System Administrator, Level 2

Independent Software; Maryland; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing training and mentorship

Competitive compensation

Generous benefits

Work-life balance

Job summary

Independent Software is seeking a System Administrator Level 2 in Maryland, United States. The role involves providing hands-on support for IT systems, troubleshooting, and ensuring system performance. Candidates should have strong experience in Linux environments, VMware architecture, and automation scripting. Benefits include competitive compensation, opportunities for training and mentorship, and an employee-first culture. A Bachelor's degree and relevant certifications are necessary, along with a TS SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Strong experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments.
• Experience designing, installing, configuring, and sustaining Linux‑based systems.
• Proficiency with automation and scripting for configuration management.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for the implementation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of IT systems.
• Manage daily configuration and operation of system infrastructure.
• Provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 problem identification and resolution.

Skills

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Automation and scripting (Bash, Perl)

VMware architecture

Troubleshooting in secure environments

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Tools

Puppet

VMware

Job description

Overview

As a System Administrator Level 2, you will provide hands‑on support for the implementation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization of enterprise IT systems supporting mission‑critical operations. You will manage system infrastructure, ensure system availability and performance, and support users through Tier 1 and Tier 2 incident resolution. This role requires deep technical expertise in Linux and Windows environments, virtualization platforms, automation, and secure system operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support for the implementation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of IT systems
• Manage daily configuration, operation, and sustainment of system infrastructure
• Provide Tier 1 (Help Desk) and Tier 2 (Escalation) problem identification, diagnosis, and resolution
• Support day‑to‑day operations, monitoring, and problem resolution for client, server, storage, network, and mobile devices
• Assist users in accessing and effectively using IT systems
• Support escalation efforts and communicate system status to agency management and internal customers
• Provide detailed analysis and feedback for escalated incidents and system issues
• Support dispatch systems and remain engaged through resolution of hardware and system problems
• Configure, manage, and maintain UNIX/Linux and Windows operating systems
• Install, load, and maintain operating system software and patches
• Implement operating system enhancements to improve system reliability, availability, and performance
• Optimize system operations, resource utilization, and perform capacity planning
• Troubleshoot complex system issues across hardware, software, and virtualized environment

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments
• Experience designing, installing, configuring, and sustaining Linux‑based systems
• Proficiency with automation and scripting for configuration management, backup, and restoration (e.g., Bash, Perl)
• Experience implementing and supporting OS‑level clustering solutions
• Hands‑on experience with Puppet for system administration and configuration management
• Experience installing and managing software using YUM repositories, RPM files, tarballs, and source code
• Experience researching, acquiring, and applying IAVA patches
• Strong proficiency using Unix/Linux command‑line tools
• Experience with VMware architecture, including installation and configuration
• Experience supporting VMware features such as VMotion, template libraries, failover, and monitoring
• Strong troubleshooting skills in secure or mission‑critical environments

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline from an accredited college or university
• Five (5) additional years of System Administrator experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a System Administrator supporting programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity
• Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise IT systems, virtualization platforms, and secure system operations

Certifications

• CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) – IAT Level II

Clearance Requirement

• Must possess an active TS SCI with appropriate Polygraph to be considered for this role

Benefits

At Independent Software, our people are the mission. We’ve built a company around collaboration, integrity, and innovation and we make sure our team has the tools and support to grow, succeed, and thrive.

• Support critical national security missions that matter
• Be part of a close‑knit, employee‑first culture where your voice is heard
• Expand your skills through ongoing training, mentorship, and career development
• Enjoy competitive compensation, generous benefits, and work‑life balance

Equal Opportunity Employer

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.