Are you a seasoned Systems Administrator who thrives on solving complex technical challenges and keeping mission-critical environments operating at peak performance? Are you passionate about modern infrastructure, automation, and enabling Agile software development in support of national security?
Leidos is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to join the Maru Program on a high-performing team supporting an Intelligence Community customer on a fast-paced Agile program. In this role, you'll work alongside talented engineers, DevSecOps practitioners, software developers, and cybersecurity experts to build, secure, and maintain the infrastructure that powers mission success.
This is more than a traditional systems administration role, you'll have the opportunity to modernize enterprise infrastructure, automate operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and directly enable rapid software delivery for systems that make a real-world impact. If you're energized by innovation, collaboration, and solving some of the nation's most challenging technical problems, we'd love to have you on our team.
Position Overview
As a Senior Systems Administrator, you will administer, secure, and optimize enterprise Windows and Linux environments supporting development, test, integration, and production systems. You'll play a critical role in ensuring highly available, resilient, and secure infrastructure while partnering with Agile teams to continuously improve system performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.
Please note Gaithersburg, MD is the program’s primary work location.
Clearance Level Required:Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Administer and maintain Windows and Linux server environments.
- Install, configure, patch, and upgrade operating systems and enterprise applications.
- Monitor system health, performance, capacity, and availability.
- Support Agile development teams by provisioning and maintaining development, test, staging, and production environments.
- Implement infrastructure changes through established configuration management and change control processes.
- Troubleshoot hardware, software, networking, and storage issues to minimize downtime.
- Collaborate with DevSecOps engineers to automate system administration tasks using scripting and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools.
- Maintain compliance with IC cybersecurity requirements, RMF controls, STIGs, and security policies.
- Perform vulnerability remediation, security patching, and system hardening.
- Support virtualization platforms such as VMware vSphere or Nutanix.
- Manage Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, PKI, and identity management services.
- Develop and maintain system documentation, standard operating procedures, and architecture diagrams.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, standups, and retrospectives.
- Provide Tier III operational support and participate in after-hours maintenance windows as required.
Required Qualifications:
- US citizenship is required per contract.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or related field and 8-12 years of prior relevant experience or Master’s with 6-10 years of prior relevant experience.
- 8+ years of systems administration experience supporting enterprise environments.
- Experience supporting Intelligence Community or Department of Defense customers.
- Strong experience administering:
- Windows Server
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
- VMware vSphere
- Active Directory
- DNS/DHCP
- Group Policy
- Experience with scripting using PowerShell, Bash, or Python.
- DoD 8140/8570 Compliance: Must possess an active CompTIA Security+ (or higher baseline certification) to satisfy IAM Level I / IAT Level II requirements.
- Must possess at least one active Microsoft/Windows certification, such as:
- Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
- Legacy MCSA / MCSE: Windows Server
- Must possess an active Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification.
- Knowledge of storage technologies, backup solutions, and disaster recovery.
- Experience applying DISA STIGs and RMF security controls.
- Familiarity with configuration management and automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.
- Experience using Git and supporting CI/CD pipelines.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supporting cloud technologies such as AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or C2S.
- Experience with Kubernetes and container platforms.
- Familiarity with Docker and OpenShift.
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible).
- Knowledge of Elastic Stack, Splunk, Grafana, or Prometheus.
- Experience supporting DevSecOps environments.
- Understanding of Zero Trust architecture principles.
- Experience with SAN/NAS administration.
- ITIL Certification (ITIL v3 Foundation, ITIL 4 Foundation, or higher) or an equivalent IT service management framework certification (e.g., COBIT, ISO/IEC 20000).
Desired Competencies:
- Strong customer service orientation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a dynamic Agile environment.
- Self-motivated with strong attention to detail.
- Collaborative mindset with cross-functional technical teams.
- Commitment to continuous process improvement and automation.
#Maru
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:August 7, 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
- US citizenship required per contract
- Active Top Secret/SCI with ability to pass a Polygraph examination
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, IT (or related) with 8-12 years experience, or Master's with 6-10 years
- 8+ years of systems administration experience supporting enterprise environments
- Experience supporting Intelligence Community or Department of Defense customers
- Windows Server administration
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) administration
- Virtualization experience (VMware vSphere or Nutanix)
- Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy administration
- PKI and identity management services experience
- Scripting experience using PowerShell, Bash, or Python
- Active CompTIA Security+ (or higher baseline certification) per DoD 8140/8570
- At least one active Microsoft/Windows certification (e.g., Windows Server Hybrid Admin Associate, AZ-104, MCSA/MCSE)
- Active Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
- Knowledge of storage technologies, backup solutions, and disaster recovery
- Experience applying DISA STIGs and RMF security controls
- Familiarity with configuration management/automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, or Chef)
- Experience using Git and supporting CI/CD pipelines
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills
- Provide Tier III operational support and participate in after-hours maintenance windows
- Experience with SAN/NAS administration
- Experience with cloud technologies (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or C2S)
- Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, OpenShift and container platforms
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible)
- Familiarity with Elastic Stack, Splunk, Grafana, or Prometheus
- Experience supporting DevSecOps environments and understanding of Zero Trust principles
- ITIL certification (v3 or 4) or equivalent service management certification
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
