Systems Administrator III

Trace3; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical / Dental / Vision

401(k) Match

Training programs

Office snacks

Job summary

Trace3 is seeking a System Administrator III to provide advanced system administration, maintenance, and support for government clients in Trace3’s Federal, State, and Local practice. You will ensure availability, performance, and security across on-premises and cloud environments, collaborating with engineering and cybersecurity teams to sustain mission-critical operations.

The role requires strong technical expertise, customer engagement, and experience in regulated environments, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in information technology.
• 8+ years of hands-on system administration experience.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity practices and vulnerability remediation.
• Ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. government clearance (Secret or higher).
• DoD 8570/8140 Baseline Certification (e.g., Security+, CCNA Security, CySA+).
• Experience with RMF, NIST 800-53, CMMC, or FedRAMP.

Responsibilities

• Administer, configure, and maintain Windows and Linux servers in production, staging, and development environments.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of system, network, and application issues.
• Monitor performance, availability, and capacity; implement optimizations.
• Manage patching, updates, and server lifecycle per government security requirements.
• Support AD, DNS, DHCP, and identity management; administer virtualization platforms (VMware/Hyper-V).
• Manage storage, backups, disaster recovery, and cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCC High).
• Provide Tier II/III support and create/runbooks; document procedures.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity and cloud teams to resolve cross-functional issues.
• Propose new technologies and automation opportunities to improve environments.
• Interact with government clients and stakeholders to gather requirements and report status.

Skills

System administration

Windows/Linux

Security practices

DoD 8570/8140

RMF/NIST 800-53

Certifications (MCSA/MCSE, VCP)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT or equivalent

Tools

VMware vSphere/ESXi

Hyper-V

Active Directory

Azure

AWS

Job description

Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to our clients. Equipped with elite engineering and dynamic innovation, we empower IT executives and their organizations to achieve competitive advantage through a process of Integrate, Automate, Innovate.

Our culture at Trace3 embodies the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business. Employees can grow their career and have fun while doing it!

Trace3 is headquartered in Irvine, California. We employ more than 1,200 people all over the United States. Our major field office locations include Denver, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Texas, San Francisco.

Ready to discover the possibilities that live in technology?

Come Join Us!

Street-Smart - Thriving in Dynamic Times

We are flexible and resilient in a fast-changing environment. We continuously innovate and drive constructive change while keeping a focus on the “big picture.” We exercise sound business judgment in making high-quality decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are highly creative and can dig deep within ourselves to find positive solutions to different problems.

Juice - The “Stuff” it takes to be a Needle Mover

We get things done and drive results. We lead without a title, empowering others through a can-do attitude. We look forward to the goal, mentallymapping outevery checkpoint on the pathway to success, and visualizing what the final destination looks and feels like.

Teamwork - Humble, Hungry and Smart

* This position can be either W2 Contract or FTE

JOB SUMMARY:

The System Administrator III provides advanced system administration, maintenance, and support for government clients within Trace3’s Federal, State, and Local practice. This role ensures the availability, performance, and security of IT infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. The administrator will manage and troubleshoot systems, implement security controls, support compliance requirements, and collaborate with engineering and cybersecurity teams to sustain mission‑critical operations. This position requires strong technical expertise, customer engagement skills, and the ability to work within regulated environments.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Systems Administration & Maintenance

• Administer, configure, and maintain Windows and/or Linux servers in production, staging, and development environments.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of system, network, and application issues.
• Monitor system performance, availability, and capacity; recommend and implement optimizations.
• Manage patching, updates, and server lifecycle tasks according to government security and compliance requirements.

Infrastructure Operations

• Support Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and identity management.
• Administer virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper-V).
• Manage storage systems, backup/recovery tools, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Support cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCC High) including provisioning, monitoring, and policy enforcement.

Operational Support

• Provide Tier II/III support for escalated service desk tickets and operational issues.
• Create and maintain system documentation, runbooks, and standard operating procedures.
• Support onboarding of new systems, services, and technologies.
• Collaborate with network engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering teams to resolve cross-functional issues.
• Participate in technical planning and deployment of infrastructure improvement projects.
• Interface with government clients, program managers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and provide status updates.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and automation opportunities to improve environments.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on system administration experience supporting Windows and/or Linux environments.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity practices, STIG/SCC tools, and vulnerability remediation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher as required).
• DoD 8570/8140 Baseline Certification (e.g., Security+, CCNA Security, CySA+, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting federal, state, local, or DoD client environments.
• Familiarity with RMF, NIST 800-53, CMMC, or FedRAMP compliance frameworks.
• Microsoft, VMware, AWS, or Azure technical certifications (MCSA/MCSE, VCP, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Administrator, etc.).
• Experience with automation/scripting (PowerShell, Bash, Python).
• Experience with configuration management (Ansible, SCCM/MECM, Chef, or Puppet).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Operate a computer, keyboard, and other office equipment using hands and fingers.
• Communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and through electronic means.
• Occasionally move about the office to access files, office equipment, and meeting spaces.
• Lift and/or move up to 15 pounds as needed.
• Maintain specific vision abilities, including close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position is performed within a secure, classified workspace. Employees must comply with all applicable security protocols and access control procedures, including restrictions on personal electronic devices and the handling of sensitive information.

Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors, including location, experience, skill set, performance, licensure and certification, and business needs. The range for this position in other geographic locations may differ. Certain positions may also be eligible for variable incentive compensation, such as bonuses or commissions, that is not included in the base salary.

$110,000 - $135,000 USD

The Perks

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match, 529 College Savings Plan, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability
• Competitive Compensation
• Training and development programs
• Major offices stocked with snacks and beverages
• Collaborative and cool culture
• Work-life balance and generous paid time off

Our Commitment

At the core of Trace3's DNA is our people. We are a diverse group of talented individuals who understand the importance of teamwork and demonstrating leadership, character, and passion in all that we do.

We’re committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to grow. We recognize that embracing diversity drives innovation, improves outcomes, fosters collaboration, boosts teammate satisfaction, and builds a more inclusive culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Trace3 bases all employment decisions based on individual qualifications, merit, and business requirements. We do not engage in discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Any demographic information provided is strictly voluntary, kept confidential in accordance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, and will not be used in employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, or mentorship programs. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process or participate in an interview, please email [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Trace3’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.