Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud)
PennState UniversityRole Overview
PennState University is hiring a Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud). This is a full-time role in Reston. posted today. The posted range is $80k to $152k; applications are still in the early window, before most candidates have applied. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.
Resume Keywords to Include
Make sure these keywords appear in your resume to improve ATS scoring
Job description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for a Systems Administrator to join the Reston, VA location of the Digital Engineering Department in the Cyber, Modeling, and Simulation Division of the Information Advantage Office at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. You will maintain the integrity of various high-performance computing (HPC) systems including operating systems, physical servers/workstations, and applications; administer, install, and troubleshoot a variety of Cloud tooling and applications, perform systems maintenance tasks such as troubleshooting and performance evaluation as well as back-up and recovery; perform configuration changes to address customer needs; schedule, install, and test system software upgrades; monitor and maintain software licensing.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Install, configure, maintain, upgrade, and support systems and software with a focus on Linux (Red Hat), Ansible scripting, and GitLab pipelines
- Develop plans, schedules, and requirements for deployment of systems
- Create or improve existing scripts and tooling to aid in systems management
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve server, workstation, and audio-visual (A/V) issues and/or respond to outages during normal working hours
- Resolve service-related issues; determine immediate economic and financial consequences of an incident
- Test and implement upgrades and patches to installed operating systems, software container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes), and modeling & simulation (M&S) applications
- Maintain reliability of systems by monitoring, running tests, and troubleshooting
- Monitor backups and plans for installed systems
- Monitor, maintain, and execute automation processes and CI/CD pipelines
- Evaluate and recommend new or existing system improvements and/or solutions
- Create and maintain system documentation of our processes, procedures, plans, and configurations
- May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management
Required Skills/Experience areas to include:
- Ability to install, configure, maintain, upgrade, and support systems and software, with a strong focus on Linux (Red Hat), Ansible scripting, and GitLab pipelines
- Skilled in diagnosing, troubleshooting, and resolving server, workstation, and audio-visual (A/V) issues, including responding to system outages during normal business hours
- Proficiency in testing and implementing upgrades and patches for operating systems, Kubernetes-based container orchestration platforms, and modeling and simulation (M&S) applications
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
Your working location will be fully onsite, located in Reston, VA.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None If filled as IT Platform Administrator (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None
ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $80,100.00 - $152,004.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
About PennState University
PennState University
66 other open roles at PennState University on TryApplyNow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud) position at PennState University?
Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to PennState University. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.
Where is the Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud) position at PennState University located?
This position is based in Reston. PennState University has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.
How much does the Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud) role at PennState University pay?
PennState University has posted a compensation range of $80k to $152k for this position. Final offers typically vary based on candidate experience, location, and internal salary bands.
When was the Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud) role at PennState University posted?
This role was posted on July 22, 2026 (today). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.
How much experience does the Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/Cloud) role at PennState University require?
This is a senior-level position. Most senior roles call for 5+ years of directly relevant experience. PennState University lists their specific requirements in the description below, so review the must-have qualifications closely before applying.
More Jobs at PennState University
View all →Research Financial Compliance Analyst – FACO
PennState University
Part Time Production Specialist (Video and Accessibility)
PennState University
Journals Production Coordinator, Penn State University Press
PennState University
Part-time Magnesium carbonate geochemistry specialist
PennState University
Common Services Supervisor, University Libraries
PennState University
AI-powered job search
Get every job scored to your resume
Upload your resume and get jobs ranked, your resume tailored, and employee contacts found automatically.
Get started freeNo credit card to start