Senior Windows Administrator

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic classified environment? Do you want to be empowered to take ownership of enterprise active directory domain infrastructure and have a direct impact on the reliability, performance, and security of critically important systems? Are you interested in working with a wide range of technologies, building supervising solutions from the ground up, and helping drive operational excellence across complex infrastructure environments? If so, we’re looking for someone like you to join our team at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), consistently ranked by Computerworld as one of the Top Places to Work in IT. We are seeking a Senior Windows Systems Administrator to support and secure enterprise systems within a Department of Defense (DoD) environment. This role is responsible for endpoint management, Active Directory administration, and thorough security compliance aligned with DISA STIGs and RMF requirements. The ideal candidate has deep experience with MECM, strong automation skills, and a consistent record operating in highly regulated environments.

Requirements

5–10+ years of experience administering Windows Server and enterprise desktop environments
Proven experience running MECM/SCCM in large, secure environments
Advanced expertise in Active Directory, including GPOs, DNS, and identity/access management
Hands-on experience implementing and maintaining DISA STIG compliance
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities in high-security environments
Self-directed with strong ownership mentality and the ability to prioritize and complete tasks in low-supervision environments.
Ability to work independently and lead technical initiatives
Clear verbal and written communication skills, especially in documenting compliance and audit artifacts
Thorough with a strong focus on security, accountability, and process adherence
Active CompTIA Security+ certification (DoD 8570/8140 compliant) required
Hold an active Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting DoD or federal government systems
Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, or KVM)
Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and secure automation pipelines
Additional certifications (e.g., Microsoft, CISSP, CASP+)

Responsibilities

Lead small teams and drive technical initiatives, successfully delivering complex projects with minimal supervision in a mission-critical environment.
Deploy, configure, and sustain Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM/SCCM) for enterprise device management in a DoD environment.
Administer Active Directory infrastructure, including advanced Group Policy design, enforcement, and troubleshooting.
Implement, validate, and maintain DISA STIG compliance across Windows servers and endpoints.
Lead the planning and execution of complex infrastructure and endpoint management projects with minimal supervision.
Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, SOPs, and compliance artifacts.