Senior Infrastructure and Systems Administrator

Responsibilities

Peraton Labs is seeking a poly cleared Senior Infrastructure and Systems Administrator to support cleared research and development efforts for a government customer in Maryland. This role will support the implementation, maintenance, security, and operational readiness of complex classified and unclassified research infrastructure environments.This position is ideal candidate for this role is a hands-on infrastructure professional with strong Linux and Windows administration experience, networking fundamentals, virtualization knowledge, security configuration experience, and the ability to support dynamic research programs. This position will work closely with the Maryland-based customer, researchers, engineers, subcontractors, and program leadership to ensure mission systems are reliable, secure, compliant, and ready to support advanced R&D efforts.

This position requires full-time on-site work at a customer site near College Park, MD.

Key responsibilities may include

• Implement, maintain, and enhance classified and unclassified research infrastructure systems
• Perform Linux and Windows server administration, including installation, configuration, patching, troubleshooting, hardening, and lifecycle support
• Install, configure, and troubleshoot IT, networking, compute, storage, and lab hardware/software
• Build and maintain OS images for Linux and Windows environments
• Configure new systems using security best practices, approved baselines, and program-specific requirements
• Support virtualization and infrastructure platforms such as VMware, Proxmox, Hyper-V, KVM, OpenStack, or similar technologies
• Support network configuration and troubleshooting, including TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, remote access, and port activation/patching
• Integrate GOTS, COTS, and open-source tools into secure research environments
• Maintain system security posture through regular patching, anti-virus/endpoint protection updates, vulnerability remediation, and configuration management
• Support physical infrastructure activities, including system setup, cabling, rack/stack, power, labeling, and network patching in classified and unclassified spaces
• Develop and maintain backup, recovery, log archive, and data retention procedures aligned to program security plans
• Exercise system and data recovery procedures on a regular basis
• Create scripts, automation, or tool recommendations to support audit readiness and operational efficiency
• Support audit tasks, evidence collection, account reviews, log review, media control, and compliance activities in coordination with Security teams
• Develop and execute approved procedures for sanitizing, releasing, or disposing of system components and media
• Maintain technical documentation, system diagrams, configuration records, SOPs, and operational runbooks
• Interface with the government customer, program teams, security personnel, and subcontractors to coordinate infrastructure work and resolve issues

*This position may be eligible for an increased sign-on bonus. Eligibility, bonus amount, and applicable terms and conditions will be discussed during the recruiting process*

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 6+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 4+ years of experience with a Master’s degree, or a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field. In lieu of a Bachelors, an additional 4 years of experience is required for a total of 10+ years relevant experience.
• Strong experience with Linux and Windows server system administration
• Experience administering, securing, and troubleshooting enterprise or research infrastructure environments
• Experience with network fundamentals, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, firewalls, and remote access
• Experience with virtualization technologies such as VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, Proxmox, OpenStack, or similar platforms
• Experience installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining IT/networking hardware and software
• Experience applying security baselines, system hardening, patching, vulnerability remediation, and endpoint protection updates
• Experience supporting backup, recovery, logging, audit, and system maintenance procedures
• Ability to support physical infrastructure work, including cabling, rack/stack, power, patching, and hardware replacement
• Ability to work as a senior contributor in a team environment involving customer, subcontractor, and internal technical personnel
• Strong communication and documentation skills
• US Citizenship is a requirement for this position
• This position requires an active/current TS/SCI w/ Polygraph

Desired Additional Qualifications

• Experience supporting classified research environments, DoD/IC customers, or national security programs
• Experience working directly with ISSMs, ISSOs, security control assessors, or customer security teams
• Experience with compliance activities related to RMF, NIST 800-53, STIGs, SCAP, ACAS/Nessus, audit logs, media control, system sanitization, and continuous monitoring
• Experience with automation using PowerShell, Bash, Python, Ansible, or similar tools
• Experience integrating GOTS, COTS, and open-source solutions into secure infrastructure environments
• Experience with storage technologies such as NAS, SAN, RAID, iSCSI, NFS, SMB, object storage, or backup appliances
• Experience with monitoring, logging, and alerting tools such as Splunk, ELK/OpenSearch, Prometheus, Grafana, Zabbix, Nagios, or similar tools
• Experience with endpoint security, anti-virus, EDR, host-based security tools, vulnerability scanners, or configuration compliance tools
• Experience supporting large-scale software development, research testbeds, cyber ranges, or prototype development environments
• Experience with container platforms or DevOps environments such as Docker, Kubernetes, GitLab, GitHub, Jenkins, or CI/CD pipelines
• Experience developing SOPs, build guides, system security documentation, network diagrams, recovery procedures, or operational runbooks
• Ability to monitor and coordinate subcontractor technical tasking
• Strong customer-facing communication skills and ability to operate independently in a fast-paced R&D environment

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.