Few IT jobs come with a mission like this one!
Leidos is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer to support the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) under the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Support Contract. This is a rare opportunity to apply your advanced systems engineering expertise to one of the most unique and mission-critical environments in the world.
As a senior member of the Information Technology & Communications (IT&C) Data Systems Team, you’ll design, deploy, and maintain critical Linux-based infrastructure supporting the core production systems for the USAP. This position may include temporary deployments to Antarctica, depending on operational needs and management discretion.
This position is currently funded and there is approximately 1 year left on the Antarctic Support Contract.
The candidate in the position must complete the physical and dental examinations required by the NSF for deploying to Antarctica.
Due to contract requirements, US Citizenship is required.
Must obtain a Public Trust security clearance prior to start date. This process could take up to 4 months.
About the Antarctic Support Contract:
Leidos Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) is the prime contractor to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Leidos supports the NSF’s Office of Polar Program’s Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics by aligning with their Mission and Vision Statements:
- Vision: Expanding our scientific reach in Antarctica through increased operational and logistical effectiveness.
- Mission: To provide the operational and logistical platform necessary for the U.S. to conduct world-class science in Antarctica and maintain its active and influential presence on the continent.
Leidos ASC provides science and logistics support for approximately 150 science and technical events across three geographically remote research stations; McMurdo Station, Palmer Station, and South Pole Station and several deep field sites across Antarctica. Each station or field site supports world class research across multiple science disciplines. The planning and implementation of science support requirements in Antarctica is a critical part of our mission.
To learn more about the Leidos Antarctic Support contract, click here.
Key Responsibilities
System Design & Implementation
- Design, engineer, and implement infrastructure projects aligned with USAP mission requirements.
- Analyze, specify, and document communications and systems requirements for distributed environments.
- Lead installation, configuration, migration, and upgrades across multi-platform systems (Linux, Windows, Hyper-V/VMware).
Operations & Administration
- Administer and maintain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems and services.
- Manage containerized workloads and Red Hat OpenShift clusters.
- Perform backup and recovery operations and monitor system performance using tools like Veeam, Elastic Stack, and Zabbix.
- Maintain secure configurations aligned with DISA STIGs and other cybersecurity best practices.
Automation & Tooling
- Develop and execute automation using Ansible, bash, and Python scripts.
- Administer Red Hat Satellite and Git environments.
- Manage BIND DNS servers and contribute to DNS/DHCP configurations.
Collaboration & Support
- Work cross-functionally with Architecture, Network Operations, Information Security, and Client Services teams.
- Create and maintain technical documentation for infrastructure and operational procedures.
- Provide mentorship and code reviews for junior technical staff.
- Participate in a 24x7 support rotation and provide escalation-level troubleshooting.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience (additional experience may substitute for the degree)
- Proven Linux administration expertise, especially RHEL
- Experience with VMware and Hyper-V, Red Hat OpenShift and container orchestration, bash/Python scripting, Git and CI/CD, Red Hat Satellite, Ansible playbooks, security and patch management, Elastic Stack or Splunk with Zabbix, and MariaDB/MySQL
- Engineering design, implementation, and SME experience with complex enterprise applications
- Budget and time management skills for technical projects, plus project management experience
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a customer-service mindset
- Self-motivation and the ability to prioritize independently
Preferred Qualifications:
- Microsoft 365 / Azure experience
- Windows Server administration (2012/2016/2019) and PowerShell
- SAN and HP server hardware experience
- Sensor or weather satellite data acquisition and processing systems
- IBM Maximo OpenShift deployment and management
*Please be advised that during the interview, you will be required to keep your camera on, and your interviewer will be taking your picture for identification purposes if an offer letter is extended to you.
*This position is eligible for deployment to Antarctica. Per contract and National Science Foundation requirements, candidates must not have been disciplined for, or separated from an employer prior to discipline for, incidents of stalking, sexual assault, or sexual harassment within the past three (3) years. Eligibility for deployment is also subject to further review, including background investigation and security screening, and NSF retains final authority over deployment eligibility given the sensitive and remote nature of the location.
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:October 16, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or additional relevant experience substituting for the degree
- At least 4 years of relevant experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Public Trust security clearance prior to start date
- Completion of NSF-required physical and dental examinations for Antarctic deployment
- Linux administration expertise, especially Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Experience with VMware and Hyper-V
- Experience with Red Hat OpenShift and container orchestration
- Experience with Bash or Python scripting
- Experience with Git and CI/CD
- Experience with Red Hat Satellite and Ansible playbooks
- Experience with security and patch management
- Experience with Elastic Stack or Splunk and Zabbix
- Experience with MariaDB or MySQL
- Engineering design, implementation, and subject matter expertise with complex enterprise applications
- Budget and time management skills for technical projects
- Project management experience
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a customer-service mindset
- Ability to work independently, self-motivate, and prioritize tasks
- Microsoft 365 or Azure experience
- Windows Server administration and PowerShell experience
- SAN and HP server hardware experience
- Sensor or weather satellite data acquisition and processing systems experience
- IBM Maximo OpenShift deployment and management experience
Leidos Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Leidos and has not been reviewed or approved by Leidos.
-
Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, with multiple plan options, low office-visit copays in some plans, and access to mental health and wellness support tools. The availability of HSA/FSA options and employer contributions is positioned as a meaningful part of the total package.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as a strong component of total rewards, highlighted by a 401(k) match and immediate vesting in the standard package. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is also presented as an additional long-term wealth-building feature.
-
Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle supports extend beyond core insurance, including wellness programs, fitness-related stipends, and assistance resources. Work flexibility and related perks are also included as part of the broader rewards experience.
Leidos Insights
What We Do
We Are Leidos For 50 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation and our world. OUR MISSION Through our culture of innovation and history of performance, we develop deep customer trust built on integrity and create enduring solutions that improve our world. Leidos is a science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and healthcare markets. The company’s 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the newly launched Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos. Your most important work is ahead.
