Linux Server Systems Engineer

Base-2 Solutions; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Base-2 Solutions is seeking a Linux Server Systems Engineer to support mission-critical capabilities at the Intelligence Community Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This 100% on-site position focuses on design, integration, deployment, optimization, security, and lifecycle support of Linux-based server infrastructure across physical and virtual environments.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with RHEL, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu; familiarity with configuration management

Qualifications

• Experience engineering, deploying, integrating, and maintaining Linux/UNIX server environments.
• Experience with Linux server OS including RHEL, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, and/or Ubuntu.
• Experience with configuration management and automation tools (Ansible, Salt, Puppet, Chef).
• Experience with system security engineering and hardening for enterprise environments.

Responsibilities

• Engineer, integrate, configure, and optimize Linux server solutions across physical and virtual infrastructures.
• Perform systems engineering activities including requirements analysis, interface definition, integration, and testing.
• Develop automation for provisioning, patching, monitoring, and lifecycle management.

Skills

Linux server administration

RHEL

Automation

Security

System analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering/CS/IT/CE

4+ years of relevant experience

Tools

Ansible

Salt

Puppet

Chef

PowerShell

Python

Shell scripting

Red Hat Satellite/Spacewalk

VMware

Job description

• Required Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI
• Location: Bethesda, MD
• Work Type: On-Site
• Shift: First

• Required Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI
• Location: Bethesda, MD
• Work Type: On-Site
• Shift: First
• Referral Eligibility: Eligible
• U.S. Citizenship Required? Yes

Position Summary

Base-2 Solutions is seeking a Linux Server Systems Engineer to support mission-critical capabilities at the Intelligence Community Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This 100% on-site position focuses on the design, integration, deployment, optimization, security, and lifecycle support of Linux-based server infrastructure across physical and virtual environments.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Engineer, integrate, configure, and optimize Linux server solutions across physical and virtual infrastructure environments.
• Perform systems engineering activities including requirements analysis, functional analysis, technical trade studies, interface definition, requirements allocation, integration, system testing, and technical verification.
• Develop technical solutions supporting the implementation, modernization, scalability, reliability, and lifecycle management of enterprise Linux infrastructure.
• Analyze complex system and infrastructure issues, identify root causes, and develop engineering solutions that prevent recurrence and improve system resiliency.
• Evaluate existing infrastructure architecture, configurations, utilization, and performance to identify opportunities for optimization and modernization.
• Design and implement automation for system provisioning, configuration, patching, compliance, monitoring, and lifecycle management using tools such as Ansible, Salt, Puppet, Chef, and scripting languages.
• Engineer and maintain standardized Linux configurations, system baselines, and deployment patterns across RHEL, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, and related platforms.
• Develop and implement Linux system-hardening solutions consistent with cybersecurity requirements, security controls, and configuration standards.
• Support technical integration of Linux infrastructure with virtualization, storage, networking, identity, monitoring, backup, security, and application services.
• Conduct performance analysis, capacity assessments, log analysis, and system-level troubleshooting to identify trends and recommend engineering improvements.
• Develop technical solutions for complex infrastructure requirements and evaluate alternative approaches through analysis and trade studies.
• Coordinate with customers, stakeholders, cybersecurity teams, administrators, and other engineering disciplines to collect requirements, analyze technical needs, and implement solutions.
• Develop and execute system integration, verification, validation, and implementation activities for infrastructure changes and new capabilities.
• Support configuration management, change management, technical baseline management, and engineering review activities.
• Perform technical root cause analysis and produce engineering assessments documenting findings, corrective actions, recommendations, and lessons learned.
• Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement, automation, standardization, and reduction of manual operational processes.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including system designs, architecture diagrams, technical procedures, configuration standards, implementation plans, test procedures, and operational transition documentation.
• Provide engineering support for mission-critical infrastructure issues and outages, including after-hours support when required.
• Collaborate with 24/7/365 Operations Watch personnel to ensure engineered solutions are effectively transitioned into operations and supported by appropriate technical documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Systems engineering experience meeting an applicable education/experience pathway in the equivalency section.
• Demonstrated experience engineering, deploying, integrating, and maintaining Linux/UNIX server environments.
• Experience with Linux server operating systems including RHEL, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, and/or Ubuntu.
• Experience designing, configuring, and maintaining Linux infrastructure in physical and virtual environments.
• Experience with Red Hat Satellite Server and/or Spacewalk for system lifecycle, patching, and configuration management.
• Experience engineering and implementing hardened Linux environments.
• Experience with configuration management and Infrastructure-as-Code/automation technologies such as Ansible, Salt, Puppet, or Chef.
• Experience developing automation using Linux shell scripting, PowerShell, PowerCLI, Python, or comparable scripting/programming technologies.
• Experience with server patch management, lifecycle management, and enterprise configuration-management methodologies.
• Experience conducting system performance analysis, log analysis, incident analysis, and identification of infrastructure trends.
• Experience troubleshooting complex technical issues spanning operating systems, virtualization, storage, networking, security, and applications.
• Ability to perform systems requirements analysis, functional analysis, technical trade studies, requirements allocation, interface definition, integration, system testing, and quality assurance.
• Experience applying systems engineering principles throughout the engineering lifecycle.
• Knowledge of system security engineering principles, including system security design, authentication and authorization, system integration, risk management, intrusion detection, incident handling, configuration control, change management, auditing, security testing, and information assurance principles.
• Ability to assess technical alternatives and develop innovative solutions to complex engineering problems.
• Experience establishing technical goals, implementation plans, and engineering approaches aligned with project and mission objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary engineering and operations teams.
• Strong technical communication skills with the ability to document and communicate architecture, engineering decisions, technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
• US Citizenship is required due to the nature of the government contracts supported.
• Candidate must, at a minimum, meet DoDM 8140.03 requirements (previously DoD 8570) for IT System Administrator Intermediate, such as Cloud+, GICSP, SSCP, Security+ CE, GSEC, or an applicable higher-level certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or integrating infrastructure within AWS or Microsoft Azure cloud environments.
• Experience with hybrid cloud or cloud migration architectures.
• Experience engineering VMware-based virtualization environments; VMware VCA/VCP certification is a plus.
• Experience integrating Linux infrastructure with enterprise SAN, NAS, or other network storage solutions.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, or OpenShift.
• Experience with infrastructure monitoring, observability, and enterprise logging platforms.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated infrastructure deployment.
• Experience integrating Linux systems with enterprise identity and access management solutions.
• Experience operating or engineering infrastructure within Windows/Linux hybrid environments.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Windows virtual desktop environments.
• Experience engineering backup, recovery, high-availability, and disaster-recovery solutions.
• Experience working within Agile engineering or DevSecOps environments.
• Experience engineering and troubleshooting systems within highly secure or classified environments.
• Experience developing technical architecture documentation, engineering design packages, implementation plans, and test plans.

