Systems Administrator, Senior (OpenStack)

Location: Baltimore, MD

Work Type: 5 Days Onsite

Required Clearance: Ability to obtain Public Trust

LCG, Inc. provides insight into the impact of public programs that advance our society. For more than 20 years, LCG, Inc. has been a leading provider of technology-based consulting services, biomedical research support, grants management, decision analytics, software engineering and IT operations that enhance the transparency, efficiency, and empowerment of programs with health and science missions

Job Title: System Administrator, Senior

Job Overview: We are seeking a highly experienced System Administrator, Senior (OpenStack) to join our team supporting NIH. This role is critical to ensuring the operational continuity and technical resilience of client IT systems, especially in emergency situations. The candidate will manage and maintain large-scale Linux systems and OpenStack-based private cloud environments, support biomedical research computing needs, and ensure secure system operations in collaboration with NIH stakeholders

Key Responsibilities:

Core System Administration Duties

• Install and configure OpenStack private cloud infrastructure on NIA-provided hardware.
• Manage Linux-based physical and virtual servers as well as high-performance storage systems.
• Support the deployment and configuration of scientific applications using virtual machines or containers.
• Use shell scripting and system programming for automation and task optimization.
• Collaborate with NIH IT Security to ensure the secure operation of cloud and Linux systems.
• Conduct routine system audits, software/hardware inventory, and performance monitoring.
• Manage system upgrades, patches, and configuration changes.
• Maintain documentation of all system configurations, procedures, and work products.
• Provide technical training to client IT staff on OpenStack and system administration best practices.

Infrastructure, Security, and Cloud Management

• Perform disaster recovery operations and data backups when required to ensure business continuity.
• Support the migration of IT platforms, systems, and applications to cloud-based solutions as required by the government.
• Build, configure, and manage UNIX/LINUX authentication systems and provide high-level UNIX/LINUX/Macintosh administration support as needed.
• Support a heterogeneous hybrid cloud and on-premises environment, including DRaaS, IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS platforms.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and recommend mitigation strategies to reduce risk to IRP information system resources.
• Build, configure, and monitor security systems including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus, and patch deployment solutions.
• Monitor server, SAN, and network operations to ensure optimal performance and adherence to operational standards.
• Manage network VLANs and switch configurations in support of deployed infrastructure.
• Conduct hardware maintenance and replacements for server, SAN, and network devices as needed.
• Proficient in administering VMware, Windows Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, GPOs, SQL Server, and core networking technologies.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

• Serve as an emergency staff member and participate in client response teams to ensure operational continuity.
• Be available during emergencies (e.g., natural disasters, outages) to maintain continuity of critical functions such as:
  
  
  
  • Clinical IT systems supporting patient care and ASTRA studies.
  • Scientific equipment and data storage monitoring.
  • Secure communications with researchers, grantees, and NIH partners.
  
  
  
  

• Maintain updated personal contact information for emergency communication purposes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 15+ years of hands-on experience in Linux system administration and cloud computing environments.
• Proven expertise in OpenStack private cloud installation, configuration, and management.
• Experience supporting IT systems in federal biomedical research or healthcare settings.
• Knowledge of NIH IT security and compliance frameworks.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes.
• Experience with modern Linux management and automation tools such as Puppet, Chef, or Ansible.
• Familiarity with scientific computing environments and high-performance storage systems.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a crisis/emergency response team.

Compensation and Benefits

The projected compensation range for this position is $100,000 to $160,000 per year benchmarked in the Washington DC Metro area. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Salary at LCG is determined by various factors, including but not limited to role, location, the combination of education/training, knowledge, skills, competencies, certifications, and work experience.

LCG offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance options (medical, dental, vision), life and disability insurance, retirement plan contributions, as well as paid leave, federal holidays, professional development, and lifestyle benefits.

Devoted to Fair and Inclusive Practices

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

If you are interested in applying for employment with LCG and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department by email at hr@lcginc.com.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fraudulent job offers using LCG's name. LCG will never request payment-related details or advancement of money during the application process. Legitimate communication will only come from lcginc.com or system@hirebridgemail.com emails, not free commercial services like Gmail or WhatsApp. If you receive suspicious emails asking for payment or personal information, contact us immediately at hr@lcginc.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.