Senior Classified Systems Administrator - Linux RHEL

About the role

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Install, configure, test, operate, maintain, and manage networks and their firewalls, including hardware and software that permit the sharing and transmission of all spectrum transmissions of information to support the security of information and information systems.
• Maintain and update documentation, including standard operating procedures, network drawings, and configuration documentation.
• Develop project plans, architecture diagrams, requirements documentation, test plans, change requests, and communication to users.
• Conduct reviews and technical inspections to identify and mitigate potential security weaknesses, and ensure security compliance is implemented and all necessary systems are functional.
• Provide resolutions to an assortment of customer defined problems of moderately complex scope. using knowledge and resources to diagnose and resolve basic technical issues.
• Escalate issues that extend beyond Tier II level of support as needed.
• Performs software patching, system deployment, license management, hardware and software management, and lifecycle management.
• Work closely with the Information Assurance group to ensure system accreditation process is followed including maintenance of standard operating procedures, network drawings and configuration documentation.
• Coordinate with senior personnel and IT management of all risks impacting IT related services including but not limited to: power outages, environmental changes, natural disasters, employee accident or deliberate acts, maintenance or third party vendor actions.
• Develops, tests, systems specifications and requirements, by evaluating, verifying, and validating of technical, functional, and performance of systems.
• Assist and mentor team members.
• Leads IT projects related to implementing new technology solutions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills/Abilities
• Knowledge of systems administration or networking administration.
• Knowledge of LDAP, Active Directory, WSUS, VMware, Veeam (or equivalent), Nessus, or Splunk.
• Knowledge of security technologies and architecture, including encryption, network security, firewall configuration, intrusion detection.
• Proficiency working with Windows operating systems, including  Windows 10, Windows Server 2016 Server, Windows Server 2019 .
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and multi task.
• Ability to work efficiently and independently with minimal supervision.
• Self motivated to meet important deadlines.
• Knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following regulations: JAFAN 6/9, NISPOM, JSIG, CNSSI 1253, NIST, RMF, and ICD 503. 
Education
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology or related field required.
• Master's Degree in Information Technology or related field preferred.
• Security+ and/or CISSP certification.
Experience
7-10 years experienced in systems administration or networking administration.

Additional Job Description:

Applicants selected for this position require an active government Secret security clearance.

• 3-5  years building, deploying, and managing containers with rootless Podman (or comparable runtimes).
• Expert‑level Ansible (playbooks, roles, collections) for large‑scale infrastructure.
• Hands‑on experience with Nexus Repository Manager (Docker, Maven, NuGet, raw).
• Knowledge of Packer for immutable image creation (VM, container, cloud).
• Production deployment and operation of HashiCorp Vault (dynamic secrets, policies, auth methods).
• Design, implement, and maintain robust GitLab CI/CD pipelines (including runners, caching, and security scanning).
• Proven experience deploying, managing, and troubleshooting production Kubernetes clusters; comfortable with Helm, custom resources, and networking.
• Ability to design and evaluate end‑to‑end platform architectures, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security across all layers.
• Strong Linux administration (systemd, networking, security hardening) and comfort with rootless container environments.
• Demonstrated track record of reducing manual toil through code‑driven processes and tooling.

Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.

Job Location - City:

Cambridge

Job Location - State:

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is

$95,000.00 - $245,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.  Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected].