Job Location: Greenbelt, MD (Hybrid)

Description

The IT System Administrator is responsible to help employ standards, methodologies, and technical solutions for a team maintaining Windows, Linux, VMWare, on-prem, and AWS environments, and a strong security posture.

This position supports a group of flight dynamics engineers in the GSFC Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF). The FDF is a NASA Mission Essential Infrastructure facility that provides multi-mission navigation services for a wide range of robotic and human space flight spacecraft missions.

Reports To

Sustainment Engineer Project Manager

Responsibilities

• Identify and manage scope, Level of Effort (LOE), interrelationships, and associated risks of required tasks.
• Provide technical knowledge and analysis of specialized tools and technologies.
• Provide high-level functional systems analysis, design, integration, documentation, and implementation guidance.
• Ensure system availability, reliability, and performance.
• Assess the current infrastructure state, identify areas of improvement, and make recommendations regarding technology, processes, and documentation.
• Employ industry best practices.
• Develop, implement, and manage quality processes and standards.
• Support AWS architecture, DevOps, and system cloud migration.
• Support VMware to include Cloud Foundations
• Directly support all system administration activities.
• Support evaluation of system subscriptions and licenses and work with Procurement Analyst to get quotes for submitting renewals.
• Maintaining, building, upgrading the organizations VMware infrastructure.
• Participate in training other personnel on how to use, manage, and troubleshoot the VMware environment.
• Participating in building an AWS environment using Terraform and Docker.
• Design, implement, and maintain a Hybrid VMware/AWS solution.
• Sharing in an onsite support role as Goddard Space Flight Center supporting critical mission activities including launch, docking, and landing for crewed and uncrewed missions.
• Support Microsoft Windows Active Directory and server environment.

• Must have strong VMWare skills employing tools such as SDDC Manager, NSX, Tanzu, and Aria.
• Must have strong AWS skills employing services such as EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, RDS, Docker, Kubernetes, Route 53, etc.
• Must have a strong understanding of computer hardware, operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux), networking protocols, and server administration. Ability in scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) is also beneficial.
• Must be able to diagnose and resolve hardware and software issues efficiently.
• Must be able to troubleshoot network connectivity problems, system errors, and performance bottlenecks.
• Must be able to configure and manage network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Must be able to implement security measures to protect systems from unauthorized access, malware, and other threats.
• Must be able to establish and maintain backup strategies to ensure data integrity and develop disaster recovery plans to minimize downtime during system failures.
• Must be able to monitor system performance, analyze system logs, and proactively optimize system resources (e.g., CPU, memory, storage) to ensure optimal performance and availability.
• Must be able to maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with team members, end-users, and other stakeholders.

• Must be able to automate routine tasks using scripting languages and configuration management tools to streamline administrative processes and improve efficiency.
• Must be able to provide effective support and guidance to end-users, resolving technical issues and ensuring user satisfaction.

• On occasion may be required to be available to provide mission support, such as for launches, which at times may include after hours, overnight, or weekends.

• One or more of the following AWS certifications: Solution Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, or Advanced Networking Specialty.
• One or more of the following certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Server+, GCWN, RHCSA, CISA, or VCP-DCV, VCAP Deploy, VCAP Design, VCDX, or any certification demonstrating advance knowledge in system administration or VMWare.
• Experience working at a NASA facility.

• Have the ability to execute Infrastructure-as-Code, using tools such as Ansible, Terraform, Chef, or Puppet, to automate and manage infrastructure deployments in the cloud and on-prem.

• 5+ years professional experience.
• 5+ years of System Administration experience.
• 2+ years of heavy experience with VMWare vSphere 8.
• 1+ years of heavy experience with VMWare Cloud Foundations (SDDC Manager, NSX, Tanzu, Aria)
• 2+ years of experience working in a SAN/vSAN environment.
• 2+ heavy years of experience with AWS.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and push a cart that contains up to 100 pounds of hardware.
• The employee may be required to walk to various offices and travel to other buildings within the Goddard facility.
• When employee is assigned, it is required to monitor various statuses without a break for extended periods at a time and be able to maintain a professional posture even during stressful situations.
• The employee will be required at times to work in a server room which may be moderately noisy and cold.