Experienced System Administrator/SOC Operator

CAE; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CAE is seeking a mission-focused Senior System Administrator to support IT operations, cybersecurity readiness, and RMF compliance in a defense contracting setting.

The role requires expert Windows and Linux administration, including hardening, deployment, patching, and configuration management across mixed environments, with DoD 8510.01 alignment and DISA STIGs.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of relevant experience, DoD security credentials, and the ability to work on-site in Arlington, TX.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in engineering, CS, or IT; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of related experience.
• Experience in Linux and Windows system administration.
• Experience with VMware, networking, and scripting.
• Ability to obtain DoD Secret Clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
• DoD 8140.03 compliance (CISSP/Security+ or OS cert) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support IT operations and cybersecurity readiness in a defense environment.
• Administer mixed Windows and Linux infrastructures; patch management per RMF.
• Configure and maintain development environments and automated deployment.
• Provide expert Linux and Windows system administration and VMWare oversight.
• Assist with infrastructure lifecycle, testing, and problem solving.

Skills

Linux System Administration

Windows System Administration

Windows Server Administration

Network Administration

Scripting (bash, Python, PowerShell)

VMWare Administration

TCP/IP Networking

Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

BS/BA in engineering, CS, or IT

Master's degree or above preferred

Tools

WSUS

ACAS/Nessus

GitHub

Group Policy Objects

Job description

Who We Are:

CAE Vision: Our vision is to be the worldwide partner of choice in defense and security, and civil aviation by revolutionizing our customers' training and critical operations with digitally immersive solutions to elevate safety, efficiency and readiness.

CAE Defense & Security Mission: CAE's Defense and Security business unit focuses on helping prepare military customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness.

CAE Values: Empowerment, Innovation, Excellence, Integrity and OneCAE make us who we are and we strive to make a difference in the world while helping each other succeed.

What We Have to Offer:

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package and flexibility that promotes work-life balance
• A work environment where all employees are valued, respected and safe
• Freedom to succeed by enabling team members to deliver, take initiatives and make decisions
• Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun!

Summary

We are seeking a mission-focused Senior System Administrator to support IT operations, advanced technical support and cybersecurity readiness in a defense contracting environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate expert proficiency in both Microsoft Windows and Linux systems administration, including hardening, deployment, configuration, maintenance, and patch management aligned with DoD cybersecurity requirements. This role directly supports compliance with DoDI 8510.01 (RMF), NIST 800-53, and applicable DISA STIG requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Responsibilities will include supporting all aspects of building, documenting, and maintaining mixed (combination of both Windows and Linux) closed room infrastructures and setup and management of software development environments. In addition to supporting engineers and continuously solving problems you will create, test, update and execute automated and semi-automated procedures for configuring all the components of our systems both in-house and at our customer sites.

• Linux System Administration
• Windows System Administration
• VMWare Administration
• Network Administration
• Infrastructure setup and maintenance
• Development of Automated system deployment capabilities
• Supports and monitors infrastructure hardware systems, operating systems and infrastructure applications to ensure reliability and availability of infrastructure services.
• Contributes and makes recommendations on the lifecycle of Infrastructure technologies
• Answers technical questions

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• A dedicated senior professional with multidisciplinary experience in cyber security and system administration.
• A BS/BA in an engineering, computer science, or information technology discipline, Master's degree or above preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience.
• Linux System Administration
• Windows System Administration
• Windows Server System Administration
• VMWare Administration
• Network Administration
• Knowledge of hardware and expertise in command line tools.
• Event, audit, and syslog analysis.
• Knowledge of TCP/IP networking. Experience with managed switch and router setup.
• Experience with scripting languages such as bash, csh, Python, and Powershell.
• Advanced problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and strong communications skills to effectively interact with peers, project vendors and other teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a CompTIA Security + Certification
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance is required
• Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role.
• Compliance with DoD 8140.03 (such as CISSP, Security + and an OS Certification).

Preferred Skills

• Prefer candidates who already have an active DoD security clearance. Prefer candidates who already have active CompTIA Security + certification or equivalent.
• An advanced degree in an engineering, computer science, or information technology discipline is preferred
• Strong Windows Server System setup and administration.
• Windows/Linux integration: File Sharing, authentication.
• Experience with Domain Controller setup and creation, management, update, and deployment of Group Policy Objects.
• Configure, manage, and monitor storage systems (NAS, SAN, NFS etc).
• Experience configuring Cisco routers and switches.
• Experience configuring HP/Aruba routers and switches
• Experience configuring Juniper switches
• Experience with Custom Automated Operating system deployment, such as Windows Deployment Toolkit.
• Experience with Configuration Management (GitHub experience desired).
• Setup and management of Centralized Auditing.
• Setup and management of centralized patching (such as WSUS).
• Experience with System hardening (Implementation of the Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG)).
• Experience with vulnerability scanners such as ACAS/Nessus and SCAP.
• Experience with version co