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Unix System Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

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Unix System Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$37

$69

$122

How much do unix system engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for unix system engineer in Washington, DC is $69.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.88 and $75.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectUnix System EngineerLinux System Administrator
CertificationsUnix certifications (e.g., UNIX Certified Engineer)Linux certifications (e.g., RHCE, CompTIA Linux+)
Work EnvironmentUnix-based servers, enterprise environmentsLinux servers, data centers, cloud platforms
Employer & IndustryFinancial, telecom, large enterprisesWeb hosting, tech companies, startups
Common TasksSystem setup, scripting, performance tuningServer management, security, automation

Both roles involve managing and maintaining server systems, but Unix System Engineers focus on Unix-based platforms with specialized certifications, while Linux System Administrators primarily work with Linux environments, often requiring Linux-specific skills and certifications. The roles overlap in system setup and troubleshooting but differ in platform specialization and typical industry usage.

How much do Unix System Engineers make?

Unix System Engineers typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in scripting, networking, or cloud environments can command higher salaries.

What does a Unix System Engineer do?

A Unix System Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Unix-based operating systems and servers. They often work with shell scripting, system security, and performance optimization, using tools like SSH, cron, and monitoring software to ensure system stability and efficiency.
Unix System Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Unix System Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,205 per year, or $69.3 per hour.

Unix System Administrator (TS)

Alexandria, VA • On-site

TechOpps Inc.
51 - 200 employees
Learn more about TechOpps Inc.external

Contractor

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Job Description

Production Support Team

Unix System Administrator / Systems Engineer

Location: Alexandria, VA

Clearance: Top Secret

Position Overview:

The successful candidate will participate in a team environment supporting a U.S. Government contract that provides personnel security management to DOD. The position involves the development, test, and production support of a web application with a Sybase database. The candidate will need strong analytical skills, strong communication skills, and extensive experience in UNIX.  Exposure and experience working with various middleware products is preferred.

Essential Function:

The candidate will be involved in the day-to-day support of a UNIX Solaris operating system development environment for a web application with a Sybase database.  Additionally, occasional evening and weekend support for production deployments is required.  Strong analytical skills and experience with the ability to communicate is a must.  Strong understanding of UNIX, Shell scripting, and relational databases is needed. Must be able to work in a team environment and independently with minimum management oversight. Must possess high energy and strong motivation to make a difference.  The work is fast paced and with changing priorities. Task switching without loss of productivity is a must.

Pre-Requisites:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Current DoD Top Secret clearance (based on SSBI investigation)
  • Security+ certification is required, or must be obtained within 3 months
  • UNIX System Administrator certification is preferred
  • 2 - 3 years hands-on experience with the UNIX operating system as a Systems Administrator; preference is that the experience be with Solaris but any Unix OS experience is acceptable.  Experience must include system startup/shutdown, backups, vulnerability management, and Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) product upgrading/loading/troubleshooting.
  • Experience working with middleware products such as Tomcat, Apache, Redhat JBoss-EAP, and Java is preferred
  • Ability to assist with developing procedural and technical documentation
  • Ability to follow project plans (system migrations and software release upgrade)
  • Ability to work evening and weekend hours on a rotational basis for production deployments
  • Experience in supporting software developers in development environments
  • Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills
  • Knowledge of UNIX and web-related security postures, skills and best-practices
  • Must be able to effectively articulate complex, technical concepts to on-site clients, non-technical management and co-contractors
  • Must demonstrate a strong sense of self-motivation and direction
  • A team player
  • Understanding of application development lifecycle processes is a plus
  • Common office software skills (Word, Excel, Visio)
  • Strong motivation to make a difference
  • Familiarity with Department of Defense personnel security issues is a plus

TechOpps Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information on our Company, please visit our website at www.TechOpps.net.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Contact Information:  Please send resumes to Recruiter@TechOpps.net.