Linux System Administrator - By Light Professional IT Services LLC

Company Overview:

By Light has an opening for a Sr. Systems Administrator (Linux/Unix) position supporting the Army National Guard (ARNG) in Falls Church, VA. This is an IT Service Management contract in support of the operation, modernization, expansion, and further evolution of the ARNG’s global Information Technology (IT) services including networking, compute, storage, infrastructure, applications, hosting, and program management services.  The GECOS program supports the ARNG enterprise IT infrastructure, its Wide Area Network (WAN), authentication and directory services, cybersecurity, application hosting, and associated services. GECOS uses ITIL best practices framework as the basis for IT Service Management (ITSM) model.

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Linux System Administrator to support a government contract focused on operation and management of multiple LINUX data systems. The successful candidate will be responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and optimization of Linux-based systems. This position will require close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including developers, network engineers, and security personnel, to ensure the systems meet operational, security, and performance standards.

Responsibilities:

• Install, configure, and maintain Linux-based operating systems and related software.
• Set up and manage servers, storage systems, and virtual environments.
• Monitor and maintain Linux servers, ensuring high availability and optimal performance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve system issues, hardware failures, and software conflicts.
• Perform routine system updates, patches, and security upgrades.
• Implement and enforce security policies, practices, and best practices for Linux systems.
• Ensure systems are compliant with government standards and regulations (e.g., NIST, FISMA).
• Monitor system security logs and respond to vulnerabilities or incidents.
• Manage and schedule system backups.
• Assist with disaster recovery planning and testing, ensuring critical data and services are protected.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts (e.g., Bash, Python) to streamline repetitive tasks and improve system efficiency.
• Implement system monitoring tools (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix) for proactive issue detection and reporting.
• Analyze system performance and apply optimizations to ensure reliability and efficiency.
• Provide recommendations for hardware upgrades or configuration changes as necessary.
• Work with cross-functional teams (e.g., network engineers, security officers) to integrate and maintain systems.
• Maintain detailed documentation on system configurations, procedures, and incident resolutions.
• Participate in code reviews, system audits, and internal team meetings.

Required Experience/Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Linux System Administrator in a government or similar highly-regulated environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with Red Hat, CentOS, Ubuntu, or other Linux distributions.
• Expertise in shell scripting and automation tools (e.g., Bash, Python, Ansible, Puppet).
• In-depth knowledge of Linux-based operating systems (installation, configuration, administration).
• Experience with system monitoring, performance tuning, and troubleshooting tools.
• Familiarity with network configurations, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, and VPNs in a Linux environment.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, KVM, Docker).
• Strong understanding of Linux security principles (e.g., SELinux, firewalls, auditing).
• Familiarity with security tools and protocols such as SSH, OpenSSL, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.
• Experience with vulnerability scanning and remediation.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent work experience).

Preferred Experience/Qualifications:

• Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC-1, LPIC-2), Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), or similar Linux certifications.
• Possess the appropriate computing environment (CE) training/certification to meet DoD 8570.01-M requirements.
• Possess the appropriate baseline certifications to achieve DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II.
• Prior experience working on government contracts, particularly in environments subject to compliance standards like NIST, FISMA, or FedRAMP.
• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure) and container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Strong communication skills to interact with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Problem-solving mindset with an ability to diagnose complex issues and implement effective solutions.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and compliance with government regulations.

Special Requirements/Security Clearance:

• Active  Secret security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one.
• The role may involve participation in on-call support rotation.