Junior System Administrator

Diné Development Corporation • Quantico, VA

6d

About The Position

The Junior System Administrator operates, maintains, and protects on-premises server, storage, and virtualization environments across classified and unclassified networks. Working under the direction of senior system administrators, the role monitors enterprise services, performs routine physical server and virtual machine administration, runs and verifies backups, and maintains system documentation. The position supports on-premises backup, recovery, and continuity of operations (COOP) capabilities that keep mission information available at primary and alternate locations.

The administrator works with Red Hat Linux and Windows servers, VMware virtual machines and hosts, storage area networks (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS), and Commvault or similar backup tools. The role also supports recovery planning, testing, and service restoration at alternate operating locations. No cloud administration is required.

The position requires at least three years of specialized system administration experience in Federal/Department of War (DoW) environments. A bachelor’s degree in IT Management, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related discipline is required, although equivalent professional experience will also be considered. An active Top Secret (TS) clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and the specified CompTIA certification(s) are required. Salary range: $58,000 to $89,000.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of specialized system administration experience in Federal/Department of War (DoW) environments.
• Specific expertise in server platforms such as Red Hat Linux, virtualization platforms such as VMware, and backup applications such as Commvault.
• Bachelor’s degree in IT Management, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), which must be maintained.
• CompTIA Server+ CE, Security+ CE, and/or Cloud+ CE certification required.
• Expert-level knowledge of server platforms, virtualization platforms, and backup applications.
• Expert-level knowledge of backup and recovery and business continuity/disaster recovery practices for a highly distributed enterprise, including restoration of services at an alternate site.
• Knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, SP 800-34 Rev. 1, SP 800-209, and DAF COOP planning guidance (DAFI 10-208).

Nice To Haves

• Security+ CE is preferred because it also meets DoD 8140 requirements for system administrator access.
• Red Hat Certified System Administrator certification.
• Windows Server Administrator certification.
• VMware Certified Professional (Data Center) certification.
• Commvault Certified Professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Administer, patch, and maintain Red Hat Linux and Windows servers and VMware virtual machines across classified and unclassified domains.
• Monitor services such as Active Directory, DHCP, and authentication daily using centralized management tools; resolve or escalate availability and performance issues.
• Support on-premises SAN and NAS operations, including capacity monitoring and allocation.
• Run scheduled backups of mission-critical data and infrastructure configurations using Commvault or similar tools, verify completion, and remediate failures.
• Perform quarterly data recovery tests and real-world restores, and record results in the recovery history.
• Help develop and maintain on-premises backup, recovery, and business continuity/disaster recovery plans aligned with NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 and SP 800-34 Rev. 1.
• Support restoration of enterprise services at alternate operating locations during COOP exercises and real-world events, ready for implementation within 24 hours of notification.
• Install, configure, and maintain physical servers, storage arrays, and VMware hosts; coordinate hardware repairs and replacements with vendors.
• Collect virtual machine and host performance and capacity data to support right-sizing and hardware recommendations.
• Implement approved changes through the configuration and change management process and update system baselines and diagrams.
• Maintain standard operating procedures, configuration records, and ticket histories, and escalate complex issues to senior administrators.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Life and disability coverage
• Retirement savings with company match
• Paid time off
• Voluntary supplemental benefits
• Access to an employee assistance program
• Educational assistance with tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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