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Senior Systems Administrator Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Senior System Administrator Alexandria, VA Leidos is hiring a Senior System Administrator to support Red Hat systems operating within the Army Cloud Computing Enterprise Transformation (AC2SP) on ...

Sr Systems Administrator

Reston, VA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Job Summary AnaVation is seeking a Sr. Systems Administrator to join our team and support our mission‑critical customer in Reston, VA. Responsibilities * Plan, design, and implement infrastructure ...

Sr Systems Administrator

Reston, VA · On-site

$89K - $121K/yr

They are seeking a Sr Systems Administrator to support mission-critical customers by managing infrastructure changes, troubleshooting VMware environments, and providing expert level support to junior ...

Sr Systems Administrator

Reston, VA · On-site

$89K - $121K/yr

They are seeking a Sr Systems Administrator to support mission-critical customers by managing and troubleshooting VMware environments, providing expert-level support, and implementing infrastructure ...

Sr. Systems Administrator

Lanham, MD · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

The Subcontractor Senior Systems Administrator is responsible for providing technical support. The following are the required tasks and experience that are expected for this position; other duties ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Systems Administrator information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$50.7K

$105.7K

$148.3K

How much do senior systems administrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior systems administrator in Silver Spring, MD is $105,682.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,900.00 and $120,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior systems administrator?

Senior Systems Administrators are IT professionals responsible for managing and maintaining an organization's computer systems, servers, and networks. They oversee system performance, ensure security, troubleshoot complex issues, and often mentor junior administrators. Their work is critical for minimizing downtime, implementing upgrades, and ensuring the reliability and security of IT infrastructure. Senior Systems Administrators typically have years of experience and deep technical knowledge in areas like operating systems, networking, and cloud platforms.

What does a senior systems administrator do?

A senior systems administrator is an IT professional who manages the network and computer system infrastructure for a company or organization. Your responsibilities may vary depending on your employer; at a large company, you may be in a management position in which you oversee a team or department to design and implement network and database solutions for an organization, perform software programming to expand technological capabilities, or troubleshoot network issues and devise solutions. In a smaller company, you may more directly engage with these duties, supported by a small technical staff.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior systems administrator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Systems Administrator, you need deep expertise in server management, network administration, and operating systems, typically backed by a bachelor’s degree in IT or a related field. Familiarity with tools like VMware, Active Directory, Linux/Windows Server, and certifications such as CompTIA Server+, Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in troubleshooting and collaborating with IT teams. These competencies are crucial for maintaining system reliability, minimizing downtime, and supporting organizational technology needs.

What are some common challenges faced by senior systems administrators, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Systems Administrators often encounter challenges such as managing complex, multi-platform environments, ensuring uptime during upgrades or maintenance, and responding to unexpected technical incidents. Balancing proactive system improvements with urgent troubleshooting is a frequent demand. To address these challenges, it's important to prioritize clear documentation, automate routine tasks where possible, and foster strong communication with IT and non-IT teams. Staying current with industry best practices and security protocols also helps prevent many common issues before they arise.

What is the difference between Senior Systems Administrator vs Systems Engineer?

AspectSenior Systems AdministratorSystems Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires certifications like CompTIA Server+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, or Cisco CCNAOften requires similar certifications, with additional focus on network design and engineering
Work EnvironmentPrimarily manages and maintains existing IT infrastructure within organizationsDesigns, develops, and implements new systems and network solutions
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in IT departments across various industries, focusing on operational stabilityFound in organizations needing system design and integration, often in tech and engineering sectors

While both roles require strong technical skills and certifications, Senior Systems Administrators focus on maintaining and supporting existing systems, whereas Systems Engineers are more involved in designing and implementing new systems and solutions.

Do senior systems administrators make good money?

Senior systems administrators typically earn a competitive salary that reflects their experience, technical skills, and certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco. Their compensation often includes benefits and opportunities for advancement, with salaries varying by industry and location. They are responsible for managing complex IT infrastructure, which justifies higher pay compared to entry-level roles.

How much does a senior systems administrator make in the US?

A senior systems administrator in the US typically earns between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often require strong skills in network management, server administration, and certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco. Salaries can vary based on the complexity of the environment and the size of the organization.

Is a senior systems administrator a high paying job?

A senior systems administrator typically earns a higher salary compared to entry-level roles due to their experience and technical skills in managing complex IT infrastructure. Salaries vary by industry, location, and certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco, but they are generally considered well-compensated within the IT field.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Systems Administrator jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

For Senior Systems Administrator jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Systems Administrator jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Systems Administrator jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Senior Systems Administrator jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Senior Systems Administrator job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Systems Administrator job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,682 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Senior Systems Administrator

Leidos

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$116K - $210K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 496 rated business services


Job description

Senior System Administrator
Alexandria, VA
Leidos is hiring a Senior System Administrator to support Red Hat systems operating within the Army Cloud Computing Enterprise Transformation (AC2SP) on both unclassified and classified networks in Alexandria, VA. This position plays a critical role in maintaining secure, reliable, and high performing environments that support mission operations.
The selected candidate will provide system administration for Red Hat environments, perform daily health checks on classified systems, troubleshoot software and PostgreSQL database issues using the command line, maintain software packages for transfer between unclassified and classified environments, update production, training, and development systems, and support security initiatives through deep system knowledge. Access to classified systems requires onsite support at the Alexandria, VA office. The role also includes providing remote system administration, updates, and troubleshooting support for remote systems.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Provide Tier I, II, and III infrastructure support.
  • Provide technical systems engineering and system administration support.
  • Identify, analyze, and document problems related to program functionality and user interfaces.
  • Ensure the architecture and design of DoD information systems remain functional and secure.
  • Implement security best practices and initiatives across all levels of the infrastructure.
  • Administer and maintain virtualization and container infrastructure, including daily system health checks, application of Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), security updates, and hotfixes to address Information Assurance Vulnerability Alerts (IAVAs).
  • Provide broad spectrum user support, including identifying and responding to customer requirements with a focus on quality assurance, customer satisfaction, help desk functions, and related support activities.
  • Assist with defining DevSecOps best practices for application development teams and support their adoption of these processes.
  • Develop, maintain, and improve real time monitoring and metrics for production environments to enable early issue detection and maintain system quality.
  • Assist with developing and implementing DevSecOps process automation and tooling that establishes standards while enabling application development teams to independently support infrastructure and deployment needs within ODIN or its successor.
  • Support the build, maintenance, enhancement, and updates of the CI/CD pipeline (ODIN or its successor) for delivering new features, fixes, and system updates across development, integration, and production environments.
  • Perform release management support and maintain a continuous testing suite to validate deliverables and ensure quality.
  • Operate, maintain, and support production systems and applications to ensure they remain accessible and available.
  • Recommend operational efficiencies and implement approved improvements in coordination with government stakeholders.
  • Leverage external and internal cloud services, including elastic capacity auto scaling, elastic load balancing, right sizing, disaster recovery strategies, and tiered storage.
  • Assist with DevSecOps processes and tools that support Agile application development teams through continuous integration, testing, and deployment.

Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience. Additional related experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance.
  • Active CompTIA Security+ (or higher) certification.
  • Active Red Hat Certified System Administrator certification.
  • Proficiency in Linux system administration.
  • Experience using PostgreSQL through the command line.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience supporting AWS cloud environments.

AMSOPP1
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
July 31, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

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