Principal Systems Administrator (Linux & Windows) with Security Clearance

Five Stones Research Corporation; Sierra Vista (AZ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Matching

Company Events

Dental Insurance

Employee Recognition Programs

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Performance Incentives

Student Loan Repayment

Tuition Reimbursement

Vision Insurance

Job summary

Five Stones Research Corporation is seeking a Principal Systems Administrator to lead MECM/SCCM and Windows/Linux server administration at Fort Huachuca, AZ. The role demands DoD security clearance readiness, strong OS deployment skills, and robust automation via PowerShell.

You will manage AD, GPOs, DNS/DHCP, and backup/hypervisor infrastructure while ensuring compliance with DISA STIGs and SRGs. A mix of on-site responsibilities and DoD lab operations characterizes this position.

Qualifications

• Requires a Master’s degree or Bachelor’s with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in mixed Linux (RHEL) and Windows enterprise environments.
• 2+ years of MECM/SCCM administration in enterprise or lab settings.
• Active DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II baseline certification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary MECM/SCCM admin, ensuring infrastructure and client health across enclaves.
• Engineer and maintain OS deployment task sequences and golden images.
• Package and automate Windows software updates and configurations.
• Administer AD DS, GPOs, DNS, DHCP, and RBAC across environments.
• Maintain Linux and Windows servers, and hypervisor/storage infra (Nutanix, VMware).
• Monitor security via STIGs/SRGs and perform vulnerability remediation.

Skills

MECM/SCCM administration

Windows & Linux admin

PowerShell scripting

Active Directory & GPO

Security compliance (STIG/SRG)

Communication & documentation

Education

Master's degree in a relevant technical field

Bachelor's degree + 4+ years experience

Associate's degree + 6+ years experience

Tools

MECM / SCCM

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

VMware ESXi

Nutanix AHV

Job description

Principal Systems Administrator (Linux & Windows) Position Overview Type: Full-Time Location: Fort Huachuca, AZ Travel: None expected Clearance: Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance. Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship required Summary/Objective Five Stones Research Corporation (5SRC) is seeking energetic candidates to join our established and growing Huntsville-headquartered team. Essential Functions Endpoint Lifecycle Management & MECM/SCCM Administration

• Serve as the primary administrator for Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM / SCCM), managing infrastructure health, site systems, distribution points, and client agent health across all connected enclaves.
• Engineer, test, deploy, and maintain standardized Windows Operating System Deployment (OSD) task sequences and baseline golden images.
• Package, test, distribute, and automate application installations, scripts, and software updates across heterogeneous lab and hosting workstations and servers.
• Manage and orchestrate enterprise-wide software update distribution using Software Update Points (SUP) integrated with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
• Create and deploy custom compliance baselines and configuration items (CIs) to enforce security settings, STIG configurations, registry keys, and audit controls.
• Develop custom MECM queries, device collections, and reports (SSRS) to provide real-time hardware/software inventory, asset discovery, and compliance auditing. Systems Administration (Linux & Windows)
• Administer, build, configure, and maintain physical and virtual Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) servers, modern Windows Servers (2019/2022), and Windows 10/11 workstations.
• Manage core directory and identity infrastructure, including Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), Group Policy Objects (GPOs), DNS, DHCP, and role-based access control.
• Troubleshoot and maintain enterprise Linux services, including SE Linux policies/security contexts, daemon services (systemd, chronyd), file systems (/opt, logical volumes), and local package managers.
• Maintain hypervisor and storage infrastructure, including Nutanix, VMware ESXi/vCenter, and enterprise backup/restore solutions (e.g., Cohesity, snapshots).
• Support basic multi-tier database hosting and connectivity for Oracle and Microsoft SQL server backends.
• Process, approve, and maintain user access documentation and account provisioning via DD Form 2875 and identity management systems.
• Issue, configure, and troubleshoot Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates, CAC authentication, and secure remote protocols across all client and server endpoints. Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Management & Compliance
• Maintain strict system security posture in compliance with Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and Security Requirements Guides (SRGs).
• Execute, review, and analyze weekly Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS / Tenable Nessus) vulnerability scans and monthly STIG evaluations.
• Rapidly remediate identified CVEs, IAVM alerts, CTO/DTO directives, and vendor patches across both Windows and Linux fleets.
• Draft, track, and update Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) for items requiring architectural mitigations or extended test schedules.
• Maintain endpoint security agents across all hosts, including Trellix/ePO agents, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and application whitelisting tools (e.g., fapolicyd).
• Monitor and analyze system, security, and application logs using SIEM and centralized log management tools (e.g., LogRhythm, Elastic Fleet). Required Qualifications:
• One of the following combinations of education and experience:
• Requires a Master's degree
• Bachelor's degree with at least 4 years of experience
• Associate's and at least 6 years of experience.
• One year of experience can be substituted by 15 semester hours completed towards a Master's degree. Additional certifications (other than those required for the position) in the area of specialization be substituted for experience but varies by certification. The degree must be in a relevant technical curriculum and experience must be related to the job duties.
• Minimum of 3-5+ years of hands‑on systems administration experience across mixed Linux (RHEL) and Windows enterprise server/workstation environments.
• Minimum of 2+ years of dedicated, hands‑on administration of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM / SCCM) in an enterprise or lab environment.
• Active DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II Baseline Certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE, CCNA Security, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, or SSCP).
• Relevant computing environment (CE) / vendor training or certification in Microsoft Windows Server/MECM or Red Hat Enterprise Linux (or ability to complete within 6 months of hire). Preferred Qualifications:
• Demonstrable proficiency configuring, operating, and troubleshooting MECM/SCCM (OSD, application packaging, software update deployments, collection management).
• Strong working knowledge of Linux administration, specifically Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CLI troubleshooting, package management, daemon tuning, and SELinux enforcement.
• Solid experience with Windows Server (2019/2022) administration, Active Directory, GPO authoring/troubleshooting, and DNS.
• Experience with DoD vulnerability and compliance tooling: ACAS (Tenable/Nessus), SCAP Compliance Checker (SCC), and STIG Viewer (.ckl generation).
• Understanding of enterprise backup technologies, bare-metal server recovery, and hypervisor virtualization (Nutanix AHV, VMware).
• Excellent written communication skills for authoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), weekly status reports, and technical troubleshooting documentation.
• Prior experience administering systems within DoD enterprise testing facilities, operational lab environments, or defense staging enclaves.
• Proficiency with PowerShell scripting and Linux Shell (Bash) scripting to automate routine administration, reporting, and deployment tasks.
• Hands‑on experience managing and troubleshooting enterprise backup appliances (e.g., Cohesity) and application whitelisting tools (e.g., fapolicyd).
• Familiarity with Elastic Agent/Fleet management, LogRhythm, or enterprise SIEM architectures.
• Basic understanding of perimeter network components (firewalls, VPNs, F5 BIG‑IP load balancers) and cloud hosting environments (AWS GovCloud). What We Offer:
• 401(k) Matching
• Company Events
• Dental Insurance
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• Performance Incentives
• Student Loan Repayment
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Vision Insurance

Vision Insurance This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 business days. If a candidate has not been selected at that time, it will continue to be posted until a suitable candidate is selected or the position is closed. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran