Systems Engineer Sr - E3

Standard Job Description

This role focuses on the design, operation, and evolution of Linux infrastructure that underpins critical mission operations. You’ll architect and maintain Linux environments spanning on-premises data centers ensuring high availability, security, and performance. The position sits at the intersection of systems architecture, automation, and collaboration with software teams to deliver stable, scalable solutions. Day-to-day activities include designing and deploying Linux servers using standard distributions and configuration standards; authoring and maintaining automation and orchestration scripts to streamline provisioning, patching, and remediation at scale; troubleshooting complex system-level issues across kernels, networking, and storage stacks. You’ll integrate security baselines into configuration management and infrastructure-as-code pipelines, interpret scan results to prioritize and close vulnerabilities, and verify that systems meet audit, accreditation, and continuous-monitoring requirements. Collaborating with cybersecurity and risk teams, you’ll translate STIG controls into actionable system configurations, scripts, and automated workflows, maintaining a resilient and compliant Linux fleet across on-premises and cloud environments. This position bridges systems engineering and cybersecurity operations, requiring expert-level Linux administration, automation proficiency, and a commitment to upholding rigorous security postures in support of mission-critical objectives.

The information below reflects the standard job description for this position:

Performs technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. Analyses are performed at all levels of total system product to include: concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal. Ensures the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. Performs functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.

Basic Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance
• 5+ years of progressive system administration experience managing Linux-based servers and workstations in enterprise environments (RHEL, Ubuntu, etc.)
• Advanced proficiency in shell scripting and automation using Bash, Python, or Perl to streamline deployment, configuration, and routine operations
• Deep expertise in user/group permission management, filesystem administration, and storage integration (NFS, SAN, etc.)
• Strong grounding in networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, firewalls) and ability to troubleshoot connectivity and performance issues across Linux hosts
• Proven track record in system security hardening, patch management, and compliance with frameworks such as CIS, NIST, or SCAP
• Hands‑on experience with configuration‑management tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef, or SaltStack) and monitoring/observability stacks (Prometheus + Grafana, PRTG, Aria)
• Demonstrated ability to tune kernel parameters, analyze performance bottlenecks, and optimize resource utilization in multi‑node or clustered setups

Desired Skills

• Advanced proficiency in infrastructure‑as‑code and automation at scale using tools like Ansible Tower for configuration management and program-wide deployments
• Proven experience designing and implementing highly available, fault‑tolerant architectures (clusters, load balancers, DR strategies) with minimal downtime
• Expert‑level kernel tuning, performance analysis, and optimization using perf, bpftrace, eBPF, sar, and custom monitoring dashboards (Prometheus + Grafana, PRTG, Aria)
• Strong background in containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift) and integrating Linux hosts into modern CI/CD pipelines and GitOps workflows
• Demonstrated leadership in security hardening, zero‑trust principles, and compliance with frameworks for Linux environments
• Active contribution to open‑source projects, kernel tuning initiatives, or internal tooling that improves operational efficiency and system reliability
• Experience mentoring junior engineers, driving runbooks, and establishing best‑practice documentation and knowledge‑sharing frameworks across teams
• Relevant advanced certifications (RHCA, LFCS, CKAD, RHCE) or a track record of publishing technical blogs, whitepapers, or conference talks on Linux systems engineering