Junior Linux Systems Administrator

Utah State University•North Logan, UT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking a Junior Linux System Administrator to design, implement, secure, and maintain systems and associated applications, services, and components. This position is on-site, non-remote at our North Logan, UT location.

Requirements

Must have a bachelor's degree in a technical field (e.g., IT, computer science, information systems, engineering, or related field) with 0-10 years' experience or 5-15 years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree
Experience administering Linux systems (e.g., RHEL 7/8/9, Ubuntu 22/24)
Working knowledge of virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, VirtualBox), including VM provisioning and basic performance tuning
Familiarity with Linux security best practices, including system hardening and baseline compliance concepts
Familiarity with monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Elasticsearch, LogRhythm, Prometheus, Grafana) or similar enterprise monitoring platforms.
Proficient with package management tools (YUM, DNF, RPM, APT) and maintaining local or offline repositories
Familiarity with container concepts and basic experience with container tools such as Docker or Podman
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to document and collaborate effectively
Must be willing to travel when required (2-3 times annually)
Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance
Active CompTIA Security+ CE or equivalent certification that meets or exceeds DoD 8570 IAT Level II (or ability to obtain within a maximum of 30 days after hire)

Nice To Haves

Experience with automated deployment and infrastructure as code tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Terraform)
Hands-on experience with container platforms such (e.g., Kubernetes, OpenShift, Docker, or Podman)
Familiarity with databases (e.g., Postgres, MySQL) and Linux web services (e.g., Apache, Nginx)
Comprehensive knowledge of virtualization platforms such as Red Hat Virtualization (RHV), VMware vSphere, or KVM/QEMU, including VM provisioning, resource allocation, snapshots, and performance tuning
Proficiency in one or more scripting languages
Understanding of information systems security best practices, DoD security requirements, and use of security tools such as Nessus, SCAP, and applying STIGs
RHCSA and Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator certifications
Active DoD security clearance

Responsibilities

Achieves in-depth knowledge of company processes, systems, and networks
Proactively monitors assigned systems to ensure high availability, optimum performance, and security
Follows established IT policies and procedures to perform audits and ensure compliance
Ensures data integrity by implementing standard software and hardware solutions
Works with leaders to prioritize projects, requests, changes, and tasks
Assists in the maintenance and documentation of assigned systems and communicates progress through updates, workflow status, due dates, etc.
Assists in the installation and configuration of information systems and components
Assists with day-to-day operational maintenance, support, and upgrades
Implements and maintains Linux security hardening, patch management, user and permission administration, and compliance with security standards
Adheres to change management processes and ensures all changes are thoroughly tested prior to implementation
Collaborates with cross-functional teams, supports project implementations, and improves system architecture
Applies strong problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments, independently and as part of a team.
Performs maintenance on systems minimizing downtime and customer impact
Performs after-hours maintenance and provides on-call support, as needed