IT Specialist (Systems Admin)

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology seeks an IT specialist to administer Linux servers, support data protection, and contribute to enterprise backup strategies in a security‑critical VA environment.

Responsibilities include monitoring, recovery across Windows and Linux, and documenting enterprise IT requirements and procedures to ensure alignment with agency standards.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail in thorough, accurate work.
• Customer-focused service to clients and stakeholders across the VA.
• Clear and effective oral communication to diverse audiences.
• Problem solving to identify, evaluate, and recommend solutions.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

Linux

Commvault

NetApp

Dell Data Domain

Job description

Deliver secure and high availability infrastructure solutions supporting VA's mission. Serve as an operational service provider of foundational compute, storage, physical database, and client management components. Implement and sustain technical, management, and operational security controls and supporting processes to protect mission critical networks, systems, and applications throughout the VA enterprise.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/26/2026.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements

EXPERIENCE:

1. Attention to Detail – Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service – Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication – Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving – Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

OR,

• Education for the GS-11 Only: Ph.D. OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above.

Specialized Experience for GS-11:

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

Specialized experience is defined as one year of experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level that demonstrates assisting senior team members with Linux and Windows server administration, scripting, daily monitoring, data protection and recovery activities, and the development of Enterprise Architecture documentation (e.g. Policies, Procedures, Instructional Guides, System Drawings, System Interconnects, Separation of Duties, etc.) Experience also includes supporting the operation, monitoring, installation, testing, and troubleshooting of hardware and software systems and services-including storage, cloud, and backup appliances-and assisting with the Commvault data protection application.

Specialized Experience for GS-12:

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience is typically gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT.

Specialized experience is defined as One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑11 level that demonstrates managing and configuring data‑protection strategies and recovery operations in a multi‑tiered environment, including applying backup and recovery concepts across multiple platforms such as Microsoft Windows and Linux and databases such as Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle. Experience also includes conducting research; developing justifications, operational concepts, and system‑engineering requirements; and defining hardware and software solution requirements for new, replacement, or upgraded data‑protection systems.

Selective Placement Factor:

This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume.

Selective Placement Factor is defined as experience in administering Linux operating systems and supporting enterprise‑class data protection solutions, including backup, restoration, and replication technologies such as Commvault. Experience must also include managing or supporting enterprise data‑protection storage platforms, such as NetApp and Dell Data Domain.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part‑time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those who have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.