Linux System Administrator

Location: Onsite in Downtown Atlanta, GA (i.e., 5 days/week)

Employment Type: 6 Month Contract-to-Hire

Compensation: Up to $55/hour W-2 or $62/hour 1099/IC

Clearance: Ability to obtain Public Trust (sponsored after start)

Benefits (W-2): Medical, dental, vision, LTD/STD, HSA/FSA, term life, supplemental health (e.g., Aflac), and 401(k)

On-Call: Part of a rotation (approx. twice per quarter)

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Linux Systems Administrator with strong expertise in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to support a mission-critical federal program. This role is fully onsite in a secure environment and focuses on administering, hardening, automating, and optimizing enterprise Linux systems.

The ideal candidate has deep experience with Linux operations, scripting, automation, system security, and enterprise networking fundamentals. You will support production systems, take ownership of Linux infrastructure, and collaborate with engineering and security teams to ensure availability, stability, and compliance.

This is a hands-on role with significant responsibility in maintaining secure, high-availability RHEL environments that support federal-level workloads.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and maintain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 8/9) systems across distributed environments.
• Develop and maintain automation and administration scripts using Bash, Python, Perl, or JavaScript (any two required).
• Manage configuration, package repositories, and infrastructure automation using Ansible and RHEL Satellite.
• Perform command-line administration, troubleshooting, and O&M tasks in high-security environments.
• Configure and support Linux networking components including NFTables, Firewalld, IPTables, DNS (ISC2 BIND), TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, and SMTP Relay (Postfix).
• Administer Linux clustering, NFS (v3/v4), PXE boot, and SELinux controls.
• Support container runtime environments such as Mirantis Container Runtime (formerly Docker).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support security tools and infrastructure-related projects.
• Ensure full compliance with CIS benchmarks, NIST 800-53 controls, and DISA STIGs.
• Troubleshoot system performance, network issues, and connectivity problems across multiple environments.
• Maintain accurate system documentation for architecture, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Participate in a team on-call rotation to support critical systems.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to Linux best practices and operational standards.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10 years of total professional IT experience (or 14 years without a bachelor s degree).
• 5 years hands-on Linux Systems Administration, ideally with the majority of experience in RHEL/Unix environments.
• Active Red Hat certification (RHCSA, RHCE, or RHCA any one required).
• Proficiency with Ansible, RHEL Satellite, and enterprise Linux automation.
• Strong command-line administration skills and experience in secure, high-availability environments.
• Scripting experience in at least two of the following: Bash, Python, Perl, JavaScript.
• Experience configuring networking components (Firewalld/NFTables, DNS, TCP/IP, IPv6).
• Working knowledge of SELinux, NFS, PXE boot, clustering, and package management.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex system and network issues with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work fully onsite in a federal facility (no remote/hybrid options).

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with container runtimes (Mirantis/Docker).
• Exposure to GitLab, AWS, or CI/CD tools.
• Experience supporting security tools or federal compliance frameworks.
• Background in DoD, federal contracting, or high-security environments.