Linux Systems Administrator (5483)

SMX; Patuxent Highland (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid leave

Retirement

Job summary

SMX seeks a Linux System Administrator to support an embedded lab at NAS Patuxent River. You will install and maintain Linux OSes and applications, implement STIGs, patching, backups, and vulnerability scans, and develop scripts and Ansible playbooks for automation.

Strong troubleshooting and DoD experience are required, with on-site work eligibility. 3+ years of related experience, Secret clearance (Top Secret attainable), and solid collaboration with engineers are essential to ensure secure,

Qualifications

• Secret clearance required with ability to obtain Top Secret
• 3+ years of related Linux system administration experience
• Experience configuring Linux OS and applications
• Strong scripting and automation skills

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and support operating systems and application software
• Perform compliance assurance tasks including STIG application, patching, backups, and vulnerability scanning across lab devices
• Develop and maintain Linux scripts to support system administration tasks
• Create and maintain Ansible playbooks for automation of administrative and compliance activities
• Troubleshoot technical issues across hardware, OS, applications, and network connectivity
• Work collaboratively with other administrators and engineers to ensure lab systems remain secure and operational

Skills

Linux

Shell scripting

Troubleshooting

Onsite work

Tools

Ansible

Vulnerability scanning

Job description

SMX is seeking a Linux System Administrator to support an embedded lab environment at NAS Patuxent River.

This role provides direct hands‑on support for hardware, operating systems, and applications within an embedded environment. The Linux System Administrator will ensure deployed lab systems are fully compliant with DoD security and configuration standards by performing patching, scanning, backup, and STIG application.

The ideal candidate will have strong Linux expertise, practical scripting skills, and experience with automation through Ansible, combined with foundational troubleshooting and problem‑solving capabilities.

• Install, configure, and support operating systems and application software
• Perform compliance assurance tasks including STIG application, patching, backups, and vulnerability scanning across all lab devices
• Develop and maintain Linux scripts to support system administration tasks
• Create and maintain Ansible playbooks for automation of administrative and compliance activities
• Troubleshoot technical issues across hardware, OS, applications, and network connectivity
• Work collaboratively with other administrators and engineers to ensure lab systems remain secure and operational

Required Skills & Experience

• Clearance Required: Secret
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain Top Secret
• 3+ years of related experience
• Ability to work onsite at NAS Patuxent River (CWS eligible)
• Proficiency with Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu/Solaris/CentOS) required
• Proficiency with Linux shell scripting required
• Experience with Ansible required
• Foundational troubleshooting and critical thinking skills
• Ability to follow established processes for compliance, configuration, and documentation

Desired Skills & Experience

• Familiarity with compliance practices including DoD STIGs, patching, and scanning
• Experience in lab or RDT&E support environments
• Exposure to networking and virtualization technologies
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications. At SMX, one of our Core Values is to Invest in Our People so we offer a competitive mix of compensation, learning & development opportunities, and benefits. Some key components of our robust benefits include health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.

The proposed salary for this position is:: $95,000 USD - $145,000 USD

At SMX, we are a team of technical and domain experts dedicated to enabling your mission. From priority national security initiatives for the DoD to highly assured and compliant solutions for healthcare, we understand that digital transformation is key to your future success.

We share your vision for the future and strive to accelerate your impact on the world. We bring both cutting edge technology and an expansive view of what’s possible to every engagement. Our delivery model and unique approaches harness our deep technical and domain knowledge, providing forward‑looking insights and practical solutions to power secure mission acceleration.

SMX is an Equal Opportunity employer including disabilities and veterans.

Selected applicant may be subject to a background investigation and/or education verification.

SMX does not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization or immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).