Senior Systems Administrator
The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space. At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration - to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves. The Cloud Platforms and Architectures Department goes beyond traditional software systems design and IT application hosting environments to provide our customers with guidance and solutions for developing/deploying/managing highly secure, available, resilient, and scalable software systems using advanced distributed computing technologies, such as cloud technology stacks and cloud native application architectures. A foundational component to the development of our advanced computing expertise and solutions delivery capability is research, technology exploration, and systems design prototyping using our on-premises advanced IT labs, as well as commercial cloud computing resources such as Amazon Web Services (AWS).The Senior Systems Administrator contributes to delivery of our services by maintaining the computing capabilities in our on-premises labs and in our commercial cloud accounts. If you're a passionate, driven and detail-oriented individual who is excited about supporting the development of advanced computing solutions that keep our nation at the forefront of space systems capabilities, consider joining our team of passionate engineers.This position is a hybrid schedule, and can work partially remotely with some onsite work required in El Segundo, CA.What You'll Be Doing
- Maintain and monitor compute servers, storage servers, specialized computing devices, and networking devices across several West and East Coast labs at various levels of classification, either onsite or via remote access
- Manage compute, storage, and networking resources in commercial cloud accounts at various levels of classification
- Maintain and monitor VMware Enterprise vSphere virtualization infrastructure
- Maintain and monitor Kubernetes container orchestration clusters
- Manage storage allocations and define data backup and recovery procedures
- Maintain identity and access management for lab systems
- Automate system maintenance, monitoring, and provisioning functions where possible
- Coordinate with other IT support teams, including enterprise networking and security, as well as vendor teams, when applicable
- Evaluate vendor products and make recommendations for hardware/software purchases
- Eight or more years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or other sciences/engineering field
- Comprehensive experience in Unix/Linux operating system internals and systems administration
- Comprehensive experience in VMware Enterprise vSphere systems administration
- Experience in Amazon Web Services (AWS) systems administration
- Experience in container technologies and Kubernetes systems administration
- Familiarity with electronics or environmental test equipment
- Ability to work independently and be a self-starter as well as motivated contributor
- Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal and working relationships with various levels of corporate staff, peers, management, program offices, customers, and contractors
- Outstanding communications skills: interpersonal (demonstrated in working diplomatically across organizations and thoughtfully advising decision makers), presentation (demonstrated in briefings), and written communications skills (demonstrated in design documents, technical reports, or publications)
- This position requires the ability to obtain a Secret clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
- A Master's degree in Computer Science or other sciences/engineering field
- Experience managing equipment / inventory control / equipment tracking
- Experience maintaining classified systems
- Experience using one or more scripting or programming languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python) to automate system administration functions
- Experience applying Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) technologies (e.g., Ansible, Terraform) to configure and manage VMware vSphere clusters
- Experience in TCP/IP networking and Layer 2/3 network switch configuration
- Technology certifications (e.g., AWS certifications, Certified Kubernetes Administrator)
- Active TS/SCI security clearance
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
- 401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
- Flexible spending accounts
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
- Relocation assistance
- Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
- Education assistance programs
- An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect