Senior System Administrator - Back End Nights Shift

GovCIO is seeking a Senior System Administrator to join our team, supporting a critical program with the U.S. Coast Guard. This position is primarily onsite in the Kearneysville, WV area, with the possibility of occasional remote work based on operational needs and management approval. This is a Back End Nights shift position, working 1845–0700, Thursday through Saturday with rotating Wednesdays, in alignment with 24/7 operational requirements.

The Senior System Administrator will serve as a key technical expert within the Information Technology Operations Center (ITOC), a 24/7 facility dedicated to ensuring the continuous availability, performance, and security of mission‑critical IT systems. This role focuses on advanced administration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of enterprise servers, operating systems, and core IT services supporting Coast Guard operations.

• Manage, maintain, and optimize enterprise servers, operating systems (Windows and Linux), and mission‑critical applications within a demanding 24/7 operational environment.
• Administer and optimize virtualization platforms, including VMware and Hyper‑V, ensuring high availability, redundancy, and efficient resource utilization.
• Oversee and maintain Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and identity/access management systems.
• Utilize system monitoring tools such as Solar Winds to track system health, performance, security events, and capacity trends.
• Implement and enforce enterprise security policies, DISA STIGs, and industry best practices to ensure compliance and protect sensitive information.
• Lead in‑depth troubleshooting of complex infrastructure issues involving server performance, OS‑level problems, virtualization environments, and enterprise applications.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts using Power Shell, Bash, or Python to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
• Create and maintain system documentation, SOPs, and configuration baselines for continuity across the 24/7 shift structure.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams—including network, cybersecurity, and application support—to resolve enterprise issues and improve overall system reliability.
• Provide senior‑level guidance, mentoring, and escalation support for junior and mid‑level administrators.
• Perform shift work in alignment with the ITOC’s 24/7 operational mission, including nights, weekends, and rotating schedules as required..

High School with 9+ years (or commensurate experience)

Required Skills and Experience

• Current DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+).
• Extensive experience managing and maintaining Windows Server and Linux operating systems.
• Proficiency with VMware, Hyper‑V, and enterprise virtualization environments.
• Strong understanding of enterprise security standards, STIGs, and system hardening practices.
• Hands‑on experience with system monitoring tools such as Solar Winds, Splunk, or equivalent.
• Advanced troubleshooting capabilities for server, OS, and application‑level issues.
• Experience automating system tasks via Power Shell, Bash, or similar scripting languages.
• Ability to excel in a fast‑paced, 24/7 operational environment and to work independently during overnight shifts.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and collaboration skills.
• Clearance Requirement:
  Must be clearable up to an active Secret clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Previous experience supporting the U.S. Coast Guard or other DHS/DoD environments.
• Certifications such as Microsoft Certified:
  Azure Administrator Associate, VMware VCP, RHCSA/RHCE, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting enterprise datacenters, large virtualization clusters, and high‑availability server architectures.
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud environments (Azure, AWS) is a plus.

#JP #USCG

GovCIO is a team of transformers--people who are passionate about transforming government IT. Every day, we make a positive impact by delivering innovative IT services and solutions that improve how government agencies operate and serve our citizens.

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