Federal IT Sysadmin at Horizon3 | $115K-$186K + Equity

Horizon3.ai; United States; Remote; USD 115,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Remote work

Job summary

Horizon3.ai is hiring a Federal IT Sysadmin for remote work in the United States. You will own the Federal Okta identity lifecycle and SSO, manage Gov Slack and Google Workspace Gov, and provide frontline support for Federal end users.

A 1–3 year background in IT systems with SaaS tools is expected; active clearance is a plus, with equity along with base salary. The role emphasizes cross-environment operations and security/compliance tasks in Federal settings, with a transparent salary range and

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of IT systems experience, focused on SaaS identity & collaboration tools.
• Experience configuring and maintaining federal identity ecosystems (Okta, SSO).
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and able to obtain/maintain a government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage Federal Okta identity lifecycle and SSO integrations.
• Admin Gov Slack and Google Workspace Gov editions.
• Provide frontline support for Federal end users and document SOPs.

Skills

Okta

SSO

Gov Slack

Google Workspace Gov

Identity management

Access control

Federal IAM

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Okta

Slack

Google Workspace

Job description

Federal IT Sysadmin at Horizon3 | $115K-$186K + Equity in Newark

Career trajectory: This is a junior-to-mid-level IT Systems Administrator role (1–3 years experience) with a niche specialization in Federal/GovCloud environments — specifically Okta, Gov Slack, and Google Workspace Gov editions. This specialization is increasingly valuable as more government contractors move to FedRAMP-authorized SaaS stacks.

Compensation vs. market: The $115K–$186K range is above-average for a 1–3 year IT admin. Industry benchmarks (Levels.fyi, Glassdoor) place similar roles at $65K–$110K at non-cybersecurity firms. The premium reflects the security clearance requirement and Federal compliance complexity — a meaningful career differentiator.

Skills you'll build:

• Federal identity and access management (IAM) with Okta — a highly transferable, in-demand skill
• SSO architecture and lifecycle management
• Cross-environment IT operations (commercial + Federal)

Green flags: Fast-growing startup with equity upside, explicit culture of respect and ownership, diverse team background (Special Ops + startup engineers), and transparent salary ranges.

Yellow flags: "Duties may change at any time" language suggests a small IT team wearing many hats. The broad salary band ($71K spread) also implies significant variability — negotiate based on clearance status and Okta certification. Obtaining and maintaining a clearance adds personal compliance overhead (lifestyle scrutiny, renewal cycles).

Overall, this is a strong early-career move for someone targeting the lucrative Federal cybersecurity contractor space.

Get to Know Us

Horizon3 is a fast-growing, remote cybersecurity company dedicated to the mission of enabling organizations to proactively find, fix, and verify exploitable attack vectors before criminals exploit them. Our flagship product, the NodeZero™ platform, delivers production-safe autonomous pentests and other key assessment operations that scale across the largest internal, external, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. NodeZero has been adopted by organizations of all sizes, from small educational institutions to government agencies and Global 100 enterprises. It is used by ITOps/SecOps teams, consulting pentesters, and MSSPs and MSPs.

We are a fusion of former U.S. Special Operations cyber operators, startup engineers, and formerly frustrated cybersecurity practitioners. We're committed to helping solve our common security problems: ineffective security tools, false positives resulting in alert fatigue, blind spots, "checkbox" security culture, cybersecurity skills shortage, and the long lead time and expense of hiring outside consultants. Collectively, we are a team of learn-it-alls, committed to a culture of respect, collaboration, ownership, and results.

Essential Functions

• Identity Management: Lead the configuration and maintenance of the Federal Okta instance, ensuring secure identity lifecycle management and SSO integrations.
• Collaboration Tools: Manage and optimize Gov Slack and Google Workspace, focusing on permissions, shared drives, and secure communication channels.
• Tiered Support: Provide dedicated front-line support for Federal end-users, troubleshooting access and software issues specific to the Federal environment.
• Documentation: Author and maintain knowledge base articles and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Federal system usage.

Commercial Support & Growth

• Cross-Functional Support: Provide secondary support for commercial IT services and infrastructure as part of the broader Horizon3 IT team.
• Process Alignment: Assist in the synchronization of workflows between Federal and Commercial environments to ensure seamless internal operations.

Security & Compliance

• Access Control: Oversee system security by managing user permissions and performing regular access audits.
• Audit Participation: Assist in IT security investigations and audits to ensure Federal systems meet required regulatory standards.Platform Expertise: Proven proficiency in managing Okta, Slack, and Google Workspace environments.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Strong ability to diagnose and resolve access and software issues in a remote-first environment.
• Communication: Clear verbal and written skills for supporting users and documenting technical processes.
• Organization: High attention to detail regarding user permissions and security configurations.

Required Education/Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree, Military Service Equivalent, or applicable certifications.
• Experience: 1–3 years of experience managing IT systems, with a focus on SaaS identity and collaboration tools.
• Clearance/Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Must pass a criminal background check. An active security clearance is a plus.
• Location: Fully remote.
• Travel: Up to 5% for company-approved events or summits.

Perks of Horizon3

• Inclusive Team: We value diversity and promote an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.
• Growth Opportunities: Be part of a dynamic and growing team with numerous career development opportunities.
• Innovative Culture: Work in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Hybrid & Remote Work: We embrace a mix of remote and hybrid work models depending on role and location, including our Chicago office, where some roles require regular in-office presence.
• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive salary, equity, and benefits. Benefits include health, vision & dental insurance for you and your family, a flexible vacation policy, and generous parental leave.

Compensation and Values

At Horizon3, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and our compensation philosophy reflects this core value. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and rewarded for their contributions. Our compensation structure is designed to be fair, competitive, and transparent, ensuring that every team member is recognized and compensated equitably across roles, levels, and locations.

In accordance with various state transparency regulations, we provide the following salary range information for this position:

• Base salary range: $115,000 – $186,000. The exact salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and relevant skills.
• Additional compensation: All full-time roles are eligible for an equity package in the form of stock options.

You Belong Here

Horizon3 is not just an equal opportunity employer — we are a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental principles of our culture and success. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, hair length, or any other legally protected status.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means we strive to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that reflects the varied communities we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our ability to create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. At Horizon3, every team member is valued and supported in an environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Come be a part of Horizon3, where your unique contributions are recognized and your potential is limitless.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Application Note

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Is this role truly fully remote or is there an office requirement? The role is listed as fully remote with up to 5% travel for company-approved events or summits. However, candidates must be U.S.-authorized workers eligible for a government security clearance, which effectively requires U.S. residency. Do I need an active security clearance to apply? An active clearance is listed as a plus, not a strict requirement. However, you must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance and pass a criminal background check. What is the salary range for this position? The base salary range is $115,000–$186,000 annually, determined by location, qualifications, and experience. All full-time employees are also eligible for stock options. What platforms will I primarily manage in this role? You will primarily manage the Federal Okta instance for identity and SSO, as well as Gov Slack and Google Workspace for secure Federal collaboration and communication. How much experience is required for this IT Systems Administrator role? Horizon3 requires 1–3 years of experience managing IT systems, with a focus on SaaS identity and collaboration tools such as Okta, Slack, and Google Workspace.

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