Systems Administrator in Lafayette, Colorado at Centil

***To be considered for this role, you must be a US Citizen with an active US Government security clearance. Additionally, you must either live near or be willing to move to the Boulder, CO area.***

About Centil

Centil, a Sabel Systems company, is a mission-focused engineering team supporting some of the highest-priority space defense programs in the U.S. Space Force portfolio, including missile defense and missile warning systems for Space Systems Command. Our work spans DevSecOps, CI/CD product development, and space-domain systems engineering, and our people are embedded directly in the programs they support.

In January 2026, Sabel Systems acquired Centil to expand its Advanced Engineering Services capabilities. For our team, that means access to a broader portfolio of programs, deeper corporate resources, and new career pathways - while preserving the technical ownership and small-team culture that defines how we work. It's an exciting time to join Centil: we're growing, the mission portfolio is expanding, and we're building the team that will define what comes next. If you are interested in learning more about Centil or our team, check out our website at www.centil.io.

About the role

This position is for a Systems Administrator in Boulder, CO. You will work closely with a talented team to design, manage, secure and optimize the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure for one of our Department of Defense (DoD) clients. Additionally, you will be tasked with improving the overall project management discipline of our clients by increasing collaboration and innovation and introducing techniques that promote adaptability and flexibility in the face of unpredictable circumstances, and that optimize return on investment expenditures.

This role will focus on design, development, and maintenance of the critical IT systems for a new United States Space Force (USSF) program. Responsibilities will include building, patching, and maintaining computer systems for use across the program lifecycle. Your expertise and commitment to excellence will be vital in maintaining the reliability and performance on these systems in support of the nation's defense.

This role is an on-site role, and requires, at a minimum, a current US Government Secret clearance, with a TS with SCI eligibility preferred.

What you'll do

• Provide system administration support
• Support version testing and evaluation, and provide feedback to the development and test community
• Assist Configuration Management in software upgrades and changes
• Monitor and correct system performance issues
• Shepherd development activities through the life cycle process by applying appropriate standards, processes, procedures and tools
• Prepare operating procedures/instructions and compile documentation during program development
• Analyze system capabilities to resolve questions of program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, and program techniques and controls

Required Qualifications

• US Citizen with a current DoD Secret clearance or higher
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Systems Administration designing and maintaining IT systems (excluding help desk experience), with at least eight (8) preferred
• Experience with multiple stages of the program lifecycle (design, integration, test, operations, maintenance)
• Strong knowledge of Linux/RHEL operating systems and network administration
• Familiarity with DoD security regulations and frameworks, such as RMF (Risk Management Framework)
• Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V) and cloud services (AWS, Azure)
• Understanding of networking protocols, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems
• Ability to communicate technical information via oral presentation and written format

Preferred/Bonus Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or related technical field (equivalent training/job experience is also acceptable)
• Security certifications such as Security+, CISSP, or equivalent are highly desirable
• Experience working within an agile workflow
• Experience with Jira and Confluence
• Current TS, with SCI eligibility

Other Company Requirements

In addition to job-specific requirements, Centil believes it is important for all employees to possess the following skills/characteristics:

• Strong communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills. Ability to passionately deliver high-level messaging to various types of audiences--this will eventually include senior leaders. Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical personnel
• Self-motivated individual who actively and independently seeks out opportunities for learning and development
• Collaborates well; enjoys working as part of a team
• DoD Secret or higher clearance is preferred. All applicants must be US citizens eligible for a US Government security clearance

Expected Salary Range

Depending on experience and skillset, most candidates will earn between $120,000 and $170,000 per year.

Please note that the salary range is a general guideline only. We consider many factors when determining salaries including, but are not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education, training, certifications, key skills, and mission/customer familiarity. We combine these factors with market and business considerations to extend a job offer.

Benefits

Centil offers a comprehensive benefits package including the following:

• Generous PTO for vacation, personal, or sick days
• Ten (10) paid holidays per year: 8 fixed holidays, plus 2 additional Floating Holidays per year (taken at Employee's discretion)
• Flex time and the ability to create your own schedule
• Discretionary bi-annual bonus plan, based on individual and company performance
• 401K retirement plan with immediately vested company contributions, no matching required
• Healthcare coverage plan through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA)
• Employer-paid Life, Long-Term Disability, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurances
• Access to optional, employee-paid Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity insurances
• Access to a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Paid training and conference attendance
• Additional benefits, as needed, for significant life events: parental leave, bereavement leave, jury duty pay, military leave pay
• One-time home office reimbursement
• Phone plan reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, supporting emotional health and well-being of employees and their families

Centil is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.