Senior Systems Administrator (Linux/HPC)

INODE is a leading information technology (IT) professional services Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) specializing in IT infrastructure, systems engineering, business intelligence, and data science services for federal, state and local organizations. INODE is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator with a strong Linux and scientific systems experience to support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on an IT Support Services contract. The Senior Systems Administrator will maintain responsibility in specialized HPC clusters, virtual server environments, Linux servers, NAS, SANs, and relational databases. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in system administration and optimization, coupled with a strong understanding of scientific software and collaborative research environments. This is a hybrid position in Rockville, MD

Job Requirements:

Must be able to obtain and maintain a US Public Trust clearance

Available to work onsite Monday-Friday standard day hours

HPC Cluster Administration & Optimization

• Manage specialized high-performance computing (HPC) clusters (Sun Grid Engine) ensuring high availability, performance, and scalability
• Monitor cluster resources, apply performance tuning, and troubleshoot complex computational bottlenecks

Server & Virtual Environment Management

• Install, configure, and maintain virtual server environments (VMware ESX) and physical Linux servers (RedHat/CentOS/Scientific Linux)
• Ensure security and stability by applying timely patches, firmware updates, and security best practices

Storage Administration

• Administer and optimize NAS, SANs, and related technologies (Isilon, NexSAN, Dell EMC Data Domain, Coraid) to meet performance and capacity requirements
• Implement and maintain backup/recovery processes and disaster recovery strategies

Database & Application Support

• Install, configure, and manage relational databases (Microsoft SQL, MySQL, Oracle) as well as open-source data solutions
• Collaborate with research teams to install and support a range of scientific software (commercial and open-source), including web-based and command-line tools

Scripting & Automation

• Develop and maintain automation scripts (Perl/Python, shell scripting) to streamline system administration tasks
• Utilize configuration management tools (CFEngine, Scylde) for consistent deployments and system state management

System Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform full-lifecycle support of systems, including requirements definition, design, installation, maintenance, problem diagnosis, and resolution
• Provide timely escalation and reporting for critical issues, ensuring minimal downtime for research staff

Solutions Engineering

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deploy integrated information systems, documenting technical specifications and workflows.
• Contribute to strategies for issue remediation and future avoidance, proposing innovative solutions based on best practices

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with researchers, scientists, and other IT staff to understand and address their computational and data needs
• Provide user training, technical guidance, and excellent customer support aligned with a cooperative, service-oriented attitude
• Cross-trains with Storage/Cloud Systems Administrators to provide continuous and reliable backup of service

Version Control & Documentation

• Employ version control best practices (e.g., Git) for system configuration, scripts, and documentation updates
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of system architectures, configurations, and standard operating procedures

Education and Experience:

• BS degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field or 10+ years of experience in relatable IT field
• 5+ years of experience with Linux administration required
• 3+ years of experience in SAN/NAS administration necessary
• Experience working with Dell PowerScale, Dell Avamar Data Protection, Dell Data Domain and ECS
• Proficiency with RedHat/CentOS/Scientific Linux, including package management, performance tuning, and system security
• Strong scripting skills (Perl/Python, shell) for automation and system maintenance
• Experience with Sun Grid Engine or similar HPC workload schedulers.
• Practical knowledge of VMware ESX, Microsoft SQL, MySQL, Oracle databases necessary
• Demonstrated experience administering HPC clusters, virtual server environments, and large-scale Linux infrastructure.
• Experience using and administering version control systems desired
• Experience working in the scientific or health care IT industry preferred

At INODE, we know that employees who are valued, involved, and both encouraged and supported to grow are what drives our success. As such, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Monthly Office Support Stipend
• Training and Tuition Plan
• 401K Safe Harbor IRA with 3% Employer Contribution and Profit-Sharing Options
• Complimentary Financial Advisement
• Healthcare - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Benefits Advocate Access
• 11 Paid Holidays per Year
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Military, Bereavement, and Parental Leave
• Fitness Membership Sponsorship
• Identity Theft and Legal Protection Services
• Employee Referral Program
• Cash Bonus Incentives for Business Growth

Base Salary: $90,000-110,000 USD

**Final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, certifications and/or experience. Hiring at the maximum range would not be typical in order to allow for future & continued compensation growth.**