Entry Level Linux System Administrator Jobs in Kentucky

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

• Pragmatic Optimism
• Excellence without Ego
• Proactive Collaboration

Are you passionate about maintaining and expanding state-of-the-art labs that enable development and testing of complex embedded control systems? Do you enjoy working hands-on with hardware and software, ensuring smooth operation of critical lab environments? If so, Mainspring Energy has an exciting opportunity for an Embedded System Lab Manager to enhance our embedded systems labs, which are integral to the development and testing of our cutting-edge Linear Generator technology.

In this role, you will maintain existing embedded system labs and create new ones. The labs include hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test fixtures with Linux computers, microcontrollers, and some motors, valves, relays, and sensors from the complete generator product. This is an exciting opportunity to join a quickly growing team working to build a new category of power for an affordable, reliable, and net‑zero carbon grid.

• Collaborate with software and embedded engineers to create HIL test fixtures involving relays, sensors, Ethernet switches, and RS-232/RS-485 serial interfaces
• Remotely administer Linux systems
• Triage hardware, networking, and configuration issues
• Implement procedures around organization, asset tracking, and equipment maintenance
• Build scalable physical infrastructure for device reliability, applying IT best practices around power continuity and rack & stack standardization
• Act as an onsite point of contact for lab operations

1. Hands‑on experience configuring, troubleshooting, and debugging Linux-based networked devices and communication protocols, including TCP/IP, UDP, and serial interfaces
2. Excellent communication skills, capable of collaborating with cross‑functional teams and supporting remote workers with lab‑related tasks
3. Detail‑oriented and proactive, with a passion for maintaining high standards in lab organization and system upkeep
4. Working knowledge of low‑voltage power distribution and circuit fundamentals
5. Bachelor's degree in engineering or information technology and two years of work experience

• A keen eye for process and efficiency improvements
• Sysadmin experience or help desk experience at scale
• Hands‑on shop or lab experience
  • Skills: 5S, cable management, general handiness
• Experience with automation using Python, Bash, and C++
• Experience with asset management at scale
• Familiarity with high voltage and power electronics
• Experience using common test tools like Jira, Xray, Git, or similar
• Experience building hardware‑in‑the-loop embedded systems
• Experience building out CI/CD pipelines

$102,000 - $120,000 a year

This position is onsite at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre‑IPO stock options + benefits.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job‑related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company‑specific knowledge.