Linux Systems Administrator

BWX Technologies, Inc.; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible schedules

Training and certification support

Inclusive culture

DOE/NNSA mission support

Job summary

BWX Technologies, Inc. in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is seeking a Linux Systems Administrator to maintain secure, high‑availability Linux environments supporting engineering, manufacturing, simulation, and analytics at the Oak Ridge Enrichment Operations site.

You will configure, harden, and manage Linux systems, storage, and automation, operating in a DOE/NNSA high‑security setting. The role emphasizes cybersecurity compliance, patching, scripting with Bash, Python, or Ansible, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in CS/IT/Engineering.
• 3+ years of Linux administration in production environments.
• Proficient in Linux admin, scripting, networking, and monitoring.
• Experience with automation tools (Ansible, Bash, Python) and hardening practices.
• Knowledge of virtualization or container technologies.
• Experience maintaining secure environments and compliance frameworks.
• Strong troubleshooting and documentation skills.
• U.S. citizen with ability to obtain/maintain DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, harden, and maintain Linux systems for engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Manage authentication services, permissions, and privileged access workflows.
• Implement secure configurations per DOE/NNSA requirements.
• Administer storage, backups, and disaster recovery.
• Monitor performance and troubleshoot infrastructure issues.
• Develop automation scripts with Bash, Python, or Ansible.
• Handle patching, OS lifecycle, and package repositories.
• Support virtualization or container tooling (VMware, KVM, Docker/Podman).
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, IT, operations, and security teams.
• Maintain secure runbooks, diagrams, and compliance records.

Skills

Linux administration

Shell scripting

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Ansible

Bash

Python

VMware/KVM

Docker/Podman

FreeIPA/AD/LDAP

Nagios/Prometheus/Grafana

Job description

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At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram .

Welcome to BWXT

We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth, collaboration, and technical excellence. At our Oak Ridge, Tennessee Enrichment Operations site, you will join teams working at the forefront of advanced nuclear manufacturing, precision engineering, and mission‑critical national security programs. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself, partner with seasoned experts, and contribute to innovation shaping the future of nuclear technology. Our work requires a wide range of skills, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and career stages who share a passion for meaningful impact and technical advancement.

Position Overview

As our Linux Systems Administrator, you will support secure, high‑availability computing environments essential to engineering, manufacturing, simulation, and analytics operations at the Oak Ridge Enrichment Operations site. You will maintain, configure, and optimize Linux-based systems, storage solutions, user environments, and automation frameworks. Operating in a DOE/NNSA high‑security environment, you will ensure reliability, cybersecurity compliance, and performance across mission‑critical computing infrastructure.

Location

On-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Q Clearance Required)

Your Day to Day as a Linux Systems Administrator

• Install, configure, harden, and maintain Linux systems (RHEL, Rocky, Ubuntu, or similar) supporting engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Manage authentication services, user/group permissions, identity controls, and privileged access workflows.
• Implement secure configurations aligned with DOE/NNSA cybersecurity requirements.
• Administer storage environments, NFS/SMB shares, file systems, backups, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot infrastructure issues, and optimize compute environments.
• Develop scripts and automation using Bash, Python, or Ansible to streamline administrative tasks.
• Manage patching, update cycles, OS lifecycle management, and package repositories.
• Support virtualization or container tooling (VMware, KVM, Docker/Podman).
• Work closely with cybersecurity teams to conduct audits, monitor compliance, and resolve findings.
• Provide technical support for engineering workloads, simulation tools, HPC environments, or manufacturing systems.
• Maintain secure documentation including system configurations, runbooks, network diagrams, and compliance records.
• Assist in rollout of new servers, infrastructure upgrades, and modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, IT, operations, and security teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 3+ years of experience administering Linux systems in production environments.
• Proficiency with Linux administration, shell scripting, networking fundamentals, and system monitoring.
• Experience with automation tools (Ansible, Bash, Python) and system-hardening practices.
• Knowledge of virtualization or container technologies.
• Experience maintaining secure environments and applying compliance frameworks.
• Strong troubleshooting and documentation skills.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in classified, regulated, or high‑security IT environments.
• Familiarity with HPC systems, cluster management, or distributed computing.
• Experience with CI/CD tooling, Git, or automated deployment pipelines.
• Knowledge of monitoring platforms such as Nagios, Prometheus, Grafana, or Elastic.
• Experience with identity management tools (FreeIPA, Active Directory integration, LDAP).
• Certifications such as RHCSA, RHCE, CompTIA Linux+, or Security+.
• Experience supporting engineering simulation workloads or manufacturing IT infrastructure.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off (as applicable for IT roles).
• Professional training, certification support, and career development pathways.
• Inclusive, collaborative culture with cross-generational teamwork.
• Opportunities to directly support mission‑critical DOE/NNSA operations.
• Continuous learning and exposure to advanced high‑security computing environments.

Pay: $70,000- $103,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $70,000 and $103,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.