Systems Administrator - Network Security

avav; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 91,000 - 138,750; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a System Administrator to design, implement, and manage complex networks and security controls across on-premises and cloud environments.

The role emphasizes firewall administration, patch management, vulnerability scanning, and incident response to maintain mission-critical systems in a dynamic IT setting. Collaboration with security, engineering, and operations teams is essential for successful IT infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; equivalent work experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of experience in system/network administration, depending on educational background.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain complex network infrastructures (LAN, WAN, cloud-based).
• Configure and manage firewalls (Palo Alto, Cisco) and enforce security policies.
• Perform cybersecurity mitigation tasks: patch management, vulnerability scanning, log analysis, incident response.
• Install, configure, and maintain hardware (servers, routers, switches, firewalls).
• OS and application software updates, system tuning, performance optimization.
• Monitor system and network performance and troubleshoot issues for high availability.
• Document configurations, procedures, and changes per IT policies.
• Collaborate with security, engineering, and operations on IT infra projects.
• Ensure compliance with internal security policies and best practices.
• Work with a team to design and assemble systems.
• Understand current hardware offerings from major vendors.
• Configure and install new hardware systems.

Skills

Network design

Firewall administration

Cybersecurity principles

Windows/Linux servers

Virtualization

Monitoring/logging

Scripting (PowerShell/Bash)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/CS or related field

Tools

Palo Alto

Cisco

VMware

Hyper-V

Job description

Worker Type: Regular

Job Description

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled System Administrator with hands‑on experience in engineering and managing complex networks, configuring firewalls, implementing cybersecurity mitigation strategies, and maintaining both hardware and software infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation and a proactive mindset to support and secure mission‑critical systems in a dynamic IT environment. This candidate should also be comfortable in unknown situations that may require out of the box thinking.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain complex network infrastructures, including LAN, WAN, and cloud‑based networks.
• Configure and manage firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto, Cisco) and enforce network security policies.
• Perform cybersecurity mitigation tasks, including patch management, vulnerability scanning, log analysis, and incident response.
• Install, configure, and maintain hardware (servers, routers, switches, firewalls, etc.).
• Perform OS and application software updates, system tuning, and performance optimization.
• Monitor system and network performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure high availability and reliability.
• Document system configurations, procedures, and changes in accordance with IT policies.
• Collaborate with security, engineering, and operations teams to implement IT infrastructure projects.
• Ensure compliance with internal security policies and industry best practices.
• Work with a team to design and assembly systems.
• Understand current hardware offerings from major vendors.
• Configure and Install new hardware systems.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; equivalent work experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of experience in system/network administration, depending on educational background.

Technical Skills

• Strong experience with network design and configuration (TCP/IP, VLANs, VPNs, DNS, DHCP).
• Proficiency with firewall administration and network access controls.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, common threats, and mitigation strategies.
• Experience with Windows and/or Linux server environments.
• Familiarity with virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware, Hyper‑V).
• Experience with monitoring and logging tools.
• Scripting skills (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) are a plus.

Certifications (preferred but not required)

• CompTIA Security+, Network+, CySA+
• Cisco CCNA/CCNP
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or similar
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Soft Skills

• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills
• Effective communication and documentation abilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Detail‑oriented and security‑focused mindset

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is: $91,000 - $138,750

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

EEO Statement

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.