Senior Systems Administrator - (TS/SCI Clearance Required) Washington, DC

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Washington; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A cybersecurity and IT consulting firm is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to support SOC/NOC operations for a federal client in Washington, D.C. The role requires an active TS/SCI clearance and involves maintaining and securing Windows and Linux systems, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards, and supporting mission-critical environments. Ideal candidates will bring over 5 years of experience in systems administration and strong technical expertise in system management.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance is mandatory.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in systems administration.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity policies.

Responsibilities

• Administer and secure Windows and Linux systems.
• Perform daily system monitoring and maintenance.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues.

Skills

Windows Server

Linux

Active Directory

Group Policy

DNS/DHCP

Documentation skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or related discipline

Tools

ACAS

Tenable/Nessus

VMware

Hyper-V

Job description

Senior Systems Administrator - (TS/SCI Clearance Required)

Rapid Strategy is a premier cybersecurity and IT consulting firm delivering mission‑critical solutions to federal, defense, and commercial clients. We specialize in cybersecurity operations, network defense, and IT modernization, providing clients with secure, resilient, and high‑performing technology environments that align with their mission objectives.

We are seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to join our SOC/NOC operations team supporting a federal government client in Washington, D.C. This role requires an active TS/SCI clearance and offers an opportunity to directly contribute to safeguarding national security systems and infrastructure.

Position Overview

The Senior Systems Administrator will provide advanced system administration and maintenance for enterprise infrastructure supporting 24/7 SOC/NOC operations. The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise in server and endpoint management, patching, vulnerability remediation, and system monitoring within a secure federal environment.

You will be responsible for ensuring the availability, integrity, and reliability of mission systems, while implementing and enforcing cybersecurity best practices, federal configuration standards, and system performance optimization.

This position works closely with the Senior Systems Engineer, Network Operations, and Cybersecurity teams to deliver end‑to‑end operational excellence and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and secure Windows and Linux systems across the enterprise environment.
• Perform daily system monitoring, verifying integrity, availability, and performance of servers, systems, and key processes.
• Manage system configurations, updates, and security patching using enterprise tools and approved baselines.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues, escalating complex problems as needed.
• Support vulnerability management efforts leveraging ACAS, Tenable/Nessus, and other DoD‑approved tools.
• Ensure endpoint protection and compliance with DISA STIGs and RMF controls.
• Maintain and enforce system documentation, diagrams, and change control records.
• Assist in incident response efforts and provide after‑hours or on‑call support as needed.
• Collaborate with SOC/NOC personnel to monitor performance, address alerts, and optimize system uptime.
• Provide Tier 2/3 escalation support and mentor junior administrators on best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance (mandatory)
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in systems administration in secure or mission‑critical environments.
• Strong proficiency with Windows Server, Linux, Active Directory, Group Policy, and DNS/DHCP.
• Experience with ACAS, Tenable/Nessus, endpoint configuration, and vulnerability remediation.
• Working knowledge of STIGs, RMF, and DoD cybersecurity policies.
• Experience supporting systems within a SOC/NOC or 24x7 operations environment.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills, with the ability to brief technical findings to leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DoD or Intelligence Community IT systems.
• Familiarity with SIEM, EDR, and log aggregation platforms.
• Hands‑on experience with VMware, Hyper‑V, or cloud‑based virtualization environments.
• Certifications such as Security+, Linux+/RHCSA, MCSE, CASP+, or CISSP.
• Ability to obtain or maintain a DoD 8570 IAT Level II/III certification.

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