Senior System Administrator

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced System Administrator to support mission‑critical IT infrastructure within a defense contracting environment. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in cloud technologies relevant to a regulated environment. Having a strong comprehension of security, compliance, and operational requirements common to defense and government settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage cloud services (AWS, Azure, or GCP) including provisioning, monitoring, and cost control aligned with program requirements.
• Experience managing, maintaining, and optimizing Windows and Linux (RHEL preferred) environments.
• Experience with containerized environments i.e. Docker and Kubernetes
• Configure, maintain, and secure network devices, firewalls, VPNs, and segmented networks used in controlled environments.
• Conduct system patching, updates, hardening, and continuous monitoring to meet security and compliance standards.
• Implement and maintain technical controls aligned with frameworks commonly used in defense contracting (e.g., ITAR, NIST, DFARS)
• Assist with identity and access management, including privileged access workflows.
• Troubleshoot system, network, and application issues to ensure continuity of operations.
• Support disaster recovery planning, contingency procedures, and backup strategies required for mission assurance.
• Collaborate with security, compliance, and engineering teams to ensure system readiness and adherence to program requirements.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in comparable environments
• Professional experience supporting systems within defense, federal, or other highly secure environments.
• Expertise in virtualization technologies and cloud platforms.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols, routing, switching, and secure network design.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles, secure configuration, and compliance standards common in defense contracts.
• Proficiency in Windows and Linux administration.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work within structured processes and controlled change environments.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting systems tied to government programs or regulated technical environments.
• Familiarity with automation tools such as PowerShell, Bash, Ansible, or Terraform.
• Relevant certifications such as AWS Dev Ops, AWS Solutions Architect, Google Professional Cloud Architect, Azure DevOps, Azure Solutions Architect.
• Relevant security certifications would be a plus.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

_{The California annual base salary for this role is currently $97,000 - $154,000.  Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.}