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Sr System Admin Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior System Administrator (C)

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$87K - $118K/yr

SimIS Inc seeks a Senior System Administrator to provide combat system simulation support to the Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling (M) Combat System Simulations Branch (M33), Naval Surface ...

Senior System Administrator (C)

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$87K - $118K/yr

SimIS Inc seeks a Senior System Administrator to provide combat system simulation support to the Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling (M) Combat System Simulations Branch (M33), Naval Surface ...

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 ...

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. System Administrator

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$85K - $111K/yr

Involved in all phases of test system design, including requirements generation, hardware design, software development and system integration. * Monitors internal network and operations.

Sr. System Administrator

Arlington, VA · On-site

$98K - $134K/yr

Managing Windows systems, including Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Window Server 2012, to include 2012 STIG deployment * Building, configuring, and managing Microsoft Windows servers in ...

Showing results 21-40

Sr System Admin information

What is a Sr System Admin?

Sr System Admins, or Senior System Administrators, are IT professionals responsible for managing and maintaining an organization's computer systems, servers, and network infrastructure. They oversee system performance, troubleshoot issues, implement security measures, and ensure data integrity and availability. Sr System Admins often lead projects, mentor junior staff, and play a critical role in planning and executing IT strategies to support business operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr System Admin?

To thrive as a Sr System Admin, you need advanced knowledge of operating systems, network infrastructure, security protocols, and typically a degree in computer science or related field. Proficiency with server virtualization tools, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Server or CompTIA Server+ are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to work independently or lead a team set exceptional candidates apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial to ensure reliable system performance, security, and efficient IT operations in complex enterprise environments.

What are some common challenges Sr System Admins face when managing complex IT infrastructures?

Sr System Admins often encounter challenges such as integrating legacy systems with modern technologies, maintaining high system uptime, and responding quickly to security threats. Balancing proactive maintenance with urgent troubleshooting can be demanding, especially in large, distributed environments. Effective communication and collaboration with network, security, and development teams is essential to ensure seamless operations and swift issue resolution. Staying current with evolving technologies and best practices is also key to successfully managing these challenges.

Do senior system administrators make good money?

Senior system administrators typically earn higher salaries due to their experience, technical skills, and certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco. Their compensation can vary based on industry, location, and company size but generally reflects their advanced responsibilities managing complex IT infrastructure. They often receive benefits like bonuses, overtime, and opportunities for career advancement.

What does a senior system administrator do?

A senior system administrator manages and maintains an organization’s IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, and security systems. They troubleshoot issues, implement updates, and ensure system reliability, often using tools like scripting and monitoring software. They also provide guidance to junior staff and may hold certifications such as CompTIA Server+ or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.

What job categories do people searching Sr System Admin jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Sr System Admin jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Sr System Admin jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Sr System Admin job openings:

Infographic showing various Sr System Admin job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution.

Sr. System Administrator

SMS Data Products Group, Inc.

Fort Belvoir, VA • On-site

$103K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

SMS is seeking a Sr. System Administrator at Fort Belvoir, VA to support the DTRA I3TS Infrastructure Services team to maintain and optimize the Linux production environment. The candidate will be responsible for sustaining Linux servers as well as the conceptualization, design, development and implementation of new Linux capabilities. The candidate is expected work well as a part of the DTRA Systems Administration team using ITIL best practices as well as work independently on assigned tasks. Candidate is expected to support the entire service lifecycle from design through development to production, building and deploying Linux based systems in a virtual environment.

Candidate should be familiar with system automation technologies, basic database administration and tuning. Candidates must demonstrate a high degree of problem-solving ability in a complex environment and be able to communicate effectively, both to the customer and to team members.

Since 1976, SMS has specialized in modernizing legacy IT and sustaining complex enterprise environments for federal agencies. With the goal of building long-term partnerships with our customers, we invest in our employees by providing the training, tools, and support they need to keep critical missions operational, improve performance, and reduce risk. SMS is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with offices and on-site operations at customer locations throughout the United States. For additional information on SMS, visit www.sms.com.

Submit your resume today!

Job Responsibilities

  • Provision servers and environments.
  • Manage user access.
  • Full lifecycle management of Linux servers, including installation, configuration and patching in production and test environments.
  • Automation knowledge scripting in Unix shell and Ansible playbooks.
  • Perform security patching, upgrades, and hardening to meet compliance standards and remediate critical vulnerabilities.
  • Monitor system performance and respond to alerts.
  • Establish and maintain NTP services in the production environment.
  • Maintain satellite servers for the agency, software releases and patches.
  • Experience with the following emerging technologies or equivalent technology: Kubernetes, Open Shift, Containers, GitHub, Ansible Tower
  • Ensure compliance with security standards and practices aligned with DoD STIGs.
  • Experience with web servers and use of certificates
  • Open Source: Apache Hadoop, Zookeeper, Puppet
  • App Servers: JBoss, Tomcat, Jetty, NGINX, HT
  • Be able to work in a fast-paced environment and must be able to work independently.
  • Work on multiple projects, leading projects that fall within the Area of responsibility.
  • Communicate with internal team members across multiple areas and client team members.
  • Provide support on a M-F business hours schedule, also responsible for on-call, extended hour, and weekend support as required by mission or emergency situations.
  • Create, maintain, and implement detailed documentation and maintain standard operating procedures
  • This is an onsite work opportunity with remote work available as approved by the customer. The Primary work location: Fort Belvoir, VA with some work being completed at the Reston, VA location.

Required Qualifications

  • BS with 6-8 years, or MS degree with 4-6 years of experience in IT operations working with Linux servers and Virtualization.
  • Must hold an active, DoD Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • DoD 8570 IAT Level II or III certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CASP+, CISSP).
  • Hands-on experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.
  • Direct experience supporting systems with Red Hat Satellite.
  • Understanding of virtualized infrastructure, server backup and restoral procedures, application of STIGs and cyber hardening approaches.
  • Basic experience with log file analysis
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Red Hat certifications (RHCSA or RHCE).
  • Experience implementing and maintaining DISA STIG compliance using Red Hat Satellite and Ansible.
  • Experience integrating Linux systems with Active Directory or LDAP.
  • Familiarity with virtualization platforms (VMware, KVM).
  • Scripting experience (Bash or Python) to support automation initiatives
  • Experience supporting classified networks or cross-domain environments

Salary Range - $103,000 - $115,000

SMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.