Linux Systems Administrator

Catapult Federal Services; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Catapult Federal Services in Washington DC is seeking a Linux Systems Administrator to manage RHEL servers and their lifecycle. The role involves using scripting for automation, managing security compliance, and deploying patches. Candidates should have 4-8 years of experience, relevant qualifications, and strong communication skills. This position requires working on-site five days a week and having a Public Trust clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Qualifications

• 4-8 years of experience in RHEL system administration.
• Demonstrated experience with Bash/Python scripting or other automation scripting languages.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer and support RHEL servers.
• Manage lifecycle of RHEL servers including deployment and maintenance.
• Create and maintain system documentation.

Skills

RHEL system administration

Bash scripting

Python scripting

Ansible

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Red Hat Satellite

VMware

Job description

Overview

Location: Washington DC (5 days a week on-site)

Clearance: Public Trust (OR being willing to obtain, U.S. Citizenship Required)

The Linux Systems Administrator will be responsible for administering and supporting RHEL servers with day-to-day responsibilities including:

• Managing the full lifecycle of RHEL servers, including deployment, configuration, patching, and maintenance on virtual platforms (VMware).
• Using Red Hat Satellite for large-scale system management, including: Configuring and managing software repositories, content views, and life cycle environments. Orchestrating patch management and security updates across the enterprise infrastructure to ensure compliance
• Developing and implementing automation for routine administrative tasks and infrastructure deployment using Ansible and Bash/Python scripting.
• Conducting advanced system monitoring, performance tuning, and root cause analysis to ensure optimal system health, stability, and performance.
• Creating and maintaining system documentation, procedures, and knowledge base articles

Key Responsibilities

• Primary ownership of implementing systems and software updates in the RHEL environment
• Deploying RHEL patches and platform updates
• Documenting processes, procedures and configurations
• Perform daily operations support functions, including problem isolation and resolution
• Provide status updates of task and project updates
• Troubleshoot platform and application issues
• Write, test, and maintain scripts for automation using Bash, Python, or other appropriate scripting languages
• Improve system administration workflows by automating routine administrative tasks, reducing manual interventions, and increasing operational efficiency.
• Work closely with IT security teams to ensure endpoints are fully patched and compliant with security standards.
• Respond to escalations and work with other IT teams to address and resolve issues promptly.
• Provide regular status reports on RHEL administration activities, including patching and system health.

Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Administration, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 4-8 years of experience in RHEL system administration
• Demonstrated experience with Bash/Python scripting or other automation scripting languages
• Hands-on experience with common enterprise RHEL administration tools like Satellite and Ansible
• Experience creating/managing users/groups, and identity/access controls
• Strong problem-solving and diagnostic skills (e.g., analyzing logs)
• System hardening, vulnerability management, patching, and firewall configuration
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to document processes and communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work with different teams to ensure proper configurations and smooth deployments.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and methodical, with a strong focus on quality and accuracy in work.
• Excellent troubleshooting and critical thinking skills
• Certifications: Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or other advanced Red Hat Specialist certifications.
• Ability to automate STIG compliance tasks and configuration management using scripting (Bash, Python) and configuration management tools like Ansible.
• Experience with Cloud environments Azure/AWS
• Experience in the Department of Justice environment