Infrastructure Systems Administrator

Penn State University; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) in San Diego seeks an experienced Infrastructure Systems Administrator for the JMIE Division. You will manage server/desktop security, Windows and Linux systems, networks, and DoD-standard auth services, building from bare metal and preserving compliance.

The role requires 6+ years in IT infrastructure, DoD security awareness, and the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination.
• Security-focused with RMF, CISSP/CISM knowledge preferred but not required.
• Experience with DNS/DHCP, LDAP, Kickstart and cross-domain guards.

Responsibilities

• Asset installation/configuration, operation and maintenance of systems hardware, software, and related infrastructure.
• Configure and manage Windows/Linux OS, applications, networks, and switches.
• Configure and manage DoD/IC authentication services.
• Build systems from bare metal per accredited baselines.
• Ensure compliance with government security/readiness policies.
• Perform security monitoring and log assessment for intrusions.
• Perform daily backups, archival, and purge as needed.
• Create, change, and delete user accounts as requested.
• Ongoing performance tuning, hardware upgrades, and resource optimization.
• Repair and recover from hardware/software failures across sites.
• Maintain cyber security program implementation plan documentation.
• Maintain facility video distribution system and displays.

Skills

System administration

DNS/DHCP

Kubernetes

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Windows Server

Security & compliance

LDAP

ACAS

Rancher

Grafana

ELK Stack

Cross Domain Guards

PowerShell / Bash scripting

RMF / Cybersecurity basics

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Kickstart

Terraform

Ansible

Puppet

Chef

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are searching for an experienced, organized, positive, and self-motivated Infrastructure Systems Administrator to join our DevSecOps Department within the Joint Mission Integration and Experimentation (JMIE) Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. JMIE specializes in rapid development of warfighter capabilities in an aggregated and integrated multidomain environment.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

• Asset installation/configuration, operation and maintenance of systems hardware, software, and related infrastructure
• Configure and manage operating systems (Windows and Linux), applications (commercial and government), networks (IPs, subnets, etc.), and network equipment (switches)
• Configure and manage DOD and IC standard distributed authentication services
• Build systems from "bare metal" in alignment with accredited baselines
• Ensure that system hardware, operating systems, software systems, and related procedures adhere to government security and readiness policies
• Perform regular security monitoring to identify any possible intrusions, including assessment of logs and reports
• Perform daily backup operations, regular file archival and purge, as necessary
• Create, change, and delete user accounts per request
• Perform ongoing performance tuning, hardware upgrades, and resource optimization
• Repair and recover from hardware or software failures for multiple sites
• Establish, document, and monitor the government's cyber security program implementation plan
• Maintain facility video distribution system and displays

Required skills/experience areas include:

• System administration (server and desktop security implementation and management and software development IT infrastructure setup and management)
• U.S. Government computers, networks, and security
• Administering server-side technology and networked computing systems
• Proven working experience with DNS / DHCP / Kickstart / LDAP / Kubernetes / Red Hat Enterprise Linux / Windows 11 and Server / ACAS / Rancher / Grafana / ELK Stack / Cross Domain Guards
• Configure and manage operating systems (Windows and Linux), applications (commercial and government), networks (IPs, subnets, etc.), and network equipment (switches)
• Configure and manage DOD and IC standard distributed authentication services
• Maintain and create system documentation, surge hours worked through events, and create simple scripts (i.e. PowerShell or bash)
• Cybersecurity Management Certification (CISSP, CISM), Cybersecurity IAT-2 level Technical Certification (Security+, GSEC, etc..) Risk Management Framework (RMF) accreditation experience (within six months of hire if you do not have them already)
• Demonstrated ability to work through difficult problems, using proper steps to define and formulate ideas to reach a solution
• Willingness to learn new technologies
• Ability to obtain an active security clearance, at the TS/SCI level, prior to beginning employment

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

• Automate installation, configuration, and provisioning using Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, and Chef
• Joint IO Range, Defense Research and Engineering Network, and/or other similar environments
• DOD and IC network infrastructures

Your working location will be h ybrid on-site/work from home (project-dependent ability for hybrid work), located in San Diego, CA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications:
  None

If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications:
  None

ARL's purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challeng