Senior System Administrator in Aberdeen, Maryland at Caelum Research Corporation

Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Systems Administrator IV to support a mission-critical government IT services program supporting the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command (ATEC). This senior-level position serves as the technical lead for enterprise Windows infrastructure, virtualization, automation, cybersecurity compliance, and high-availability environments. The ideal candidate is a seasoned Windows Systems Administrator with strong experience supporting secure enterprise environments, VMware infrastructure, PowerShell automation, and DISA STIG compliance. This individual will also mentor junior administrators and provide technical leadership across the team.
Clearance Required: Active DoD Secret Clearance
Key Responsibilities:
Windows Systems Administration

• Install, configure, administer, and maintain Microsoft Windows Server environments.
• Manage Active Directory, Group Policy (GPO), DNS, DHCP, and related Microsoft services.
• Support enterprise production systems and associated middleware.

VMware & Virtualization

• Administer VMware virtual environments.
• Deploy, patch, secure, and harden systems using DISA STIGs.
• Support high-availability virtual infrastructure and troubleshoot complex issues.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a senior technical resource and mentor junior administrators.
• Provide technical guidance and team leadership.
• May oversee the work of five or more technical staff members.

Automation & Scripting

• Develop and maintain PowerShell scripts to automate administrative tasks.
• Support automated deployments, configuration management, and system provisioning.
• Experience with Python or Bash is a plus.

Enterprise Logging & Monitoring

• Configure and maintain the Elastic Stack (ELK).
• Monitor system performance and analyze logs to identify operational and security issues.

High Availability & Infrastructure

• Build, maintain, and support clustered and highly available environments.
• Support load balancing, web servers, application servers, and virtualization platforms.
• Perform capacity planning and system performance optimization.

Networking & Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot enterprise infrastructure using TCP/IP, VLANs, firewalls, and routing principles.
• Resolve complex hardware, software, and infrastructure issues.

Security & Compliance

• Apply and maintain DISA STIG compliance.
• Remediate security vulnerabilities and manage identity and access controls.
• Support McAfee/Trellix Endpoint Security (ESS) solutions.

System Lifecycle Management

• Plan and execute operating system upgrades and infrastructure migrations with minimal downtime.

Enterprise Hardware & Storage

• Support Cisco UCS infrastructure.
• Administer enterprise storage technologies including NetApp, VMware vSAN, and Commvault.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience with one or more of the following is highly desired:

• ACAS (Assured Compliance Assessment Solution)
• Linux administration (RHEL preferred)
• Database installation, administration, or migration
• Enterprise monitoring and performance management tools

Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must possess a degree in a directly related IT discipline, such as Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer or Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Computer Forensics, or a closely related field.
Applicants must meet one of the following education and experience requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED with a minimum of 11 years of directly related IT experience.
• Associate's Degree with a minimum of 9 years of directly related IT experience.
• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 7 years of directly related IT experience.
• Master's Degree with a minimum of 5 years of directly related IT experience

Required Certifications

• Current CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification)
• Current Computing Environment (CE) certification, or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire
• Microsoft Windows Server certification (or equivalent) strongly preferred

CompensationThe base pay range for this role is $100,000 – $135,000 per year.