Job Title: SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR - SENIOR
Location: Reston, VA, telework will be acceptable after the program's start date
Time Type: Full-time
Clearance Requirement: Secret / Sensitivity Level: IT-I – Critical Sensitive (Tier 5/SSBI)/ High Risk
Employee Type: W2 or 1099
Citizenship: US Citizen, no Dual Citizenship
Job Description:
The Senior Systems Administrator at NexThreat ensures the stable operation of in-house computer software systems and network connections. This role involves planning, developing, installing, configuring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing all network software and communication links. The Senior Systems Administrator organizes and directs the configuration and operation of information management systems, analyzes and resolves end-user software and connectivity issues, and conducts capacity and performance analysis with actionable upgrade recommendations. The role emphasizes automation, standardization, training, cross-location support, and collaboration with security and network teams to maintain a secure, scalable, and highly available IT infrastructure.
Responsibilities:
· Ensure stable operation of in-house software systems and network connections by planning, developing, installing, configuring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing all network software and communication links.
· Lead the configuration and operation of information management systems across multiple locations, coordinating IT infrastructure activities to meet business needs.
· Analyze and resolve end-user software program and connectivity issues; provide timely incident response and root-cause analysis.
· Conduct capacity planning and performance analysis; propose system configuration changes and upgrade recommendations to improve reliability, security, and efficiency.
· Increase administrator efficiency through automation, scripting, and the development of standardized procedures; create and maintain runbooks and comprehensive documentation.
· Deliver end-user training and develop training materials to promote effective use of systems and applications.
· Provide technology direction aligned with business vision; participate in technology roadmaps and strategic initiatives.
· Provide local and remote maintenance support for operational systems deployed at multiple locations, including general maintenance, upgrades, and new installations of servers and applications.
· Direct, mentor, and coordinate the work of other system administrators to ensure day-to-day system administration, resource optimization, and user support.
· Apply advanced technical knowledge of application networking, including load balancing, fault tolerance, and high-availability configurations.
· Lead vulnerability management, including assessment, remediation, and compliance activities; collaborate with security teams to ensure secure, scalable infrastructure.
· Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize system performance, backups, disaster recovery planning, and change management processes.
· Evaluate and recommend automation tools, monitoring solutions, and best practices to reduce manual effort and improve reliability.
· Ensure adherence to IT policies, standards, and regulatory requirements as applicable to industry.
NexThreat is not just a place to work—it's a place to grow, innovate, and make an impact. As a small business, we pride ourselves on our agile approach to cybersecurity challenges. We specialize in detecting cyber threats and providing cutting-edge solutions to our clients. Join our team of cyber professionals who are at the forefront of defending critical infrastructure and ensuring the security of some of the nation’s most vital operations.
At NexThreat, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. We offer a dynamic and collaborative environment where every voice matters, and every team member can contribute meaningfully to our mission. We are committed to the professional development and well-being of our employees, offering competitive benefits that include 401K matching, health, vision, and dental insurance, paid leave and sick days, and a generous $5,000 vacation bonus after 5 years of service. We also have a referral program that rewards you for bringing talented professionals into our family.
Joining NexThreat means being part of a forward-thinking company that values innovation, integrity, and teamwork. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to take the next step, you'll find the support and opportunities you need to thrive with us.
Minimum Requirements:
BA/BS in a technical discipline with at least 10 years of specialized experience:
Specialized experience is defined as progressive experience in the field of Information Processing, where the majority are specialized in numerous Information Processing disciplines involving a range of hardware/software solutions, at least four years of which are concentrated, hand-on experience in installing, configuring, maintaining, and resolving issues with various software.
Certification Requirements:
IA Level: IAT II
One of the following Google Cloud Platform:
- Google Associate Cloud Engineer
- Google Professional Cloud Architect
Plus One of the following:
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Cloud Operations
- Red Hat Certified Engineer
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator
Desired SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR-SENIOR experience and skillset:
· Three (3) years hands-on experience supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) IT hosting solutions.
· Vast knowledge and experience with commercial cloud provider hosting solutions (i.e. Google, Microsoft Azure, AWS, OCI) and associated relevant industry certifications.
· Experience capacity planning and optimizing cloud hosted resources to maximize the business value of cloud technologies
· Experience integrating business programs and software solutions into hybrid cloud environments.
· Strong understanding of network architecture, security, and routing including virtual private clouds (VPC), load balancers, and firewalls.
· Expertise in diagnosing and resolving complex performance issues related to CPU, memory, disk I/O, and networking
· Strong understanding of DoD security compliance
· Experience in the area of cloud capacity planning and FinOps, analyzing requirements and providing a rightsized solution to meet performance and business requirements
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Proficiency in problem-solving and troubleshooting complex issues, with the ability to analyze problems, identify root causes, communicate to management and implement effective solutions in a timely manner.