Linux Systems Administrator

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is seeking a Linux Systems Administrator to design, deploy, and maintain classified Linux systems, ensuring security, performance, and reliability in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires deep Linux expertise, DoD 8570 certification or ability to obtain within 6 months, and a TS/SCI with poly clearance. You will work with ISSO/ISSM and cross-functional teams to protect IT infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Linux operating systems (Red Hat, CentOS, or similar) and administration knowledge.
• 5+ years Linux systems administration experience.
• RHCSA certification.
• DoD 8570 certification (Security+ or CISSP) or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Active Top Secret SCI w/poly clearance; US citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Manage, configure, and maintain classified Linux-based systems, including OS installation, patches, monitoring, and performance.
• Implement security measures following compliance policies, perform audits, vulnerabilities assessments, and patching.
• Coordinate with ISSO/ISSM to validate systems and security posture; balance security with project requirements.
• Provide technical support in a classified environment, assist on projects, manage user accounts and access controls.
• Respond to incidents quickly, document SOPs, configurations, troubleshooting guides, and maintain knowledge base.

Skills

Linux system administration

Security patching

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Active Directory integration

STIGs configuration

Nagios/Thruk monitoring

Virtualization (VMware/KVM)

Containerization (Docker/Podman/K8s)

Red Hat/CentOS administration

RHCSA

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/IT or related field

Tools

SaltStack

Puppet

Ansible

Chef

Job description

Do you thrive in and love a fast-paced, dynamic classified environment?

Do you love to [area of expertise]?

Do you want to be empowered to take ownership and stake in the overall engineering and operations of the IT infrastructure?

Are you interested in learning new technologies and creating new IT capabilities?

If so, we’re looking for someone like you to apply and join our team at APL!

We are ranked as one of Computerworld ’s Top Places to Work in IT for 6 years running, and seek a Linux Systems Administrator with experience working in a classified environment to join our team and help protect APL’s information technology infrastructure.

As a Linux System Administrator, you will play a vital role designing and deploying robust scalable physical and virtual systems, managing security, consulting on projects and maintaining the performance of our on-premise classified Linux systems and infrastructure.

As a Linux Systems Administrator you will...

• Manage, configure, and maintain classified Linux-based systems. This includes OS installation and configuration management, deploying security patches, system monitoring and performance management, troubleshooting hardware and software issues, and completing daily system administration health checks.
• Implement security measures to protect classified information, following relevant compliance policies, guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Perform security audits, vulnerability assessments, apply necessary security patches and updates.
• Work closely with ISSO/ISSM’s to validate systems, maintain network security posture and verify security vulnerabilities are addressed. Ensure enhanced security requirements balance with project requirements and functionality.
• Provide technical support to end-users in a classified environment, lead problem root cause analysis and resolution. Assist on projects, software installation and responding to customer inquiries. Provision user accounts, enable permissions, and verify access controls comply with security protocols.
• Respond to and resolve system-related incidents and issues promptly, engaging IT peers and external resources, when necessary, to ensure minimal downtime and disruption to operations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), system configurations, troubleshooting guides, and knowledge base articles. Continuously improve processes and procedures to enhance system reliability, efficiency, and security.

Qualifications

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Have in-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems (Red Hat, CentOS, or similar) and their administration, including system installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience administering/maintaining classified computer networks.
• Have 5+ years Linux systems administration experience.
• Possess a demonstrable understanding of Linux firewalls and SELinux.
• Can work independently and as part of a team to identify and resolve issues, both at a system and network level, minimizing downtime and customer impact.
• Relevant certifications such as Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA).
• Have working knowledge of Linux Single Sign-on (SSO) utilizing realm, adcli, sssd tying into Active Directory.
• Have familiarity with virtualization technologies (VMware, KVM, or similar) and containerization (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes).
• Have familiarity with hosting and administrating software packages such as Gitlab, Confluence, Jira.
• Experience administering and maintaining network license servers.
• Possess Backup and Recovery experience using Legato/Networker utilizing both tape library and storage as media.
• Experience utilizing NPE certificates, public/private keys, SSL/TLS communications and protocols.
• Automation experience to automate manual efforts.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting layer 2 networks.
• Experience applying STIGs to operating systems, applications and network peripherals.
• Experience with monitoring software such as Nagios and Thruk.
• Superb communication and collaboration skills effectively working and interacting with a team.
• Current DoD 8570 certification (Security+ or CISSP), or ability to obtain DoD 8570 certification within 6 months of employment required.
• Have an active Top Secret SCI w/poly security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You ‘ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...

• A Master’s degree in Information Systems/Technology, Cybersecurity or Computer Science or related field.
• Possess an active G2/G3 clearance with active poly.
• Experience working with configuration management tools such as Salt-Stack, Puppet, Ansible, or Chef.
• DevOps experience integrating CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience implementing NAS/SAN enterprise storage solutions.
• Experience with Linux HPC’s utilizing Slurm.
• Experience working with Windows Servers and Server functions such as Group Policy, Active Directory, DNS etc.
• Working Experience with Exchange, RSA, Radius a plus

About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually