environments, encompassing tasks such as deployment, scaling, monitoring (using tools like Prometheus/Grafana), and troubleshooting for containerised applications.

About you

We're looking for an experienced IT professional passionate about secure systems in defence contexts. You'll thrive here if you enjoy technical leadership, problem solving, and contributing to meaningful missions.

• 8+ years of relevant experience in system administration or IT infrastructure
• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent knowledge gained through experience
• Active NV2 security clearance (required)
• Proven expertise in Active Directory and Linux system administration
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and communication skills

Highly Regarded

• Networking experience (e.g., CCNA/CCNP level or practical equivalents in firewalls, routing, VLANs)
• Proficiency in scripting (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python)
• Experience with Kubernetes in on-premises environments
• Leadership experience managing or mentoring technical teams
• Familiarity with ASD Essential Eight or defence compliance frameworks

What's on offer

• Attractive salary based on qualifications, experience and achievements
• Superannuation
• Annual performance bonus
• Health/wellness allowance
• Professional subscription
• Salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
• Additional 1 week of annual leave per year = 5 weeks per year
• Other leave in accordance with the National Employment Standards and state long service leave legislation