Senior System Administrator I

Rocket Lab Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time

Paid parental leave

Other discounts and perks

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Senior System Administrator I to manage classified IT infrastructure on-site. The role requires TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and hands-on work with Windows/Linux servers, VMware, Docker, and security tooling.

You will collaborate with ISSOs and engineering teams to design secure solutions and document architecture and incident response. The position emphasizes security compliance, readiness for high-stakes environments, and potential up to

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen with a current Tier 5 investigation and active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• 2nd item placeholder
• 5+ years of experience & a Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience (9+ years total).
• Must possess DoD 8140 Intermediate or Advanced certification (e.g. Security+, Cloud+, CISSP, CISM, CEH, or equivalent).
• Strong working knowledge of security frameworks: NIST 800-53, STIGs.
• Hands-on experience with Windows Server, Linux (Ubuntu/RHEL), VMware vSphere, Docker, FortiGate/FortiOS, Cisco IOS, ACAS, Splunk, Trellix.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% (occasional overnight).

Responsibilities

• Deploy and administer classified IT infrastructure, to include endpoints, servers, and network devices
• Monitor systems, respond to incidents, and proactively optimize performance and security posture
• Implement and maintain hardened system configurations using STIGs and NIST 800-53 controls
• Collaborate with ISSO/ISSM/ISSE and engineering teams to architect secure solutions and gather system requirements
• Develop and maintain documentation of asset management, procedures, system architecture, and incident response

Skills

Top Secret/SCI clearance with poly

Security frameworks

NIST 800-53 & STIGs

Windows Server

Linux (Ubuntu/RHEL)

VMware vSphere

Docker

FortiGate/FortiOS

Cisco IOS

ACAS

Splunk

Trellix

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience

Tools

PowerShell

Bash

Python

Ansible

Job description

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SENIOR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR I - TS/SCI CLEARANCE

Based onsite at Rocket Lab's Chantilly, VA Facility, the System Administrator will support and manage critical, classified IT infrastructure within a secure environment. This role involves deploying and maintaining essential computer systems while ensuring full compliance with strict security requirements. You’ll be working closely with security personnel and engineering teams. The position is vital to sustaining the high-stakes infrastructure behind launch systems, spacecraft development, and national security programs, requiring strong attention to detail, a sense of urgency, and a commitment to operational excellence.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Deploy and administer classified IT infrastructure, to include endpoints, servers, and network devices
• Monitor systems, respond to incidents, and proactively optimize performance and security posture
• Implement and maintain hardened system configurations using STIGs and NIST 800-53 controls
• Collaborate with ISSO/ISSM/ISSE and engineering teams to architect secure solutions and gather system requirements
• Develop and maintain documentation of asset management, procedures, system architecture, and incident response

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with a current Tier 5 investigation (formerly SSBI) and must maintain an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph, as required by program sponsor(s)
• 5+ years of experience & a Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience (9+ years of total work experience).
• Must possess DoD 8140 Intermediate or Advanced certification (e.g. Security+, Cloud+, CISSP, CISM, CEH, or equivalent)
• Strong working knowledge of security frameworks: NIST 800-53, STIGs.
• Hands-on experience with: Windows Server, Linux (Ubuntu/RHEL), VMware vSphere, Docker, FortiGate/FortiOS, Cisco IOS, ACAS, Splunk, Trellix
• Willingness to travel up to 20% (occasional overnight), work extended hours and weekends as mission requires

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with NIST RMF, ISO 27001 Security frameworks.
• Master's degree in IT, Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field
• Specialist/advanced certifications in area of expertise (e.g., RHCSA, CCNP, GCIH, CISSP etc.)
• Experience with scripting/automation tools including PowerShell, Bash, Python, and Ansible
• Experience as an ISSO, ISSE, or ISSM
• Strong understanding of networking protocols including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLAN (802.1Q), and routing protocols (BGP, OSPF)

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the state of Virginia’s pay transparency requirements. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience.

Base salary is only one part of Rocket Lab’s compensation package for this role. You may be eligible for company stock, or cash incentives, and can purchase discounted stock through Rocket Lab’s Employee Stock Purchase Program.

• medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan options
• paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• paid parental leave
• other discounts and perks

Base Pay Range (VA Only)

$100,000 - $130,000 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.