SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

M&S Consulting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

M&S Consulting is seeking an experienced System Administrator to own the build-out, security, and day-to-day operation of stand-alone, air-gapped development and integration networks in the Washington, DC metro area. You will rack and configure hardware, stand up core services, and manage patching and vulnerability remediation in a no-internet environment.

This is a direct-hire, long-term role with M&S Consulting, LLC, a Women-Owned HUBZone-certified small business headquartered in Morgantown,

Qualifications

• Top Secret clearance required and SCI eligibility.
• 5+ years in system administration.
• Air-gapped networks with no internet access.
• Experience with Linux and Windows servers.
• Ability to implement security controls and patching.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and admin networks and related computing environments.
• Configure air-gapped development and integration networks.
• Install and configure core network services (DNS, NTP, DHCP).
• Install and configure web/application servers.
• Perform system installation, configuration, and maintenance of servers and stand-alone networks.
• Apply OS, hardware, software, and security updates and patches.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments and security audits.
• Ensure network security and compliance with regulations.
• Configure and deploy virtual machines as needed.
• Document setup and maintain logs and tickets.

Skills

System administration

Shell scripting

Linux administration

Windows administration

Network security

Education

Certifications (Security+, RHCSA/RHCE, CCNA)

Tools

Cisco

Juniper

VMware

Proxmox

KVM

Nessus

Job description

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

Full-Time | On-Site | Washington, D.C. Metro Area

Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required | Start date: September 28, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY

Position Title: System Administrator

Security Clearance: Must have Top Secret (TS) clearance and the ability to obtain SCI.

Location: On-site — Washington, D.C. metro area (occasional domestic travel possible)

Employment Type: Full-time, direct hire with M&S Consulting, LLC

Start Date: September 28, 2026

ABOUT THE ROLE

M&S Consulting is seeking an experienced System Administrator to own the build‑out, security, and day‑to‑day operation of stand‑alone, air‑gapped development and integration networks. You will rack and configure hardware, stand up core network services, administer Linux and Windows servers, manage patching and vulnerability remediation, and keep the environment fully documented and compliant. This is a hands‑on role for someone who is comfortable being the go‑to administrator for a classified, no‑internet environment and who works well alongside data engineers and stakeholders.

This is a direct-hire, long‑term position. M&S Consulting is a Women-Owned, HUBZone-certified small business headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
• Configure and set up stand‑alone development and integration networks with no internet access.
• Install hardware in racks and configure core network services such as DNS, NTP, DHCP, and related protocols.
• Install and configure web services and Java application servers.
• Perform system installation, configuration, and maintenance of server hardware, software, and stand‑alone networks.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, network, and system problems; replace defective components as needed.
• Regularly and promptly apply operating system, hardware, software, and security updates and patches.
• Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and security audits in coordination with program leadership and information‑system security staff, and support required system documentation.
• Ensure network security and configuration and maintain compliance with applicable security regulations, requirements, and controls.
• Perform and maintain system backups; assist with contingency planning and disaster‑recovery strategies.
• Configure and deploy virtual machines based on project needs.
• Serve as backup for configuration of user accounts, permissions, and security controls.
• Document system setup; maintain ticketing and wiki systems; manage network, maintenance, and repair logs; analyze system metrics.
• Recommend improvements to system and network configurations and identify related hardware or software requirements.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and communicate system changes clearly.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Clearance: Must have Top Secret (TS) clearance and the ability to obtain SCI.
• At least 5 years of experience in a System Administration role.
• Ability to configure and set up air‑gapped networks with no internet access.
• Knowledge of managed network appliances, switches, routers, firewalls, and time code systems.
• Ability to manage startup scripts and other automated systems within the Linux operating system platform.
• Experience writing shell scripts and modifying existing shell scripts.
• Understanding of RAID and other redundancy techniques.
• Must excel in a collaborative, team environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience administering both Linux and Windows servers in a classified or stand‑alone environment.
• Familiarity with STIG compliance, vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., Nessus), and system authorization (ATO) processes.
• Hands‑on experience with enterprise network hardware (e.g., Cisco, Juniper) and virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware, Proxmox, KVM).
• Experience with web/application server stacks (Apache, Nginx, Tomcat, or similar).
• Relevant certifications such as Security+, RHCSA/RHCE, CCNA, or Linux+.
• Prior experience in a cleared environment.

WHY M&S CONSULTING

• Direct-hire, long‑term stability.
• Small‑company culture with direct access to leadership and real ownership of your work.
• Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage, retirement plan, and paid time off.
• Meaningful work in a cleared environment.

M&S Consulting, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. U.S. citizenship and an active security clearance are required for this position.