System Administrator (Clearance Required)
Kroll · Washington, DC, United States ·
- Work mode
- Onsite
- Category
- Devops
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Visa sponsorship
- No
- Company size
- 1000+
- Salary
- USD 100,000 – 150,000
Location: Fort Meade, MD
Clearance Required: Top Secret/SCI with Active Full Scope Polygraph
We are seeking an experienced Linux-focused System Administrator (Level 2) to support a mission-critical program within the Intelligence Community at Fort Meade, MD. This is an on-site position in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) environment requiring a TS/SCI clearance with an active Full Scope Polygraph prior to consideration. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day administration, security compliance, and operational health of complex Linux-based infrastructure spanning virtualized environments, container platforms, and classified networked systems.
The SA Level 2 operates with a high degree of independence and serves as a technical authority on Linux systems engineering, PKI/cryptographic policy enforcement, storage management, IP networking, and security compliance. This role carries significant responsibility for System Security Plan (SSP) maintenance, STIG implementation, and supporting Secure Telephone Equipment/Network (STE/STN) infrastructure within a heavily regulated RMF/NIST framework.
Key Responsibilities:
Linux Systems Administration
Administer, configure, harden, and maintain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Rocky Linux, and/or CentOS Stream server environments
Apply and maintain DISA STIG configurations using OpenSCAP and other SCAP-compliant tooling; remediate findings from automated scans
Manage system performance tuning, patch management (yum/dnf), software package management, and OS lifecycle operations
Configure and manage system services, daemons, scheduled tasks, logging (rsyslog/journald), and audit frameworks (auditd)
Provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 application support and general troubleshooting across all Linux-based systems
Security Compliance - SSP, RMF, and STIG
Support ongoing System Security Plan (SSP) development, maintenance, and compliance activities in accordance with NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls
Conduct and document Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities including control implementation statements, POA&M tracking, and continuous monitoring
Perform and respond to vulnerability assessments; coordinate CVE remediation and ensure timely patching
Maintain system authorization boundaries, support A&A activities, and coordinate with the ISSO/ISSM
Enforce DoD crypto policies including FIPS 140-2/140-3 mode configuration
STE/STN Support
Install, configure, and maintain Secure Telephone Equipment (STE) and Secure Telephone Network (STN) infrastructure
Coordinate STE/STN provisioning, moves, adds, and changes (MACs) with communications and security personnel
Troubleshoot STE/STN connectivity and interoperability issues
Maintain accurate inventory and documentation for all STE/STN endpoints
PKI, TLS, and Cryptographic Management
Manage DoD PKI operations including certificate issuance, renewal, revocation, and trust store management
Configure and maintain TLS/SSL for system services and applications
Administer hardware security modules (HSMs) and software-based key management systems where deployed
Apply and enforce system crypto policies to ensure FIPS compliance across all managed systems
Containers and Cloud Environments
Deploy, operate, and maintain containerized workloads using Docker and/or Podman
Administer Kubernetes or OpenShift container orchestration clusters within classified/air-gapped environments
Manage container image pipelines including base image hardening, vulnerability scanning, and approved image registries
Support lifecycle management of containerized applications
Virtualization
Administer VMware vSphere/vCenter environments including ESXi host management
Manage KVM/QEMU-based virtual environments on Linux hosts
Coordinate capacity planning and resource optimization across virtualized infrastructure
Storage Management
Administer NAS and SAN systems; manage LUN provisioning, zoning, and multipath I/O
Operate and maintain Ceph distributed storage clusters
Configure and manage LVM, RAID arrays, and filesystem operations
Implement and verify data-at-rest encryption requirements
IP Networking and Firewall Management
Configure and manage host-based firewalls (firewalld, iptables/nftables) on Linux systems
Troubleshoot TCP/IP networking issues including routing, DNS, DHCP, VLAN segmentation
Interface with network engineers on firewall rule changes and ACLs
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field. Equivalent experience may be substituted.
Experience: 5+ years of system administration experience in classified or secure DoD/IC environments.
Additional Required Qualifications:
Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph - must be active prior to start
Deep hands-on Linux proficiency across RHEL, Rocky Linux, and/or CentOS
Demonstrated experience with DISA STIGs and SCAP compliance scanning
Working knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 controls and RMF process
Experience with SSP development and A&A/ATO activities
Hands-on STE/STN installation, configuration, and support experience
Solid understanding of PKI/TLS/cryptographic standards including DoD PKI and FIPS enforcement
Strong IP networking fundamentals and host-based firewall management
Experience with container platforms (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes, or OpenShift)
Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware vSphere, KVM/QEMU)
Storage management experience with NAS, SAN, LVM, and/or distributed storage
DoD 8140 IAT Level II compliance (Security+, CASP+, or equivalent)
Desired Skills
Experience with Ansible, Puppet, SaltStack, or Chef
Proficiency in Bash and Python scripting
OpenShift Container Platform experience in classified deployments
Experience with cross-domain solutions (CDS)
Familiarity with DoD cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, C2S)
Red Hat RHCSA or RHCE certification
Your recruiter will be happy to walk you through your U.S.-specific benefits, which include:
Healthcare Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
Time Off and Leave Policies: Generous paid time off (PTO), paid company holidays, generous parental and family leave.
Protective Insurances: Life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and accident protection.
Compensation and Rewards: Competitive salary structures, performance-based incentives, and merit-based compensation reviews.
Retirement Plans: 401(k) plans with company matching.
Please note that benefits may vary by region, department and role. We encourage you to speak with your recruiter to learn more about the specific benefits available for your position.
About Kroll
Join the global leader in risk and financial advisory solutions—Kroll. With a nearly century-long legacy, we blend trusted expertise with cutting-edge technology to navigate and redefine industry complexities. As a part of One Team, One Kroll, you'll contribute to a collaborative and empowering environment, propelling your career to new heights. Ready to build, protect, restore and maximize our clients’ value? Your journey begins with Kroll.
In order to be considered for a position, you must formally apply via careers.kroll.com.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, race, religion, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, age or disability.
The current salary range for this position is $100,000 to $150,000
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