Senior Linux Systems Administrator New Long Beach, California, United States

Vast Space Llc.; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 123,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Lunch subsidized

Job summary

Vast Space Llc. in Long Beach seeks a Senior Linux Systems Administrator to design, deploy, and maintain Linux workstations and servers across our growing infrastructure. You will develop Ubuntu images, implement Puppet, and resolve escalated Tier 2/3 issues to ensure scalable, secure operations.

This full-time, exempt role reports to the Manager of IT System Administrators and involves collaborating with developers and cross-functional teams in a hardware-rich environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional Linux system administration experience with Ubuntu or Debian-based systems.
• 3+ years of hands-on Puppet in production environments.
• Proficient in Bash or Python scripting.
• 2 years of Git experience.
• Knowledge of infrastructure-as-code tools and cloud platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and maintain Puppet manifests and modules for system configuration.
• Create and maintain standardized Ubuntu imaging processes.
• Troubleshoot advanced system and application issues (Tier 2/3).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on workstation improvements and patching.
• Automate infrastructure and deployment tasks using Terraform or similar tools.
• Support identity and access management systems (LDAP/AD).
• Document best practices and configurations.

Skills

Linux system administration

Performance tuning

Automation

Bash scripting

Python scripting

Git

Tools

Puppet

Terraform

Ansible

LDAP/Active Directory

Docker/Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Senior Linux Systems Administrator, reporting to the Manager of IT System Administrators, to play a key role in designing, deploying, and maintaining Vast's Linux workstations and servers. You will be responsible for configuration management using Puppet, development of Ubuntu workstation images, supporting hardware and software developers, as well as resolving complex technical issues escalated from Tier 2 support. Your contributions will ensure scalable, secure, and efficient workstation & infrastructure operations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and maintain Puppet manifests and modules for system configuration and compliance
• Create and maintain standardized Ubuntu imaging processes
• Troubleshoot and resolve advanced system and application issues (Tier 2 & 3)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support ongoing workstation improvements and patching
• Assist with automation of infrastructure and deployment tasks using Terraform or similar tools
• Contribute to identity and access management systems, including LDAP / Active Directory integration
• Assist with support for hardware and software developers
• Document best practices, system configurations, and procedures

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in Linux system administration (Ubuntu or Debian-based preferred), performance tuning, and automation.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience with Puppet in production environments
• Proficient in scripting languages such as Bash or Python
• 2 years Experience with Git

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Ansible, etc.)
• Exposure to LDAP or Active Directory integration for authentication and authorization
• Experience with physical server hardware, including racking, cabling, and maintaining rack‑mounted servers
• Experience in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Experience with monitoring, logging, and metrics collection tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack)
• 2 years experience with K8s or docker
• Understanding of security compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, FIPS, CIS)

Pay Range: California

$123,000 - $174,600 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full‑time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• Generous paid time off
• Up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non‑exempt staff with the ability to cash‑out unused vacation annually
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• Other discounts and perks
• Exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
• Lunch subsidized

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.