Required Education and Experience Equivalency

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Additional years of relevant technical experience in lieu of a degree.

Required Certifications

• Linux-related certification such as Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or equivalent.
• Candidate must, at a minimum, meet DoDM 8140.03 requirements (previously DoD 8570) for IT System Administrator Intermediate, such as Cloud+, GICSP, SSCP, Security+ CE, GSEC, or an applicable higher-level certification.

Required Security Clearance

• Active Top Secret/SCI

Equal Employment Opportunity

Base-2 Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Learn more: base-2solutions.com/eeo

Pay & Benefit Highlights

Compensation

• Competitive fixed salary or hourly pay (based on experience, skills, location, and internal equity).
• Employee referral bonuses up to $10,000 per hired referral.
• Additional bonus opportunities for exceptional performance and contributions to business development and company growth (role-dependent).

Health

• 100% company-paid medical premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• Choose from multiple plan options with CareFirst, Kaiser, and UnitedHealthcare, including PPO, POS, HMO, and HSA-compatible plans.
• 100% company-paid dental premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• 100% company-paid vision premiums for employees and eligible dependents.

Income Protection

• 100% company-paid premiums for short-term disability.
• 100% company-paid premiums for long-term disability.
• 100% company-paid premiums for accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D).
• 100% company-paid premiums for life insurance up to $200,000.

Retirement

• 401(k) with immediate vesting: 4% company match plus a 4% non-elective company contribution (8% total).
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth options.

Leave

• Up to 20 days of flexible paid time off (PTO).
• 11 paid floating holidays.

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible work schedules, including flex time and compressed work periods (contract and project-dependent).