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Junior Linux System Administrator Jobs in Reston, VA

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

The Senior Linux System Administrator will work within a team engineers, developers and system administrators, adding new capabilities to our enclaves, as well as ensuring the existing systems are ...

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Showing results 1-20

Junior Linux System Administrator information

See Reston, VA salary details

$62.4K

$109.1K

$136.3K

How much do junior linux system administrator jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior linux system administrator in Reston, VA is $109,133.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,500.00 and $128,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Junior Linux System Administrators during their first year on the job?

Junior Linux System Administrators often encounter challenges such as troubleshooting unfamiliar system errors, managing time effectively when handling multiple support tickets, and quickly adapting to new tools or scripting languages. It's common to feel overwhelmed by the breadth of Linux commands and the need to understand various server environments. However, most teams provide mentorship and structured onboarding to help new admins gain confidence, and collaboration with experienced colleagues is encouraged for problem-solving and skill development.

What is the difference between Junior Linux System Administrator vs Linux Support Technician?

AspectJunior Linux System AdministratorLinux Support Technician
CertificationsLinux+, LPIC-1Linux+, CompTIA A+
Work EnvironmentServer management, system configuration, troubleshootingHelp desk, user support, issue resolution
Industry UsageIT departments, data centers, hosting providersIT support teams, customer service roles

The Junior Linux System Administrator typically handles server setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting, requiring more technical skills. In contrast, a Linux Support Technician focuses on user support and issue resolution, often with less emphasis on server management. Both roles share certifications like Linux+ but differ in daily responsibilities and work environments.

What does a Junior Linux System Administrator do?

A Junior Linux System Administrator is responsible for assisting in the installation, configuration, and maintenance of Linux-based systems. They help monitor system performance, apply updates and patches, and support users with technical issues related to Linux servers. Their role often includes troubleshooting basic network or software problems and escalating more complex issues to senior administrators. This position is typically an entry-level role, providing a foundation for a career in system administration.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Linux System Administrator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Linux System Administrator, you need a solid understanding of Linux operating systems, basic networking, and scripting, typically supported by a relevant degree or certifications like CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1. Familiarity with command-line tools, monitoring software, and configuration management systems such as Ansible or Puppet is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication help you excel in troubleshooting and collaborating with team members. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring system reliability, efficiency, and quick resolution of technical issues.
What are the most commonly searched types of Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA are:
What are popular job titles related to Junior Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA? For Junior Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Junior Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Junior Linux System Administrator jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Junior Linux System Administrator jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Junior Linux System Administrator job openings:
Infographic showing various Junior Linux System Administrator job openings in Reston, VA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 52% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 33% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,133 per year, or $52.5 per hour.
Linux System Administrator

Linux System Administrator

By Light Professional IT Services LLC

Falls Church, VA โ€ข On-site

Other

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Company Overview

By Light Professional IT Services LLC readies warfighters and federal agencies with technology and systems engineered to connect, protect, and prepare individuals and teams for whatever comes next. Headquartered in McLean, VA, By Light supports defense, civilian, and commercial IT customers worldwide.

Position Overview

By Light has an opening for a Sr. Systems Administrator (Linux/Unix) position supporting the Army National Guard (ARNG) in Falls Church, VA. This is an IT Service Management contract in support of the operation, modernization, expansion, and further evolution of the ARNG's global Information Technology (IT) services including networking, compute, storage, infrastructure, applications, hosting, and program management services.ย  The GECOS program supports the ARNG enterprise IT infrastructure, its Wide Area Network (WAN), authentication and directory services, cybersecurity, application hosting, and associated services. GECOS uses ITIL best practices framework as the basis for IT Service Management (ITSM) model.

Three (3) days onsite with up to two (2) days telework. Onboarding/transition in period requires on-site support up to 60 days. GECOS work schedules are subject to change on direction by mission requirements.

Responsibilities
  • Provide system administration support for Linux operating systems including installing software, applying patches, managing file systems, monitoring performance, and troubleshooting alerts from monitoring tools.
  • Analyzes and resolves problems associated with the operating system, servers, hardware, and applications software.
  • Detects, diagnoses, and reports related problems on servers, including system failure analysis and recovery, insuring the consistency and integrity of file systems.
  • In-depth hardware configuration knowledge, shell programming expertise, and a solid understanding of standard concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals, performs a variety of tasks, and works undergeneral supervision.
  • Responsible for daily monitoring of interface programs between multiple enterprise systems; review daily logs and ensure successful completion.
  • Perform incremental and full cold backups/patching.
  • Responsible for DoD Linux Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).
  • Provide performance metrics and usage charts, including CPU usage, disk usage and network uptime for the Linux Servers.
  • Provide general maintenance, upgrades, and new installation of servers and coordinate with data center personnel to execute. Document and generate business processes for day-to-day and emergency support procedures.
  • Install, test, and verify Linux Security patches; coordinating, documenting requirements and timelines, and working closely with service owners.
  • Perform systems security administration functions, including creation and maintenance of customer profiles and accounts.
  • Responsible for creating and/or maintaining standard operating procedures for the Linux documentation library.
  • Implement, configure, update, and maintain Ansible servers and scripts.
  • Implement, configure, update, and maintain STIG Manager servers and scripts.
  • Implement, configure, update, and maintain the Linux operating system firewall.
  • Experience in handling NFS, CIFS, and SMB permissions.
Required Experience/Qualifications
  • High school diploma or AA. Preferred - Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science or a related technical discipline, or the equivalent combination of education, technical certifications or training, or work experience.
  • 6+ years of overall demonstrated experience as a RHEL 7 and/or RHEL 8 Servers
  • Must Possess the appropriate baseline certification(s) to achieve DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II (CompTIA Security+ ce) and additional Computing Environment (CE) certification (RHEL7 and/or RHEL 8) When 8140 requirements are implemented on program/contract, employee will need to conform to 8140 certification standards
  • Experience managing RHEL 7 and RHEL 8 Linux servers
  • Highly versed in Linux administration and best practices
  • Familiar with enterprise network architectures
  • Experience with automated configuration management (Ansible, Puppet, Chef, etc.)
  • Familiar in programming/scripting skills for automation (Bash, Ruby, Python, Perl, etc.)
  • General understanding of Linux internals (system calls, file systems, processes, etc.)
  • General understanding of TCP/IP and related protocols (HTTP, FTP, NFS, etc.)
  • Experience with PowerShell scripting engine to automate tasks.
  • Excellent problem solving, analytical, and decision-making capabilities, including understanding user requirements, troubleshooting technical issues, successfully resolving issues and challenges, and developing creative solutions for process improvement.
  • Dependability, in that the individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve.
  • Must have customer service experience as this position will require candidate to engage with senior military and government leadership.
  • Must be able to present your ideas clearly through briefings, meetings, and interaction with leadership of different skill sets.
  • Must be able to provide training sessions as required.
  • Must be able to engage with stakeholders to ensure tasks are progressing and meeting timelines.
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent documentation skills
  • Strong organizational and collaborative skills
  • Strong teamwork and engagement as a project team member.
  • Ability to assimilate information rapidly, motivated to self-study new requirements.
  • Maintain current industry knowledge of relevant concepts, practices, and procedures.
  • Ability to work under time constraints.
  • Adapt to changes in requirements and new projects.
  • Manage or serve as a team lead.
  • Maintain and upgrade certifications.
  • Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.
Special Requirements/Security Clearance
  • Must have a minimum of an active Secret clearance at time of interview and candidate must maintain active clearance.
Employment Type: OTHER