1st Shift – Data Center IT Specialist

Peraton; Beltsville (MD); On-site; USD 66,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a 1st Shift – Data Center IT Specialist in Beltsville, MD, to join our cyber and technology security team. The role focuses on data center operations, incident response, and producing reliable IT services in a SOC 2 and ISO 27001 aligned environment.

The position requires a degree with at least 1 year of experience (or 5+ years substituting for the degree) and relevant certifications. You will support 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST, monitor systems, and coordinate with stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of experience. 4 additional years of experience can be substituted in lieu of the degree requirement.
• Must possess or be able to obtain at least one of the following certifications before start date. Continued certification required as a condition of employment: CCNA Security, CEH, CISSP, CySA , GICSP, GSEC, Security CE, CND, SSCP
• Applies a high degree of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail when reviewing documentation, executing procedures, and validating system changes to ensure operational integrity.
• Experience and knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and architecture.
• Understanding of common cyber threats, attack vectors, and exploitation techniques.
• Demonstrated strength in analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• The ability to support 24x7x365 system monitoring, customer, and technical support role.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• An active Secret security clearance is required to start, with the ability to obtain a final Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Monitor service request in-boxes and respond within 30 minutes of receipt.
• Log, track, and document all work accurately in the government-furnished ITSM system.
• Diagnose and resolve customer-reported incidents, problems, and events, providing timely updates to users.
• Apply industry-standard ITSM processes to support high-reliability IT services.
• Deliver status updates and outage communications via phone, email, and designated platforms within 15 minutes of identification.
• Maintain and coordinate callback lists, escalation paths, and special event requirements with customer representatives and the COR.
• Develop, maintain, and execute the Major Incident Response (MIR) plan to ensure rapid service restoration, stakeholder awareness, and proper escalation during significant service degradations.
• Lead service restoration activities by implementing corrective actions, escalating issues when needed, coordinating SMEs, maintaining incident journals, and managing notifications.
• Oversee daily data center operations, including monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, best practices, and applicable regulations (SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST).
• Maintain a secure and resilient environment, including power, cooling, physical security, and access controls.
• Manage installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of hardware such as servers, storage, and network equipment.
• Support infrastructure upgrades and expansions as needed.
• Keep rack sheets and asset documentation current; maintain facility access such as door codes.
• Monitor and evaluate data center equipment performance, addressing issues proactively.
• Implement strategies to optimize resource utilization, energy efficiency, and overall performance.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans; conduct regular testing and exercises.
• Manage relationships with service providers, vendors, and contractors, ensuring cost-effective operations and adherence to service expectations.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of configurations, procedures, and incidents.
• Produce routine reports on data center performance, uptime, and operational efficiency.

Skills

Networking concepts

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

24x7x365 support

U.S. citizenship

Cyber threat knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CCNA Security

CEH

CISSP

CySA

GICSP

GSEC

Security CE

CND

SSCP

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking a 1st Shift – Data Center IT Specialistto become part of Peraton’s leading cyber and technology security experience to enable innovative, effective, and secure business processes.

Location: Beltsville, MD.

This is for the first shift, from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM, EST.

What you’ll do:

• Monitor service request in-boxes and respond within 30 minutes of receipt.
• Log, track, and document all work accurately in the government-furnished ITSM system.
• Diagnose and resolve customer-reported incidents, problems, and events, providing timely updates to users.
• Apply industry-standard ITSM processes to support high-reliability IT services.
• Deliver status updates and outage communications via phone, email, and designated platforms within 15 minutes of identification.
• Maintain and coordinate callback lists, escalation paths, and special event requirements with customer representatives and the COR.
• Develop, maintain, and execute the Major Incident Response (MIR) plan to ensure rapid service restoration, stakeholder awareness, and proper escalation during significant service degradations.
• Lead service restoration activities by implementing corrective actions, escalating issues when needed, coordinating SMEs, maintaining incident journals, and managing notifications.
• Oversee daily data center operations, including monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, best practices, and applicable regulations (SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST).
• Maintain a secure and resilient environment, including power, cooling, physical security, and access controls.
• Manage installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of hardware such as servers, storage, and network equipment.
• Support infrastructure upgrades and expansions as needed.
• Keep rack sheets and asset documentation current; maintain facility access such as door codes.
• Monitor and evaluate data center equipment performance, addressing issues proactively.
• Implement strategies to optimize resource utilization, energy efficiency, and overall performance.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans; conduct regular testing and exercises.
• Manage relationships with service providers, vendors, and contractors, ensuring cost-effective operations and adherence to service expectations.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of configurations, procedures, and incidents.
• Produce routine reports on data center performance, uptime, and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of experience. 4 additional years of experience can be substituted in lieu of the degree requirement.

• Must possess or be able to obtain at least one of the following certifications before start date. Continued certification required as a condition of employment:

• CCNA Security, CEH, CISSP, CySA , GICSP, GSEC, Security CE, CND, SSCP

• Applies a high degree of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail when reviewing documentation, executing procedures, and validating system changes to ensure operational integrity.

• Experience and knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and architecture.

• Understanding of common cyber threats, attack vectors, and exploitation techniques.

• Demonstrated strength in analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

• Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.

• The ability to support 24x7x365 system monitoring, customer, and technical support role.

• U.S. citizenship required.

• An active Secret security clearance is required to start, with the ability to obtain a final Top Secret security clearance.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$66,000 – $106,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.