Senior Systems Administrator

We have an outstanding Contract position for a Senior Systems Administrator to join a leading Company located in the Herndon, VA surrounding area.

Pay Rate: $65.00/hr

We are seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to provide both hands-on systems administration and Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) for our enterprise infrastructure. You will administer, secure, assess, and remediate server and virtualization platforms to ensure they are configured and operated in accordance with project requirements and industry standards, working closely with engineering, operations, security, and project management teams.

Job Responsibilities:

• Administer and support enterprise server and virtualization infrastructure while planning, coordinating, and executing related IV&V activities.
• Install, configure, patch, troubleshoot, and maintain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Windows Server, Active Directory, and VMware vSphere environments.
• Develop and maintain IV&V processes, checklists, test plans, and documentation with full requirements traceability.
• Review system architectures, build standards, configurations, and deployments for compliance with requirements and standards.
• Independently assess server operating systems and virtualization platforms, including patching, access controls, logging and auditing, backup and recovery, performance, and security hardening.
• Run vulnerability and compliance scans, analyze results, validate security controls, and assess configuration baselines against applicable frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, DISA STIGs).
• Remediate identified vulnerabilities, configuration gaps, and non-conformities across supported systems; validate corrective actions through rescanning and technical testing.
• Develop and maintain system administration and IV&V documentation, including procedures, checklists, test plans, remediation records, and reports with requirements traceability.
• Prepare and present findings, risks, remediation status, and recommendations to stakeholders, and coordinate resolution of issues requiring cross-functional support.
• Use monitoring, configuration management, automation, and scripting tools to improve system reliability, security, and operational efficiency.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, security standards, and systems administration best practices; mentor junior staff and contribute to continuous improvement.

Basic Hiring Criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience as a Systems Administrator or Systems Engineer, including responsibility for security hardening, vulnerability remediation, or IV&V activities.
• Strong, hands-on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) administration experience (installation, configuration, patching, troubleshooting, security hardening, shell scripting).
• Strong, hands-on VMware vSphere administration experience (ESXi, vCenter, clusters, storage, VM lifecycle, troubleshooting, and performance management).
• Strong, hands-on Windows Server and Active Directory administration experience (server configuration, patching, Group Policy, security hardening, and troubleshooting).
• Demonstrated experience running vulnerability or compliance scans (e.g., Nessus, OpenSCAP), interpreting results, remediating findings, and validating closure.
• Proven experience conducting IV&V, audits, or independent assessments and producing clear technical and security documentation.
• Strong knowledge of security frameworks and configuration standards (e.g., NIST, ISO, CIS, DISA STIG), with the ability to translate findings into technical corrective actions.
• Experience with systems monitoring, configuration management, and automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Red Hat Satellite, PowerCLI, PowerShell, and shell scripting).
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Desired Qualifications:

• Red Hat certifications (RHCSA, RHCE), Microsoft Windows Server credentials, and/or VMware certifications (VCP-DCV).
• Security or audit certifications such as CISSP, Security+, CRISC, CSQA, or similar.
• Experience supporting enterprise infrastructure through the full vulnerability-management lifecycle, from scan preparation and evidence collection through remediation, validation, and reporting.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance