IT Platform Administrator

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; Warminster Township (Bucks County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking an IT Platform Administrator to support secure, mission-critical research systems in Warminster, PA. The role emphasizes on-site hardware provisioning, virtualization management, and robust security/compliance practices.

You will administer Windows and Linux environments, manage AD and group policies, and drive automation with PowerShell and Bash.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be eligible for government access to classified information and may require a background investigation to upgrade clearance.
• Must be able to certify and maintain information security related certifications.
• Proficiency with Windows and Linux administration, AD/Group Policy, patching, and baseline management.
• Experience administering VMware environments (vRealize, vSphere, NSX, SRM) and related tooling.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-user support on secure networks and manage Jira tickets and change requests.
• On-site tasks at Warminster facility including hardware provisioning and network cabling.
• Administer Windows/Linux systems and manage AD accounts/groups.

Skills

Windows admin

Linux admin

VMware

Splunk

PowerShell

Jira Service Management

AD / Group Policy

Scripting automation

vRealize

vSphere

NSX

SRM

SCCM

Ansible

IDM

AAP

Tools

SCCM

Satellite

Ansible

IDM

AAP

Job description

Your working location will be fully on-site, located in Warminster, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

We are searching for a highly motivated and self-driven IT Platform Administrator for our highly secured environments to join our Information Technology Services Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. This role will provide systems administration, computing support, and specialized support services for the enablement of key research and administrative functions by ensuring the security, compliance, functionality, and reliability of research and administrative systems through hands on configuration and support.

You will:

• Provide end‑user support across secure networks (Warminster; remote University Park): troubleshoot medium/complex issues, reset passwords, and maintain Jira tickets, change requests, and asset records
• Complete on-site tasks for the Warminster facility that cannot be done remotely; hardware issues and replacements, provisioning endpoints/servers, peripheral management, networking, and cabling
• Administer Windows/Linux systems across physical and virtual environments; provision, patch, baseline, and manage AD accounts/groups
• Operate and maintain virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware/Hyper‑V): create VMs/templates/snapshots, monitor resources, and optimize performance
• Hardening & compliance: apply DISA STIGs, remediate findings, track POA&Ms/evidence; support audits/assessments and meet DoD/NIST controls
• Basic network administration (ports/VLANs/port security); monitor system/network health, respond to alerts, perform root‑cause analysis, and remediate
• Continuous Monitoring; deploy Splunk universal forwarders, ensure log ingestion health and develop searches, alerts, and dashboards for ops/cyber use
• Develop and maintain Warminster SOPs aligned to University Park, covering system administration, access management, backup/restore, patching, and incident response
• Drive continuous improvement: standardize runbooks, automate routine tasks, and reduce Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR) across services

Required skills and experience include:

• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
• The ability to certify and maintain information security related certification
• (Security+, CASP+, CySA+)
• Demonstrated ability to adopt new technologies and tools, serving as the primary implementer and maintainer, including configuration, documentation, and support
• Windows/Linux administration: AD/Group Policy, provisioning, patching, and baseline management
• VMware administration (vRealize, vSphere, NSX, SRM)
• Networking fundamentals: L2 switching, VLANs, port security; troubleshoot ports/cabling on-site.
• Security & compliance: Apply DISA STIGs, remediate findings, track POA&Ms, produce audit artifacts; familiarity with DoD/NIST controls
• Monitoring/observability: Splunk Universal Forwarders, log ingestion health, write searches, alerts, and dashboards
• Scripting & automation: PowerShell/Bash; standardize runbooks and automate routine tasks to reduce MTTR
• Service management: Jira Service Management/Assets—ticketing, change control, asset/CMDB hygiene; ITIL incident/problem practices
• Documentation: Develop and maintain SOPs/runbooks for Warminster aligned to University Park (system admin, access, backup/restore, patching, incident response)

Preferred skills and experience include:

• Automating management of Linux and Windows systems
• Development of secure Linux and Windows system baseline configurations
• Systems management (SCCM, Satellite, Ansible, IDM, AAP)
• DoD Regulations: Familiarity with security standards and regulations, such as DoD 8500.01 and NIST guidelines
• DISA STIG experience with reviewing, implementing, validating compliance and producing checklists