Sr Systems Engineer (Linux/Automation)

Leidos; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in Orlando, FL is seeking a cleared Senior Systems Engineer to design, deploy, and maintain secure RHEL infrastructure within DoD networks. You will own the automated provisioning pipeline end to end—from bare-metal and VM Kickstart configurations through enterprise-wide configuration management using Ansible and Bash.

The role emphasizes automation, compliance with DISA STIGs and RMF, and advanced scripting, with required Top Secret/SCI clearance, DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II/III, and RH

Qualifications

• BS degree required; 8+ years Linux system administration.
• DoD 8570/8140 IAT II or III certification.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Expert Python and Bash scripting.
• Experience with Ansible Playbooks and large inventories.
• Kickstart, PXE, and automated provisioning.
• Experience with RMF, STIGs and compliance automation.
• OpenShift/Kubernetes/Docker experience.
• Git/GitLab CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Automated Provisioning: Develop and maintain attended/unattended RHEL OS installations using Kickstart and PXE.
• Configuration Management: Write idempotent Ansible playbooks and roles to manage server infrastructure at scale.
• Scripting & Tooling: Build Bash automation scripts for initialization tasks, diagnostics, and integration glue.
• Security & Compliance: Enforce DISA STIGs and RMF standards via automated remediation scripts.
• System Lifecycle Support: Troubleshoot OS-level performance issues, manage patch lifecycles, and update runbooks.

Skills

Python

Bash

Automation

Scripting

Ansible

Kickstart

PXE boot

CI/CD

GitLab

RMF & STIG

Education

BS degree in a relevant field

Tools

OpenShift

Kubernetes

Docker

PXE Boot

Kickstart config

Red Hat Satellite

GitLab

Job description

Description

Position: Senior Systems Engineer (Linux / Automation)

Location: Orlando, FL (On-site)

Mission Overview

Leidos isseekinga cleared Senior Systems Engineer to design, deploy, andmaintainsecure Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) infrastructure within Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Navy/Air Force/Army (DoW) networks. This individual will own the automated provisioning pipeline end to end — from bare-metal and virtual machine Kickstart configurations through enterprise-wide configuration management using Ansible and Bash — ensuring systems are deployed consistently, securely, and in compliance with DoD standards.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Automated Provisioning:Develop andmaintainattended/unattended RHEL OS installations using advanced Kickstart configuration files and PXE boot environments.




• Configuration Management:Write andoptimizeidempotent Ansible playbooks, roles, and collections to manage server infrastructure at scale.




• Scripting & Tooling:Build robust Bash automation scripts for custom initialization tasks, local system diagnostics, and integration glue.




• Security & Compliance:Enforce Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and Risk Management Framework (RMF) standards using automated remediation scripts.




• System Lifecycle Support:Troubleshoot complex OS-level performance issues, manage package/patch lifecycles, and update technical documentation and operational runbooks.

REQUIRED Skills, Education, and Experience:

• Education/Experience:BS degree and 8+ years of enterprise Linux system administration and engineering experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.




• Certifications:DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II or III certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CISSP).




• Clearance:US Citizen; Currently possessing an Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance.




• Technical Stack:

  
  
  
  

  • Expertproficiencyin Python and Bash shell scripting for system administration.

  
  

  • Deep hands‑on experience with Ansible (Playbooks, Vault, and large‑scale inventories).

  
  

  • Proven capability in designing and troubleshooting automated Kickstart installation profiles.

  
  



• Compliance Knowledge:

  
  
  
  

  • Strong familiarity with NIST controls, RMF, and automated STIG validation.

  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Red Hat Certifications:Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation; Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) a plus.




• Enterprise Content Management:Experience administering Red Hat Satellite for patch, content, and subscription lifecycle management across large RHEL fleets.




• Extended Scripting:Working knowledge of Python in addition to Bash for automation and tooling beyond shell‑level scripting.




• Containerization:Familiarity with Red Hat OpenShift, Kubernetes, or Docker in DoD/DoWenvironments.




• CI/CD & Version Control:Experience with Git/GitLab and CI/CD pipelines to support infrastructure‑as‑code workflows.




• Cloud Environments:Exposure to automating RHEL workloads in AWS GovCloud or Azure Government.




• Compliance Automation:Hands‑on experience with SCAP Compliance Checker or Evaluate‑STIG for automated hardening and assessment.




• Advanced Certification:DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level III (CASP+, CISSP, or GCIH) in lieu of Level II.

Original Posting:

August 31, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.