Systems Administrator II - HPC Support

TAP Engineering LLC; Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 83,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off: 15–25 days

Retirement: Up to 15% employer 401(k)

Medical Coverage: Free employee health

Dental & Vision: Employer-paid

Insurance Coverage: Life, AD&D, disa

FSAs: Healthcare & dependent care

Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $36,000/​

Travel support

Performance bonuses

Referral bonuses

Job summary

TAP Engineering LLC in Annapolis Junction, MD seeks a System Administrator II to support HPC environments across multi-vendor servers, storage, and network infrastructure. The role blends Linux/Unix administration with hands-on storage support and troubleshooting in a challenging technical landscape.

The ideal candidate will have an active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph, DoD 8570 IAT II certification, and 5+ years of relevant experience (or 10+ years without a degree).

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph (most recent poly within last 7 years)
• DoD 8570 IAT II certification
• Bachelor's degree or 10+ years of relevant experience without degree
• Strong experience with Linux/Unix system administration
• Hands-on storage experience and OS/configuration expertise
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking and HPC tech like InfiniBand/Slingshot
• Experience with Bash scripting and software installation/compilation
• Familiarity with HPC environments and related tooling (Slurm, etc.)
• Excellent troubleshooting and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot Linux/Unix OS
• Support enterprise storage systems including configuration and monitoring
• Manage file systems, configurations, software installs and OS upgrades
• Monitor and troubleshoot servers, storage, and network components
• Diagnose Tier 1–2 issues and escalate complex problems
• Support HPC networking tech such as InfiniBand and Slingshot
• Develop and maintain Bash scripts to automate tasks
• Compile and maintain software within Linux environments
• Optimize performance and storage capacity; assist with capacity planning
• Maintain clear technical documentation and communicate status to stakeholders
• Collaborate with engineers to improve reliability and efficiency

Skills

Linux/Unix admin

TCP/IP networking

Bash scripting

Collaboration skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent with 5+ years experience

10+ years of relevant experience without a degree

Tools

Slurm

Salt

Ansible

Git

Jira

Confluence

Grafana

Prometheus

Nagios

Job description

Position Overview

TAP Engineering is seeking a System Administrator II in Annapolis Junction, Maryland to support the operation, performance, and reliability of high-performance computing (HPC) environments spanning multi-vendor servers, clusters, storage, and network infrastructure. This role combines Linux/Unix administration with hands‑on storage support and troubleshooting across a complex technical environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Linux and Unix operating systems
• Support enterprise storage systems, including configuration, maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting
• Manage file systems, system configurations, software installations, and operating system upgrades
• Monitor and troubleshoot servers, storage, network components, and related IT infrastructure
• Diagnose and resolve Tier 1 and Tier 2 technical issues and escalating complex problems as needed
• Support TCP/IP networking and high‑speed HPC technologies such as InfiniBand and Slingshot
• Develop and maintain Bash scripts to automate system administration and operational tasks
• Compile, install, and maintain software and applications within Linux environments
• Optimize system performance, resource utilization, and storage capacity
• Assist with capacity planning and infrastructure growth
• Maintain clear technical documentation and communicate system status and issues to stakeholders
• Collaborate with engineers and technical teams to improve system reliability and operational efficiency

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with appropriate polygraph (most recent poly within the last 7 years)
• DoD 8570 IAT II certification
• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline or related field and 5+ years of experience, or 10+ years of relevant experience without a degree
• Strong experience with Linux and/or Unix system administration
• Experience with OS installation, file system configuration, software installation, and application troubleshooting
• Hands‑on technical storage experience
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking
• Experience with Bash scripting, software compilation, and installation
• Understanding of HPC architectures and environments
• Familiarity with high‑speed networking technologies such as InfiniBand and Slingshot
• Familiarity with tools such as Slurm, Salt, Ansible, Git, Jira, Confluence, Grafana, Prometheus, and Nagios
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to diagnose unique issues across complex systems
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $83,000–$113,000, based on relevant experience, qualifications, and other applicable factors. The compensation range provided is a general guideline and is not a guarantee of compensation or salary.

Clearance Requirement

This position requires an active TS/SCI security clearance with appropriate polygraph. Clearance processing and maintenance will be conducted in accordance with U.S. Government requirements.

Benefits Overview

TAP Engineering offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Paid Time Off: 15–25 days annually based on tenure, plus 11 paid holidays (never use-or-lose)
• Retirement: Up to 15% employer contribution to a 401(k) through match and profit sharing
• Medical Coverage: Free medical insurance for employees, with optional buy-up plans for dependents
• Dental & Vision: Employer-paid plans with optional enhancements
• Insurance Coverage: Employer-paid life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare and dependent care FSAs
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $36,000 per year for approved coursework
• Additional Benefits: Employee Assistance Program, wellness incentives, discount programs, virtual care, prescription savings, and travel support
• Performance-Based Rewards: Merit increases, performance bonuses, and referral bonuses

Additional Information

TAP Engineering is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.