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Linux System Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

RedBeard Solutions

Linux System Engineer

Chantilly, VA

$145K - $160K/yr

Linux System Engineer WORK LOCATION: Chantilly, VA JOB CATEGORY: Information Technology JOB TYPE: Full-Time CITIZENSHIP: United States Citizen CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret/SCI with Poly TRAVEL ...

teKnoluxion

Linux Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA · On-site

Bash & Python) * Standardize system configuration, patching, and deployment processes through ... and engineering Linux systems in enterprise environments, including experience supporting ...

teKnoluxion

Linux Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA

Linux Systems Engineer Springfield, VA or St. Louis, MO Active TS (SCI eligibility) clearance and ... Bash & Python) * Standardize system configuration, patching, and deployment processes through ...

GDIT

Linux Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA

Skills: Linux System Administration, Red Hat Ansible, Scripting Certifications: None Experience ... The Linux Systems Engineer is an active participant in SAFe and Scrum development teams and ...

GDIT

Linux Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA

Skills: Linux System Administration, Red Hat Ansible, Scripting Certifications: None Experience ... The Linux Systems Engineer is an active participant in SAFe and Scrum development teams and ...

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All JobsLinux System Engineer JobsLinux System Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Linux System Engineer information

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How much do linux system engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for linux system engineer in Washington, DC is $57.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.54 and $65.10 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Linux System Engineer vs Linux Administrator?

AspectLinux System EngineerLinux Administrator
CertificationsLinux Professional Institute (LPIC), CompTIA Linux+LPIC, CompTIA Linux+
Work EnvironmentDesigns, develops, and implements Linux systems, often in complex or large-scale environmentsMaintains, monitors, and supports existing Linux systems in daily operations
ResponsibilitiesSystem architecture, scripting, troubleshooting, and optimizationSystem setup, user management, backups, and routine maintenance
Industry UsageIT, cloud services, data centers, enterprise solutionsIT support, network management, server administration

While both roles require Linux certifications and involve working with Linux systems, Linux System Engineers focus on designing and developing Linux infrastructure, whereas Linux Administrators handle daily maintenance and support tasks. The roles often overlap but differ mainly in scope and complexity.

What are Linux System Engineers?

Linux System Engineers are IT professionals who specialize in designing, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Linux-based computer systems and servers. They manage system configurations, install and update software, monitor system performance, and ensure security and reliability. These engineers often automate tasks using scripting languages like Bash or Python and may also configure networks, storage, and cloud environments. Their expertise is critical for organizations that rely on Linux infrastructure for web hosting, application deployment, or enterprise operations.

What are some typical challenges Linux System Engineers face when managing large-scale server infrastructures?

Linux System Engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining system uptime, ensuring security, and managing configuration consistency across a large number of servers. Troubleshooting complex issues can require in-depth knowledge of Linux internals and scripting to automate repetitive tasks. Additionally, collaborating with development and operations teams to ensure smooth deployment of updates and new services is crucial, as is staying updated with rapid changes in open-source technologies.

What Does a Linux System Engineer Do?

As a Linux system engineer, your job duties include designing, implementing, troubleshooting, and monitoring programs created through the Linux system. You handle performance issues, ensure that the company has the proper network infrastructure, and develop new programs and tools for the company. You collaborate with team members to build applications that help others get the most out of the available infrastructure. A Linux system engineer also installs applications and uses software tools and IP network technologies to resolve issues and monitor program performance.

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

To thrive as a Linux System Engineer, you need in-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems, scripting languages (such as Bash or Python), and experience with system administration or a related degree. Familiarity with configuration management tools (like Ansible or Puppet), virtualization platforms, cloud services, and relevant certifications (such as RHCE or CompTIA Linux+) is highly beneficial. Problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing complex systems and collaborating with technical teams. These abilities ensure reliability, security, and efficient operation of critical IT infrastructure.
More about Linux System Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Linux System Engineer jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Linux System Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:
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What job categories do people searching Linux System Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Linux System Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:
Linux System Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Linux System Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,995 per year, or $58.2 per hour.

Linux System Engineer

RedBeard Solutions

Chantilly, VA

$145K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

POSITION: Linux System Engineer

WORK LOCATION: Chantilly, VA

JOB CATEGORY: Information Technology

JOB TYPE: Full-Time

CITIZENSHIP: United States Citizen

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret/SCI with Poly

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: None

We are currently seeking a Linux System Engineer to join our team in Chantilly, VA in support of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The NGA delivers world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, military service members, intelligence professionals, and first responders.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Design, develop, and support cloud initiatives to support customer driven needs
  • Communicate and mitigate operational issues as received. Work to proactively identify RCA of baseline issues and establish a feedback loop to development.
  • Work as a SME to review user metrics, system health, overall performance checkouts and implements proactive measures to support operational availability
  • Responsible for deployment support as a product SME. Provide backfill tasking and troubleshooting script/playbook-based automation processes as necessary.
  • Manage several environments as a Linux SME providing overall support to the program and working with Enterprise Services to ensure compliance with security services and applications.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related discipline plus 4-6 years of professional experience as a Systems Administrator or similar technical role.
  • Proactive self-starter demonstrating a positive, willing attitude and excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Two or more years of experience with Amazon Web Services (S3 Buckets, EC2, Reserved Instances, etc.)
  • Familiar with System Engineering documentation creation (network diagrams, data flows, etc.)
  • Experience working with Agile Team Collaboration tools such as (Jira, Confluence, BitBucket)
  • Strong Linux background and familiarity with best practices of infrastructure management.
  • All candidates must be US CITIZENS to be considered for the position.
  • Must have and be capable of maintaining a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance at the required level.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Oracle COTS product experience (Oracle Access Manager, Oracle Unified Directory, etc.)
  • Experience with Kubernetes
  • Experience with Elastic tools (ElasticSearch, Kibana, Logstash)
  • Experience with AWS and other cloud vendors.
  • Experience with Amazon Web Services technical performance versus cost management
  • Experience with cloud-based architectures
  • Familiar with cross domain architectures at various levels
  • Experience with automated testing and monitoring
  • Experience with Engineering Review Boards and Change Management

To Apply for this Position:

You must have the Minimum Qualifications in your resume to be selected as a candidate.

The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.?

As part of the federal government's transition to the Trusted Workforce 2.0 Continuous Vetting framework, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is expanding enrollment in the FBI Rap Back program for cleared industry personnel beginning April 1, 2026.

Rap Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) is a service provided by the FBI that allows authorized agencies to receive notifications if there are updates to an individual's criminal history record while they hold a security clearance. This supports continuous vetting of cleared personnel.

Per DCSA guidance, we are required to provide the following FBI privacy advisements to all cleared employees:

FBI Privacy Act Notice

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council/privacy-act-statement

Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council/guiding-principles-noncriminal-justice-applicants-privacy-rights

Salary DescriptionUp to $160K USD