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Senior Unix Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Platform Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$108K - $149K/yr

Senior Platform Engineer Location: Reston VA - HYBRID LOB Name: DCEE - Data Propagation Must have ... Skilled in programming languages like Python, Unix Shell scripting Experience automating repetitive ...

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

The Senior Software Engineer shall perform with a high degree of independence and expertise to ... Minimum 8 years of experience with Unix internals; Java or .NET; XML/JSON; Oracle, Postgres or SQL ...

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA

$127K - $168K/yr

S. Computer Science highly preferred Minimum 8 years of professional experience in progressively more senior software engineering roles Minimum 8 years of experience with Unix internals; Java or

Senior Engineer

Winchester, VA · On-site

$101K - $139K/yr

AMERICA Corporation is seeking a Senior Engineer to gather, analyze and document business ... Knowledge of at least one of MQ, WMB & WTX (5-7 years) Unix, Windows Server, zOS or Linux (5-7 ...

Senior Summit Developer

Reston, VA · On-site

$56.75 - $75/hr

Reston, VA We are currently seeking a Senior Summit Developer to join our team in Reston, VA, focusing on the implementation and configuration of platforms with expertise in C++, Unix, and scripting ...

Apply now: Sr. Elastic Engineer, location is Hybrid. The start date is ASAP for this permanent ... Experience with Linux/Unix administration and networking concepts. * Hands-on experience with cloud ...

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer will implement solutions for complex software products and features ... of experience with Unix internals; Java or .NET; XML/JSON; Oracle, Postgres or SQL Server ...

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

M.S. Computer Science highly preferred • Minimum 8 years of professional experience in progressively more senior software engineering roles • Minimum 8 years of experience with Unix internals;

Sr. Elastic Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$180K - $205K/yr

Everforth ECS is seeking a Sr. Elastic Engineer to join our team in Norfolk, VA . This position is ... Strong Linux/Unix, networking, and cloud platform knowledge (AWS, Azure, GCP). * Ability to mentor ...

Sr. Elastic Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$170K - $210K/yr

ECS is seeking a Sr. Elastic Engineer to work in our Reston, VA office. Please Note: This position ... Strong Linux/Unix, networking, and cloud platform knowledge (AWS, Azure, GCP). * Ability to mentor ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Unix Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$59K

$125.5K

$181.9K

How much do senior unix engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior unix engineer in Virginia is $125,471.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,600.00 and $142,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior Unix engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Unix Engineer, you need deep expertise in Unix/Linux system administration, scripting, troubleshooting, and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with automation tools (such as Ansible or Puppet), shell scripting languages (like Bash or Perl), and certifications like RHCE or CompTIA Linux+ is highly valued. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to mentor junior staff help set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure reliable systems, smooth operations, and robust support for complex enterprise environments.

What does a senior Unix engineer do?

A Senior Unix Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining Unix-based systems within an organization. They handle advanced troubleshooting, system performance tuning, security configurations, and ensure the reliability and scalability of Unix infrastructure. In addition, they often mentor junior engineers, develop automation scripts, and collaborate with other IT teams to support business operations. Their expertise is crucial for managing large-scale, mission-critical environments.

What is the difference between Senior Unix Engineer vs System Administrator?

AspectSenior Unix EngineerSystem Administrator
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Unix/Linux certifications (e.g., RHCE, LPIC)Bachelor's in IT or related field, Linux/Unix certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentDesigning, implementing, and maintaining Unix systems, often in enterprise environmentsManaging daily system operations, troubleshooting, and user support
Industry UsageTech, finance, healthcare, and large enterprisesVaries across industries, including small to large organizations
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on advanced Unix skills and system designFocus on operational support and system maintenance

The main difference is that Senior Unix Engineers focus on designing and optimizing Unix systems, while System Administrators handle daily operations and support. Both roles require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their responsibilities differ in scope and complexity.

What are some of the most common challenges faced by senior Unix engineers in a large enterprise environment?

Senior Unix Engineers in large enterprises often face challenges related to managing complex, heterogeneous server environments and ensuring high availability. Balancing routine maintenance, security patching, and system upgrades with the need to minimize downtime can be demanding. Additionally, staying up to date with evolving technologies and scripting languages, while coordinating with cross-functional teams like network, storage, and application groups, requires strong communication and problem-solving skills.
What job categories do people searching Senior Unix Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Unix Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Unix Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Unix Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Unix Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,471 per year, or $60.3 per hour.

Senior Systems Administrator (Unix/Linux)

Astrion

Dahlgren, VA

$130K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

Overview

Senior Systems Administrator (Unix/Linux)

JOB LOCATION: Dahlgren, Virginia

JOB STATUS: Full Time

CLEARANCE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Less than 10%

SALARY: $130,000 to $140,600

Astrion has a contingent opening for a Senior Systems Administrator (Unix/Linux) supporting the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), located in Dahlgren, VA. As a Senior Systems Administrator (Unix/Linux) you will oversee the administration, configuration, and security of Unix and/or Linux network environments and software systems. This role maintains system resilience through lifecycle infrastructure management, handling everything from hardware deployment and COTS software integration to advanced network optimization and security administration. Operating at the highest tier of technical trust, the you will work to secure environments against modern vulnerabilities and attacks while optimizing multi-environment systems for maximum resource efficiency.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

  • Six (6) years of professional experience in Unix and/or Linux system administration of networks and software systems
  • Experience in system backup and recovery; basic software management; security management and library management; installation and configuration of hardware; operational systems and COTS software; operating computer systems in different operating environments; and sizing, performance, tuning, hardware/software/network trouble shooting and resource allocation.
  • Qualified experience in different network protocols including TCP/IP and major network security tools such as: firewalls, knowledge of computing and networking vulnerabilities, attach methods and latest detection methods.
  • This position is required to be designated as IAT III level with a T5.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

  • Master’s level degree in Electrical/Electronic/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Information Systems.
  • CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CySA+, or CCNA

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