Principal Linux Systems Administrator

Leidos; Maryland; On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus $10,000

Paid time off

11 paid holidays

401(k) with 6% match

Flexible schedules

Education and training support

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Principal Linux Systems Administrator to support mission-critical production environments in a secure setting. The role emphasizes independent management, automation, security hardening, and system reliability across diverse Linux platforms.

The ideal candidate brings extensive Linux experience, strong networking skills, and the ability to drive root-cause analysis and improvements while adhering to change-management processes. A TS/SCI with polygraph is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• 15 years of directly related experience in complex programs and contracts.
• Extensive hands-on Linux systems administration experience (RHEL/Ubuntu or equivalent).
• Experience with Linux account/permission management, patching, services, and virtualization/cloud (VMware/AWS EC2).
• Strong networking knowledge (DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, routing, firewalls).
• Experience with Linux security hardening, vulnerability remediation, and change-control processes.
• Experience scripting/automation with Bash, Python, Ansible; strong documentation practices.
• Active TS/SCI with polygraph security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Administer, secure, monitor, and troubleshoot Linux systems supporting mission-critical workloads.
• Lead root-cause analysis of complex OS, app, storage, auth, performance, and network issues.
• Manage lifecycle activities: accounts, permissions, patching, packages, services, upgrades.
• Maintain compliance and security baselines; implement Linux hardening standards.
• Develop automation/configuration-management solutions (Ansible, Bash, Python).
• Document SOPs, runbooks, configurations, and change records.

Skills

Linux administration

Root-cause analysis

Networking fundamentals

Scripting (Bash/Python)

Automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Tools

Ansible

Python

Bash

Terraform

AWS EC2

Kubernetes

Splunk

Job description

Description

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Linux Systems Administrator in our Intelligence Sector's, Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management.

At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!

This position is eligible for a 10k Sign on Bonus!

Leidos is seeking a Principal Linux Systems Administrator to support the administration, security, reliability, and operational performance of mission-critical production environments. This position requires a highly experienced Linux systems professional capable of independently managing complex infrastructure, troubleshooting issues across multiple technology domains, and driving technical problems through root-cause analysis and resolution.

The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on Linux administration experience and is comfortable operating in secure, highly available environments using command-line tools, system logs, automation, and established change-management processes. The Principal Linux Systems Administrator will serve as a senior technical resource responsible for system configuration, automation, security hardening, vulnerability remediation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of Linux-based infrastructure and operational practices.

Primary Responsibilities

• Administer, configure, secure, monitor, and troubleshoot Linux systems supporting mission-critical production workloads.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex operating system, application, storage, authentication, performance, and network connectivity issues using Linux command-line tools, system logs, and monitoring platforms.
• Manage Linux system lifecycle activities including account and permission administration, patching, package management, software installation, service configuration, upgrades, and system maintenance.
• Maintain STE/STN Compliance: Ensure systems meet security and compliance standards. Implement and maintain system security controls, Linux hardening standards, vulnerability remediation, and configuration baselines in accordance with organizational and mission security requirements.
• Develop automation and configuration-management solutions using Ansible, Bash, Python, or comparable technologies to improve consistency, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, operational runbooks, system configurations, and change records supporting repeatable operations and knowledge transfer.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance for Linux infrastructure operations, system improvements, and problem resolution while identifying opportunities to improve availability, security, scalability, and maintainability.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Five (5) years of additional related experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
• Fifteen (15) years’ of directly related experience supporting programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required.
• Extensive hands-on Linux systems administration experience, including platforms such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu, or comparable enterprise Linux distributions, with demonstrated ability to independently support complex production environments.
• Experience with Linux account and permission management, package management, patching, system services, storage, authentication, process management, system configuration, and performance monitoring, including experience supporting Linux systems in virtualized or cloud-hosted environments such as VMware or AWS EC2.
• Strong knowledge of networking fundamentals including DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, IP addressing, ports, routing, and firewalls, with demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex Linux operating system, application, storage, authentication, performance, and connectivity issues using command-line utilities, system logs, and structured root-cause analysis.
• Experience with Linux security hardening, vulnerability remediation, configuration management, and formal change-control processes.
• Experience developing scripts and automation using Bash, Python, Ansible, or comparable technologies.
• Security Clearance Requirement: Active TS/SCI with polygraph.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced experience with Ansible for Linux configuration management, automation, provisioning, and repeatable system administration.
• Experience administering Linux infrastructure within AWS, including EC2 and associated monitoring and operational services.
• Experience with Git-based workflows for configuration management, automation, infrastructure changes, and technical documentation.
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code technologies such as Terraform or AWS CloudFormation.
• Experience supporting Kubernetes nodes, clusters, containerized platforms, or Linux infrastructure underlying container environments.
• Experience with monitoring, logging, and security platforms such as Splunk, Elastic, CloudWatch, SIEM solutions, and Nessus, including vulnerability identification and remediation.
• Experience administering Linux systems within secure government, Intelligence Community, DoD, or other highly regulated environments.

Pay Range

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

Original Posting

August 7, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay And Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Company Culture

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.