Journeyman Systems Administrator

Saalex • Ridgecrest, CA

2d • $36 - $38 • Onsite

About The Position

Saalex is seeking a Journeyman Systems Administrator in Ridgecrest, CA. Saalex is an Engineering and Information Technology Services company with a focus on Test Range Operations and Management, Engineering and Logistics Services, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence Services and Information Technology Services.

Are you an experienced Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) looking for high-impact technical work paired with the flexibility of a part-time schedule? At Saalex Solutions, we support vital Department of Defense tactical training systems and test range capabilities. We are actively seeking a Senior Red Hat & Cloud Systems Administrator—while targeting a Senior, motivated Journeyman-level professionals with the right mindset, strong technical foundation, and drive to grow are strongly encouraged to apply! In this role, you will help maintain, automate, and modernize mission-critical systems across hybrid enterprise environments—bridging on-premise high-performance Linux enclaves with AWS cloud architectures. This position offers the ideal blend of high technical autonomy, cutting-edge DevSecOps tooling, and a flexible 20–25 hour workweek.

Requirements

• Active Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).
• Active DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE, CCNA Security, CySA+, or equivalent).
• Practical experience with core AWS services (VPC, EC2, S3, IAM) and scripting/automation tools (Bash, Python, Ansible, or Terraform).
• Familiarity with DISA STIGs, SCAP compliance tools, and vulnerability remediation.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with 3–5 years of hands-on Linux system administration experience, OR 3–5+ years of practical Linux experience with requisite certifications.
• Must possess an active Secret clearance with the ability to gain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.
• US Citizenship required for security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator.
• Hands-on experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes/OpenShift).
• Prior experience supporting Navy/DoD test range facilities (NAWCWD China Lake / Point Mugu or similar SSA environments).
• Familiarity with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence) or enterprise Git repositories.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on administration, hardening, and automation across both classified and unclassified environments.
• Deploy, configure, and administer multi-distribution Linux environments (primarily Red Hat Enterprise Linux [RHEL], CentOS, and Ubuntu) supporting real-time servers, lab environments, and field engineering workstations.
• Support, deploy, and maintain scalable AWS infrastructure utilizing VPC, EC2, EBS, S3, IAM, CloudWatch, RDS, and EFS.
• Automate routine provisioning, configuration, and deployments using Ansible, Terraform, or AWS CloudFormation.
• Apply DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), evaluate Nessus/ACAS scan findings, and remediate vulnerabilities in alignment with DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) controls.
• Support and maintain continuous integration/continuous deployment pipelines (GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline) to enable reliable, secure software releases.
• Proactively monitor server health, perform root-cause analysis on system alerts, and troubleshoot network routing (TCP/IP, DNS, firewalls, and load balancing).
• Administer user accounts, role-based privileges, and group security policies in accordance with DoD and Navy cybersecurity directives.
• Participate in Agile/Scrum sprint coordination, providing dependable infrastructure and deployment support to software developers, test engineers, and cyber leads.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• True Work-Life Flexibility: Guaranteed 20–25 hours per week with adaptable scheduling around core operational windows.
• Alternate Fridays Off (9/80 Schedule): Enjoy standard three-day weekends every other week.
• Modern Tooling & Autonomy: Drive technical solutions across AWS cloud infrastructure, modern CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code automation.
• Direct Mission Impact: Support real-time systems essential to naval air warfare test ranges and national defense readiness.
• Continuous Growth & Mentorship: Full sponsorship for DoD cyber credentials, technical training, and professional development units (CEUs) to help you advance your career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level