Linux Systems Administrator

Savannah River National Laboratory•Aiken, SC

About The Position

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is seeking a Linux Systems Administrator to develop and manage scientific modeling infrastructure that supports the laboratory’s mission of innovation and growth. The successful candidate will be an experienced Linux systems administrator who can work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The role supports institutional and programmatic customers across multiple laboratory locations and involves a wide range of system administration activities for servers and workstations. The administrator will architect, deploy, maintain, and optimize Linux systems and related infrastructure for high-performance computing workloads. This includes managing virtualization, authentication, configuration management, storage, backups, and automated provisioning. The role also includes leading projects from planning through deployment, documentation, and user training; evaluating tools and methodologies; providing technical and architectural guidance; and collaborating with and mentoring team members.

Requirements

At least 4 years of Linux experience, ideally including large-scale file-system administration and support.
Must meet eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain a security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Advanced vendor certification such as RHCSA, RHCE, VMware, or storage certification.
Familiarity with resource scheduling managers such as Slurm, Moab, or LSF.
Experience with configuration-management and automation tools, preferably Ansible.
Experience customizing and security-hardening operating systems using DISA STIG, CIS, or similar standards.
Demonstrated scripting experience with Python, Bash, Perl, or similar languages.
Experience with containers such as Docker.
Extensive understanding of operating systems, computer networks, and scientific modeling applications.
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment and contribute to shared goals.
Strong interpersonal, customer-relations, and problem-management skills.
Experience with project and process planning.
Ability to thoroughly document processes, procedures, and technical workflows, mentor team members, and foster knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

Architect scalable, reliable Linux systems for HPC workloads, with attention to performance and long-term maintainability.
Install, configure, and manage Linux servers and desktops across mixed environments, ensuring compatibility and integration across operating systems.
Administer and optimize virtualization platforms such as VMware, KVM, and Proxmox.
Troubleshoot and improve infrastructure using knowledge of system architecture, network protocols, and client/server principles.
Write scripts in Bash, Python, or other programming languages to automate recurring administrative tasks and improve operational efficiency.
Deploy, image, and centrally manage Linux systems using enterprise tools such as Foreman, Kickstart, and MAAS.
Configure, maintain, and optimize authentication systems such as LDAP, Active Directory, and Kerberos.
Manage configuration-management platforms such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef for centralized configuration control and automated updates.
Lead projects from initial planning through deployment, documentation, and user training, aligning deliverables with organizational objectives and best practices.
Provide technical expertise and architectural direction to resolve complex software and hardware issues in a heterogeneous computing environment.
Design and manage storage platforms, including SAN, NAS, or object storage, and enterprise backup systems to meet redundancy, performance, and disaster-recovery needs.
Evaluate new tools and methodologies, document findings, and present recommendations for adoption and implementation.
Communicate technical insights clearly and build positive relationships with users, team members, and stakeholders.
Mentor junior team members, participate in collaborative troubleshooting, and implement automation and process improvements to increase team productivity.