Jobs and Careers

Principal Systems Administrator (TS/SCI with Polygraph required)

Annapolis Junction, Maryland, United States, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 27 Jul 2026

💰 $225,000/yr($155,000/yr – $225,000/yr)

About the role

A day in the life:

As a Principal Systems Administrator, you will develop software Tools and Services in a SaaS/PaaS environment. Building an ‘on prem’ cloud offering with open source software using Kubernetes, Docker, Istio, Rook and other cutting edge tools. Expertise and desire to work in a containerized landlord/tenant environment is essential. The contractor shall support the development of Tools and Services that increase the efficiency of software to market, within a DEVOPs culture.

What you bring to the table:

Fifteen (15) years' experience as a SA in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required.
Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required.
Five (5) years of additional SA experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree.
5 years experience performing Unix System Administration including installation, configuration, and support of COTS/GOTS software in a large scale Unix cluster environment
5 years experience writing scripts using Bash/Python
Experience with IaC (Infrastructure as Code) principles and automation tools such as Puppet, SaltStack, and Ansible
Demonstrated experience with the sustainment and support of large Unix Clusters including day-to-day operations, monitoring and problem resolution
Familiar with compliance issues such as STE/STN and PURGE2
Demonstrated experience using system monitoring tools such as Nagios
An active US Government TS/SCI security clearance with Polygraph

Bonus Skills:

Experience with the Atlassian Tool Suite (JIRA, Confluence)
Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker
Experience with container orchestration technologies such as Kubernetes

The total package:

Our total compensation package was strategically designed with our members in mind with the intention to: reward our members for their hard work and commitment to our customers' missions; allow members to share in Red Alpha's success as we continue to grow and expand our footprint; provide long-term career opportunities through stability and internal mobility; and provide the resources our members need to support themselves and their dependents in the form of a robust benefits package. Our total compensation package includes a competitive base salary and benefits such as health, life/disability, 401k, paid time off, professional development, and generous bonus programs. Please visit our benefits tab for additional information.

Salary Range:

Disclosed pay ranges are a general guideline, and are not a guarantee of a final salary or compensation. Our approach in determining final salaries takes into consideration a number of factors such as education, certifications, total years of relevant professional experience, actual level of expertise, and the responsibilities of the role itself.
Based on the outlined roles, responsibilities, and requirements, the projected pay range for this position is $155,000 - $225,000.

Some of our additional perks and benefits include:

Retire sooner than planned: Get closer to retirement with up to 12% in 401k contributions, no match required and immediate vesting.
Have a career AND a life: Enjoy up to 5 weeks of leave (25 days of personal time off) and 11 paid floating holidays.
Stay at your best: As a member, we'll pay 100% of your premiums for comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance. We'll also pay the majority of the premiums for your family. Let's not forge free access to a fully equipped state of the art gym!
Keep current on new technologies and technological advancements: $5250 per year towards ongoing education, trainings, certifications, and maintaining professional memberships.
Dress in style: Spend up to $300 per year on company branded merchandise featuring