Systems Administrator, Senior

The Systems Administrator, Senior manages and optimizes complex enterprise infrastructure spanning Windows and Linux servers, VMware environments, and cloud services that support mission‑critical government systems. The role leads major changes, automation, and incident response while ensuring performance, availability, and security remain within organizational and regulatory requirements. Key Responsibilities Administer heterogeneous server platforms and virtualization stacks (for example, VMware vSphere) for highly available workloads. Plan, test, and execute complex system changes such as OS upgrades, hypervisor updates, and configuration refactoring with clear rollback strategies and minimal downtime. Design and tune monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions to provide deep visibility into system performance, capacity, and security posture across on‑premises and cloud environments. Use scripting and automation (for example, PowerShell, Bash, Python) to standardize provisioning, configuration, patching, and recurring operational tasks. Implement and enforce security hardening, access controls, and backup and recovery procedures aligned with organizational and regulatory requirements. Lead high‑severity incident response, coordinate root‑cause analysis, and drive long‑term remediation and preventive improvements. Mentor junior staff, contribute to infrastructure roadmaps, and work within ITIL‑aligned incident, problem, and change processes. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience. Typically 8 or more years of experience in systems administration for Windows, Linux, or VMware environments in enterprise or government settings. Deep knowledge of operating systems (for example, Windows Server, Red Hat, or similar) and VMware vSphere/ESXi. Proficiency in scripting, system monitoring, patch management, and performance tuning. Strong troubleshooting, communication, and teamwork skills with the ability to manage multiple complex efforts. Preferred Qualifications Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Windows Server, RHCSA/RHCE, or VMware VCP. Experience applying ITIL practices and working in highly regulated federal environments.