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IT Specialist (System Administration), IS-2210-11/12
Application Deadline: 19 June 2026
Department: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Cambridge, MA
Compensation: $84,579 - $131,790 / year
Description
OPENING DATE: May 20, 2026
CLOSING DATE: June 19, 2026
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Indefinite (Non-Federal)
DIVISION: Information Technology Services
LOCATION: Cambridge, MA
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates within the local commuting area of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
SAO is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Note: This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 12. Selection will be made at grade level 11. The candidate may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade level, up to grade 12, upon the supervisor's recommendation, based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance, and the employee's qualifications.
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Childcare), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation, as required.
• Complete a Probationary Period if applicable.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTIONThe Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.
SUMMARYThis IT Specialist (Unix Administrator) position is responsible for managing and maintaining Unix-based systems and infrastructure and ensuring optimal performance, security and reliability of IT infrastructure and support of astrophysical data analysis and processing.
MAJOR DUTIES

• System Administration: Configures, installs, and manages Unix-based operating systems on servers and distributed computers, including but not limited to Linux, BSD, and Solaris. Plans and implements the computer management policy and the acquisition of servers and desktops. Manages system and user accounts. Manages cloud based systems and infrastructure. Manages NAS, and DAS systems including Netapp infrastructure.
• Performance Optimization: Monitors system performance and identifies areas for improvement. Optimizes system configurations, file systems, and network configurations to ensure optimal performance, resource utilization, and system response.
• System Security: Plans, implements, and enforces security protocols to protect Unix systems from unauthorized access, data breaches, and security threats. Updates and maintains security policies, access controls, and system firewall configurations in accordance with established organizational policies.
• System Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Develops and implements system monitoring tools and procedures to ensure high availability and reliability. Performs troubleshooting, root cause analysis and timely resolution of system issues. Works closely with cross-functional teams as necessary. Troubleshoots hardware problems and takes corrective action to minimize downtime and expedite repairs. Opens support cases and tracks status of support requests.
• Backup and Recovery: Plans and implements backup and recovery strategies for Unix systems and data. Regularly tests and verifies backups to ensure integrity and availability for disaster recovery.
• Automation and Scripting: Designs and develops automated scripts and tools to increase system administration efficiency and reduce manual efforts. Uses scripting languages such as Bash, Perl, and Python to automate tasks and processes.
• System Upgrades and Patch Management: Plans and executes system upgrades and software installs and develops procedures for both automated and manual system patching, adhering to established change management procedures. Evaluates and tests new software releases and patches for compatibility with existing systems.
• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Creates and maintains comprehensive documentation and knowledge bases including system configuration, processes, and procedures. Shares knowledge and expertise with team members and users and provides technical guidance and mentoring as required.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including developers, network administrators, database administrators, and security teams to ensure integration of Unix systems with other IT components and applications.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
For all positions, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations ;knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

AND
Candidates for grade 11 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, such as established proficiency in diagnosing and troubleshooting operating system, application, and hardware issues, and experience with research and deploying new technologies.
Candidates for grade 12 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, such a strong understanding of Unix system internals, file systems, processes, and networking concepts.
OR
Grade 11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding in Unix-based operating systems, including CentOS, RedHat, Rocky Linux and the ability to organize and administer complex systems of distributed computers and file servers into a cohesive system. Knowledge of NIS, NFS, automounter and LDAP.
• Experience with direct attached storage (DAS) and network attached storage (NAS) systems. Experience with Netapp storage provisioning, volume management, data replication, snapshots, snapmirroring, and deduplication and storage security and data protection practices. Experience with NetApp NFS, iSCSI, and CIFS/SMB protocols. Familiarity with NetApp backup and restore procedures and NetApp management tools.
• Strong understanding of Unix system internals, file systems, processes, and networking concepts.
• Knowledge in system administration tools, utilities, commands, and command line interfaces and scripting languages such as Python, Perl and BASH. Knowledge of programming languages used by scientific staff such as C, Fortran, Python.
• Experience with system performance monitoring and tuning tools and automation and configuration management tools like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet.
• Knowledge of Google Compute Engine Virtual Machines and Qemu KVM
• Knowledge of security in a distributed, Internet-connected environment, the ability to keep up-to-date with new security issues and vulnerabilities as they are announced. Knowledge of security best practices and with security monitoring tools for Unix and network systems.

Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resume/CV should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. College Transcript should be provided if using education for qualification.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/