Senior IT Systems Administrator

Standard Calibrations, Inc.; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Standard Calibrations, Inc. is seeking a Senior IT Systems Administrator to join a hands-on IT team in Chesapeake, VA.

You will co-lead technical initiatives, own patching and vulnerability management, and drive security and compliance programs across on-premises and cloud environments. You will administer Active Directory and Entra identities, monitor systems, support M365/Azure migrations, and contribute to a Zero Trust security posture while enabling business continuity and modernization

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT/Networking/Security or related field with 5–8 years of IT systems administration experience.
• Experience leading patching/remediation workflows independently.
• Experience with AD/Entra, SSO/IdP, Windows and Linux servers, and endpoint security.
• Familiarity with M365, Azure, and hybrid cloud transitions.
• Strong written and verbal communication; technical documentation proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Own patching and vulnerability management lifecycle across Windows, Linux, and Mac; run scans, remediate via cloud and local tools, report to IT Director.
• Lead Security & Compliance efforts (CMMC/NIST 800-171); support policy updates, audits, and documentation.
• Administer and harden Active Directory and cloud Entra identity management per CIS benchmarks.
• Configure and maintain monitoring and alerting across Windows, Linux, VMware, and Azure systems.
• Administer TrueNAS-based file storage; support backup, data protection, and DR planning.
• Contribute to least-privilege access model and Zero Trust implementation.
• Support data handling procedures and integrate Box/SharePoint/Google Drive reporting.
• Assist with firewall administration (Cisco Firepower, Azure Firewall) and network security.

Skills

Patching & remediation leadership

Security fundamentals

Network & system monitoring

Azure & M365 administration

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/Networking/Security

Tools

OpenVAS

Tenable Nessus

Nagios

CheckMK

Cisco Firepower

Job description

We’re hiring a full-time Senior IT Systems Administrator to serve as a senior technical contributor and operation leader within our small, hands-on IT team. This role operates as a co-primary technical resource alongside the IT Director, providing ownership of critical systems and acting as a backup/escalation point for engineering and security operations. This position is ideal for a highly capable administrator who is comfortable being a technical leader and playing a key role in security, compliance (CMMC), infrastructure modernization and managing multiple important systems. You’ll help shape the company’s cybersecurity posture, drive operational stability, and support cloud migration efforts in a dynamic and growing industry-sector environment.

Why Join Us?

• Collaborate directly with the IT Director in a mentoring, high-impact environment.
• Work on a range of initiatives from legacy modernization to cloud implementation.
• Play a key role in strengthening operational IT security in the industrial sector.
• Join a rapidly growing company that values technical expertise, ownership, and practical results.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the patching and vulnerability management lifecycle across Windows, Linux, and Mac environments. This includes operating vulnerability scans, prioritizing and remediating vulnerabilities via cloud (InTune) and local network tools, and submitting reports to the Director of IT.
• Security & Compliance (CMMC / NIST 800-171 focus) – play a lead technical role in CMMC level 2 compliance efforts. Support documentation, policy updates and implementation, audit readiness and ongoing compliance tasks.
• Administer and harden Active Directory and cloud Entra identity management in alignment with CIS benchmarks.
• Configure and maintain monitoring and alerting across Windows, Linux, VMWare, and Azure systems.
• Administer TrueNAS-based file storage systems.
• Perform Linux server orchestration, administration and updates.
• Support backup / data protection systems and contribute to business continuity/disaster recovery plans.
• Contribute to implementation and enforcement of a least-privilege access model across systems according to Zero Trust principles.
• Assist with secure data handling procedures, administer and configure reporting for file storage/sharing platforms such as Box, Sharepoint and Google Drive.
• Share Endpoint Detection and Response security administration duties.
• Support Microsoft 365 and Azure administration.
• Contribute to the ongoing migration from on-premises tools to a fully collaborative M365 environment.
• Apply working knowledge of networking principles in maintaining Cisco switches and routers and UniFi equipment.
• Assist with firewall administration and configuration (Cisco Firepower, Azure Firewall preferred).
• Assist with the company-wide Security Awareness Training.
• Assist with supporting IP telephony and collaboration tools (Cisco, Webex, MS Teams)
• Understand NIST 800-171 requirements and support implementation of security best practices; familiarity with CMMC is a plus.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Networking, Security, or related field along with 5–8 years of experience (or equivalent related experience in lieu of a degree) in IT systems administration of mid-sized environments. A mid-sized environment in our case refers to over 100 active users and a heterogeneous mix of Windows and Mac workstations as well as Windows and Linux servers.
• Proven ability to lead patching/remediation workflows independently. Experience with scanners such as OpenVAS, Tenable Nessus or similar is a plus.
• Experience supporting Active Directory, Modern SSO and IdP systems, Windows and Linux servers, and endpoint security systems.
• Understanding of Linux systems in support of patching and troubleshooting.
• Understanding of and ZFS-based filesystems for NAS storage and redundancy.
• Familiarity with M365, Azure, and hybrid cloud transition work.
• Competence in system monitoring and alerting tools (Nagios, CheckMK, or equivalents).
• Experience supporting Cisco-based networks (routing/switching) and firewalls.
• Strong understanding of security fundamentals and practical application of NIST frameworks.
• Knowledge of industry regulations such as CMMC and experience with policy authoring/refinement.
• Solid communication skills and ability to write clear technical documentation.

Preferred Certifications

• Microsoft: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) or equivalent experience
• CompTIA: Security+ or Linux+, optionally Network+
• Cisco: CCNA or evidence of hands-on network support
• VMware: VCP or prior experience with ESXi environments and/or other hypervisors
• ISC2: SSCP, CISSP interest

Other Requirements

• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen.
• Must be able to pass a background check for potential CUI access.

Safety

It is SCI’s policy to require safe operations and practices from all employees and to ensure our management team focuses on maintaining a safe working environment even while working in hazardous work environments.

Appearance

While a work-appropriate casual wardrobe is usually acceptable, as this role is customer facing at all levels of SCI, business casual or better in attire may be required.

Physical Requirement

• Ability to lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds (with equipment, as needed)
• Bending/squatting/kneeling/stooping/crouching

AAP/EEO Requirements

Standard Calibrations, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.