Linux System Administrator/Engineer in Newport, Rhode Island at Crest Security Assurance

Location: Newport, RI

Clearance Requirement: Active Secret Clearance Required (Top Secret Preferred)

Travel: Approximately 5% CONUS travel with advance notice provided whenever possible

Position Overview: We are seeking a motivated and mission-focused Linux Systems Engineer / Administrator to support advanced tactical and cybersecurity-focused systems in a dynamic Department of Defense environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong Linux systems administration expertise, hands-on cybersecurity experience, and a willingness to work across systems engineering, platform hardening, automation, and operational support activities. This role supports the engineering, security, integration, and sustainment of mission-critical systems operating in complex networked environments. Candidates should be comfortable collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams, participating in technical reviews, and contributing to secure systems modernization efforts.

Responsibilities:

• Administer, maintain, and secure Linux-based systems in operational and development environments
• Implement and maintain Linux system hardening in accordance with DISA STIGs and cybersecurity best practices
• Manage firewall configurations, networking services, privilege management, and access controls
• Support systems engineering efforts by evaluating and implementing engineering changes and cybersecurity enhancements
• Develop and maintain shell scripts and Python-based automation solutions to improve operational efficiency and system reliability
• Assist with deployment and sustainment of containerized applications using Kubernetes or similar orchestration platforms
• Participate in CI/CD pipeline development and maintenance including automated testing, SAST/DAST integration, and deployment workflows
• Support cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability remediation activities, and RED TEAM exercises
• Analyze penetration testing results and recommend mitigation or remediation strategies
• Collaborate with engineering, cybersecurity, and operations teams during trade studies, integration efforts, and technical reviews
• Provide on-site technical support during testing events, system installations, and fleet or vendor visits as required
• Maintain documentation related to system configurations, engineering changes, security controls, and operational procedures
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including system procedures, engineering artifacts, implementation plans, test plans, and test reports
• Support system integration and Test & Evaluation (T&E) activities through test planning, execution support, documentation, and reporting
• Coordinate with engineering and cybersecurity teams to document system changes, validation activities, and remediation efforts

Required Qualifications: Significant experience with Linux systems administration in enterprise or mission-critical environments

• Strong understanding of:
• Linux networking
• Linux filesystems
• Privilege and identity management
• System hardening and STIG compliance
• Bash shell scripting
• Python programming

o Network enumeration

o Privilege escalation

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps concepts including:
• Automated tooling
• Unit testing
• Static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST)
• Experience working in containerized environments using Kubernetes or equivalent orchestration tools
• Ability to troubleshoot complex Linux systems and networking issues
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills
• Active Secret Security Clearance or eligibility for reinstatement
• Experience managing and maintaining virtualized environments including virtual machine (VM) creation, configuration, administration, and lifecycle management

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Linux expertise including:
• Filesystem administration and manipulation
• Encryption and key management
• SELinux administration
• ACL and IMA labeling
• Experience supporting tactical networks, critical infrastructure, or defense systems
• Experience working within a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environment
• Familiarity with undersea domain systems or submarine platforms
• Prior experience supporting DoD cybersecurity initiatives or classified environments
• Experience with virtualization technologies and VM management in enterprise or lab environments (VMware, KVM, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, or equivalent)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related technical discipline preferred or equivalent military or industry experience may be considered in lieu of degree

Why Join Us: You will work alongside highly skilled engineers and cybersecurity professionals supporting mission critical defense systems that directly contribute to national security. This role offers opportunities for technical growth, hands-on operational support, and participation in cutting-edge cybersecurity and systems engineering initiatives.

Job Types: Contract, Full-time

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Cybersecurity: 1 year (Required)
• Systems Engineering: 2 years (Required)
• Linux Administration: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• CompTIA Linux+ (Required)

Security clearance:

• Secret (Required)

Work Location: In person