Linux System Administrator Contract Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Computer World Services Corp (CWS) is seeking a detail-oriented and results-driven System Administrator Team Lead who is responsible for supervising and managing the daily operations, configuration, and performance of enterprise systems within a complex Data Center environment supporting NIEHS mission-critical services. This role leads a team of system administrators responsible for server infrastructure, virtualization platforms, and backup and recovery services. The System Administrator Team Lead ensures optimal system performance, capacity utilization, availability, and compliance with Federal and NIH IT standards while providing technical leadership across VMware and enterprise backup environments.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities Systems Administration Leadership Supervise and manage daily activities related to configuration and operation of enterprise systems, including Windows and Linux server environments Lead system administration team activities supporting mainframe, client/server, and virtualized infrastructures Coordinate workload assignments, prioritization, and operational support activities across the team Provide technical leadership and escalation support for complex system issues VMware Virtualization Oversight Oversee VMware vCenter environments, including virtual machine provisioning, configuration, and lifecycle management Monitor virtual infrastructure performance, resource utilization, and capacity trends Ensure optimal allocation of compute, memory, and storage resources across virtual environments Support virtualization planning, upgrades, and system optimization initiatives Backup & Recovery Oversight Supervise enterprise backup and recovery operations across servers, virtual machines, and storage systems Ensure backup schedules are executed successfully and aligned with organizational policies Oversee restoration testing, including file-level and system-level recovery procedures Ensure compliance with Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) Monitor backup integrity, job success rates, and system reliability System Performance & Capacity Management Plan and monitor system performance, optimization, and resource utilization across enterprise environments Conduct system capacity analysis and forecasting to support infrastructure planning Identify performance bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to ensure system efficiency Support scalability planning for growth in users, applications, and data Operations Support & User Assistance Provide oversight for user support related to access and use of enterprise systems Ensure timely resolution of system access issues and service disruptions Coordinate with support teams to ensure consistent service delivery and user satisfaction Infrastructure Planning & Implementation Participate in planning, design, and implementation of system upgrades and infrastructure enhancements Support evaluation and deployment of new system technologies and tools Collaborate with network, storage, database, and application teams to ensure seamless integration Ensure systems align with enterprise architecture and security requirements Monitoring, Reporting & Compliance Monitor system health, availability, and performance metrics across environments Maintain documentation of system configurations, changes, and operational procedures Provide regular operational reports on system utilization, performance, and incidents Ensure compliance with Federal, NIH, and organizational IT policies and standards Required Technical Skills VMware vCenter administration and virtualization management Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) administration Enterprise backup and recovery systems (e.g., Veeam, Commvault, or equivalent) System performance monitoring and capacity planning User access management and enterprise system support Troubleshooting complex system and infrastructure issues Familiarity with TCP/IP networking concepts and system connectivity Preferred Skills Experience supporting Federal or NIH environments Familiarity with hybrid cloud environments (e.g., Azure integration) Experience with storage systems (SAN, NAS, DASD) Experience with automation and scripting (PowerShell, Bash, Python) ITIL Foundation certification or equivalent IT service management experience Key Competencies Team leadership and task prioritization Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills Capacity planning and performance optimization Effective communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders Operational discipline in high-availability environments Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a mission-critical setting Education & Experience Education Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field Experience 5-8 years of experience in system administration within enterprise IT environments Experience supervising or leading technical teams in Data Center operations Experience supporting VMware and enterprise backup systems Demonstrated experience managing software lifecycle and configuration management processes Certifications VMware VCP (virtualization backbone) Azure Administrator (hybrid cloud) RHCE (Linux operations) Security+ (federal compliance baseline) Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Agile certification Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, or Microsoft certifications ITIL certification preferred Security Clearance * Applicants must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance Computer World Services is an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employer. Current employees and/or qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. Computer World Services is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, Computer World Services will ensure that individuals with disabilities (IWD) are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] . We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information.

These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.