Systems Engineer

Overview: The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Princeton, NJ has an immediate career opening for a Systems Engineer with expertise in the Linux operating system. Experience with Microsoft Windows a plus. This opening is located at IDA's Center for Communications Research in Princeton, New Jersey (CCR-P). IDA offers a competitive salary, an excellent benefits package and a superior professional working environment. To the right individual, IDA offers the opportunity to have a major impact on key national programs while working on fascinating technical issues. We are seeking an experienced Red Hat Linux engineer to update, expand and maintain the Linux enterprise. The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional who is able to solve a diverse range of technical problems.

Responsibilities:

• Maintaining systems functionality, availability, security, and performance.
• Contributes and plays a key role in the implementation of programs or projects that effect the organization's goals and objectives.
• Coordinates with other IT staff in support of operational tasks and requirements.
• Ensures configuration standards are maintained and adheres to IT best practices and corporate and security policy.

Responsibilities:

• Implements IT technology initiatives.
• Provides primary hands-on technical expertise to ensure successful deployments.
• Develops resolutions to a diverse range of complex problems.
• Coordinates resources to resolve problems when necessary.
• Mentors junior staff on select projects and transitions operational support of new deployments as appropriate.
• Researches and develops integration plans for new technologies to ensure compatibility with the current environment.
• Builds new physical and virtual servers to design specifications.
• Ensures all systems meet or exceed the business and security requirements in accordance with relevant government directives and guidelines.
• Prepares technical documentation to include standard operating procedures and processes.
• Administers and maintains classified and unclassified systems and services to ensure optimum performance and availability.
• Maintains technical proficiency in IT technologies; keeps abreast of industry trends.
• Communicates all computer network, system and service problems and outages immediately to the appropriate supervisors and/or managers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience in related field.
• Six years minimum experience in Information Technology, which includes at least four years in Red Hat Linux systems administration.
• Possess advanced knowledge in designing, administering, and supporting Linux servers, systems, and software.
• Experience with VMWare, Netapp, or Microsoft Windows a plus.
• Experience installing and configuring in more than one of the following technologies is a plus:
• Red Hat Identity Management or LDAP
• Red Hat Satellite Server, or equivalent operating system lifecycle and patch management system
• Configuration management and system security hardening using Ansible
• Database software such as PostgreSQL or MySQL
• Programming in Perl or Python
• Must be organized, self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Possess good interpersonal skills.
• Project management experience desired
• Position requires ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI security clearance with lifestyle polygraph. Current TS/SCI with lifestyle polygraph clearance preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOD 8570 IAT II certification.
• Must be willing to occasionally work hours outside of a normal schedule. Such evolutions are infrequent and the schedule negotiable.

Why work at IDA? Competitive salary and benefits, including diverse health insurance options, generous 10% contribution to retirement, 6 weeks 100% paid parental leave and 20 days paid time off. Mission-oriented work at a non-profit that supports and protects our Nation's warfighters; as a non-profit, IDA employees are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL). Professional development including tuition reimbursement, internal and external trainings.

Compensation: We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $100,000-$160,000. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent's experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.