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ASM Research

Systems Administrator Lead

The Systems Administrator Lead coordinates ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management processes, leads planning and execution of upgrades and patch cycles, and mentors junior ...

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$41K

$88.9K

$137.5K

How much do systems administrator lead jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for systems administrator lead in the United States is $88,927.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Systems Administrator Lead?

A Systems Administrator Lead is an IT professional responsible for overseeing a team of system administrators and managing the overall operation, maintenance, and security of an organization's computer systems and networks. They ensure that systems run efficiently, troubleshoot complex technical issues, and implement upgrades or new technologies as needed. Additionally, they often develop policies, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with other departments to support business objectives. Their role is critical in maintaining uptime and ensuring data integrity across the organization's IT infrastructure.

What is the difference between Systems Administrator Lead vs Systems Administrator?

AspectSystems Administrator LeadSystems Administrator
CertificationsCompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, Cisco CCNACompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project coordination, overseeing IT infrastructureMaintaining and supporting IT systems, troubleshooting, daily operations
Employer & Industry UsageIT departments across various industries, often in larger organizationsIT support teams, small to medium businesses, enterprise environments

The Systems Administrator Lead typically has additional responsibilities in team management and project oversight compared to the Systems Administrator. While both roles require similar technical certifications and work in similar environments, the Lead focuses more on leadership and strategic planning, whereas the Systems Administrator concentrates on daily system maintenance and support.

What are some typical challenges a Systems Administrator Lead faces when managing a diverse IT team?

As a Systems Administrator Lead, you may encounter challenges such as aligning team members with varying skill sets, ensuring consistent adherence to security protocols, and coordinating responses to critical system incidents. Balancing project deadlines with ongoing maintenance tasks and facilitating effective communication between stakeholders and technical staff are also common hurdles. Proactively fostering collaboration and continuous learning within your team can help address these challenges and contribute to overall IT performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Systems Administrator Lead, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Systems Administrator Lead, you need advanced knowledge of system architectures, server management, networking, and a relevant degree or certifications such as CompTIA Server+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, or Red Hat Certified System Administrator. Expertise in tools like Active Directory, VMware, Linux/Unix systems, and monitoring platforms is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help manage teams and coordinate with other IT departments. These skills ensure the stability, security, and optimal performance of critical IT infrastructure while effectively guiding and mentoring junior administrators.
More about Systems Administrator Lead jobs
What job categories do people searching Systems Administrator Lead jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Systems Administrator Lead jobs are:
Systems Administrator Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Systems Administrator Lead job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% As Needed, 31% Full Time, and 63% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,927 per year, or $42.8 per hour.
Systems Administrator Lead

Systems Administrator Lead

ASM Research

Remote

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

ASM Research rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 204 rated it services

Job description

Position Overview
The Systems Administrator Lead provides technical and leadership oversight for the administration of servers, operating systems, and core infrastructure services that support mission-critical operations in a federal IT environment. The role directs day-to-day systems administration activities across Windows, Unix, Linux, and virtualization platforms, ensuring high availability, performance, and security for on-premises and cloud workloads. The Systems Administrator Lead coordinates ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management processes, leads planning and execution of upgrades and patch cycles, and mentors junior administrators while enforcing documentation and compliance standards.
Key Responsibilities
  • Administer and optimize enterprise server platforms across Windows Server, Linux distributions, and virtualization technologies such as VMware, ensuring capacity, performance, and resilience.
  • Implement standardized build configurations, automation scripts, and configuration management practices to streamline provisioning and reduce configuration drift.
  • Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex operating system, virtualization, and infrastructure issues affecting mission-critical services, driving permanent fixes for recurring problems.
  • Coordinate with change management to plan and execute patching, upgrades, maintenance windows, and lifecycle management activities with minimal service disruption.
  • Implement and monitor system-level security controls, including hardening, access management, vulnerability remediation, and logging, in collaboration with cybersecurity teams.
  • Oversee monitoring and alerting for system-level events, ensuring timely incident response and alignment with incident and problem management processes.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive system documentation, including build guides, configuration records, inventories, topology diagrams, and recovery procedures to support audits, compliance, and continuity.
  • Lead and mentor systems administration staff, providing technical guidance, enforcing standards, and supporting professional development in a highly regulated environment.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
  • 8+ years of experience in systems administration for Windows, Unix, Linux, or VMware environments, with several years in a lead or senior capacity.
  • Candidates must have experience with Sun Solaris administration
  • Excellent knowledge of relevant operating systems (e.g., Windows Server, Red Hat, CentOS) and virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware vSphere, ESXi) in enterprise environments.
  • Proficiency in scripting languages such as PowerShell, Bash, or Python, and experience with system monitoring, patch management, and performance tuning.
  • Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and coordinate across infrastructure, network, and security teams.
  • Familiarity with ITIL-aligned practices for incident, problem, and change management in support of mission-critical services.
  • Candidates must have a current secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced platform certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, RHCSA/RHCE, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP).
  • Experience leading systems administration teams or mixed on-premises and cloud infrastructure operations in defense or other highly regulated environments.
  • Experience with regulatory and data security best practices applicable to federal IT environments.

Compensation Ranges
Compensation ranges for ASM Research positions vary depending on multiple factors; including but not limited to, location, skill set, level of education, certifications, client requirements, contract-specific affordability, government clearance and investigation level, and years of experience. The compensation displayed for this role is a general guideline based on these factors and is unique to each role. Monetary compensation is one component of ASM's overall compensation and benefits package for employees.
EEO Requirements
It is the policy of ASM that an individual's race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation or national origin are not and will not be considered in any personnel or management decisions. We affirm our commitment to these fundamental policies.
All recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications is done without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, or age. All decisions on employment are made to abide by the principle of equal employment.
Physical Requirements
The physical requirements described in "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" above are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. (For example, "light office duties' or "lifting up to 50 pounds" or "some travel" required.) Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualifying disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the primary functions.
Disclaimer
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

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