Linux (RHEL) Classified Systems Administrator

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.

Summary

We are looking for a seasoned Linux Administrator (RHEL) with experience in system administration, automation, hardening, and platform design. The successful candidate will build, secure, and operate large scale, container centric platforms that enable rapid, reliable software delivery across the organization. This role emphasizes containerization and end to end CI/CD pipelines, with deep expertise in the tools listed below and solid Kubernetes experience. This role will be located on-site in Cambridge, MA.

About the role

Duties/Responsibilities Support and maintain IT infrastructure systems (e.g. servers, workstations, switches, routers, firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, encryption devices) Maintain and update documentation, including standard operating procedures, network drawings, and configuration documentation Conduct reviews and technical inspections to identify and mitigate potential security weaknesses ensure security compliance is implemented and that 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.

Perform software patching, system deployment, license management, hardware and software management, and lifecycle management Work closely with the Information Assurance group to ensure the system accreditation process is followed including maintenance of standard operating procedures, network drawings and configuration documentation Coordinate with senior personnel and IT management on 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 and tests system specifications and requirements by evaluating, verifying and validating technical and functional performance May provide guidance to junior team members 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 2016/2019 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 preferred Security+ certification or higher professional certifications required Experience 3-5 years experienced in Linux systems administration or networking administration Additional

About the role

2-3 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.

Applicants selected for this opportunity will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance Current Secret clearance is required. 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 $82,300.00 - $220,000.00 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. 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.