SERVER LEAD

IGNITE; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

IGNITE in Huntsville, AL seeks a Server Lead to direct administration and lifecycle support for server and virtualization environments. The role focuses on secure, highly available systems for classified and unclassified missions, with on-site requirements and strong leadership responsibilities.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years of systems admin experience, VMware expertise, and DoD-aligned qualifications. Travel and after-hours support may be required as part of mission-critical operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior/lead systems administration experience.
• Experience directing technical activities and long-term planning.
• Expert in installing and hardening server OS and infra software.
• Experience leading secure, high-availability enterprise operations.
• VMware virtualization and Windows/Linux administration expertise.
• Knowledge of OpenShift/container infra, VDI, AD/federation, storage, backups, monitoring, patching, STIGs.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems administration across classified and unclassified networks.
• Mentor administrators, review changes, supervise performance.
• Install, configure, harden, patch, monitor, and sustain servers and VMs.
• Ensure 24/7 availability, capacity planning, and performance.
• Coordinate with network, cybersecurity, and architecture teams.
• Manage backups, DR planning, and incident response.

Skills

VMware virtualization

Windows administration

Linux administration

Leadership

Incident response

Security best practices

On-site support

DoD 8140/DCWF-aligned qualification

Education

MA/MS

BA/BS with 12+ years experience

Tools

OpenShift

Kubernetes

Podman

Docker

Ansible

Quay/Harbor

Horizon

Windows Server

SQL Server

IIS

PowerShell

Job description

Job Description

Igniters operate in the world’s most demanding environment. Igniters are self-motivated, mission-driven, and relentless in solving the Warfighters’ hardest problems. We move fast, think differently, and execute with precision to tackle high-stakes challenges across AI/ML, space and missile defense intelligence, EMSO, advanced analytics, and programmatic domains. As an employee-owned SDVOSB headquartered in Huntsville, AL, our team delivers mission-critical impact for the Army, Air Force, Space Force, MDA, NASA, DIA, and FBI.

Job Description

Igniters operate in the world’s most demanding environment. Igniters are self-motivated, mission-driven, and relentless in solving the Warfighters’ hardest problems. We move fast, think differently, and execute with precision to tackle high-stakes challenges across AI/ML, space and missile defense intelligence, EMSO, advanced analytics, and programmatic domains. As an employee‑owned SDVOSB headquartered in Huntsville, AL, our team delivers mission-critical impact for the Army, Air Force, Space Force, MDA, NASA, DIA, and FBI.

Ignite exists to outpace the threat and deliver results that matter in the moments that count.

Ignite is currently seeking a driven Server Lead to join our team supporting the U.S. Army on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. This position is expected to be onsite. The Server Lead will direct administration, sustainment, hardening, availability, backup, and lifecycle support for server and virtualization environments. The environment includes VMware ESXi, vCenter, vSAN, VCF, virtual machines and appliances, Red Hat OpenShift, VDI, Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, storage, and related enterprise services.

The Server Lead will assign and oversee systems‑administration work, ensure long‑term operational requirements are incorporated into planning, and maintain secure and highly available systems supporting classified and unclassified missions.

This position is pending contract award.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Lead systems administration and maintenance across separate classified and unclassified networks.
• Assign work, mentor administrators, review changes, and evaluate technical performance.
• Install, configure, harden, patch, monitor, tune, troubleshoot, and sustain servers, hypervisors, VMs, appliances, VDI, and container platforms.
• Maintain system availability, integrity, capacity, recoverability, and performance on a 24/7 basis.
• Plan and execute approved upgrades, maintenance windows, firmware updates, and lifecycle replacements.
• Maintain hardware/software baselines, configuration records, SOPs, audit evidence, and system documentation.
• Coordinate with network, cybersecurity, application, service desk, and architecture teams to resolve incidents and vulnerabilities.
• Operate and validate backups, replication, restorations, RPOs, RTOs, disaster recovery, and COOP reconstitution.
• Support user orientation, testing, higher‑headquarters implementations, and Government technical reviews.
  

Job Requirements

Job Requirements And Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant systems‑administration experience at the Senior/Lead level.
• Experience assigning personnel, directing technical activities, evaluating work, and planning long‑term systems operations.
• Expert experience installing, maintaining, configuring, hardening, troubleshooting, and improving server operating systems and infrastructure software.
• Experience leading secure, high‑availability enterprise server operations and after‑hours incident response.
• Expert knowledge of VMware virtualization and enterprise Windows/Linux administration.
• Knowledge of OpenShift/container infrastructure, VDI, Active Directory/federation, storage, backup, monitoring, patching, STIGs, and vulnerability remediation.
• Ability to lead personnel with privileged access and maintain accurate configurations, SOPs, records, and change controls.
• Ability to provide on‑site and after‑hours support for mission‑critical systems.
• CompTIA Security+ is required.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• VMware ESXi, vCenter, vSAN, SDDC Manager/VCF, Aria for Logs, Horizon/Omnissa, and related platforms.
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CoreOS, OpenShift, Kubernetes, Podman, Docker, Ansible, Quay/Harbor, and Linux services.
• Windows Server, SQL Server, IIS, WSUS, PowerShell, backups, storage, and enterprise monitoring.
• Cohesity, Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, Data Domain, VMware Replication, NFS/SMB, vProxy, DD Boost, NDMP, REST APIs, and S3-compatible storage.
• DoD 8140/DCWF-aligned qualification; SecurityX (CASP+), CCSP, or equivalent preferred.
• Current VMware, Red Hat, Microsoft, or equivalent platform certification is preferred.
  

Security Clearance Requirements

Must have an active DoD Secret Clearance (TS/SCI and SAP eligible)

Education Requirements

• MA/MS.
• Permitted substitution: BA/BS with 12 or more years of relevant experience.