Junior Linux Systems Administrator

Maximus is seeking an entry level, Junior Linux System Administrator to support the administration, security, and automation of our Linux server environment. This role is ideal for recent graduates or early‑career IT professionals with foundational Linux experience and a strong interest in systems administration and DevOps practices. The position provides hands‑on exposure to RHEL, Ansible, VMware, Kubernetes, Docker, OS patching, Java applications, SolarWinds, Splunk, and log aggregation. Mentorship and opportunities to contribute to enterprise patching, monitoring, and automation initiatives are included., Assist in administering Linux (RHEL based) server environments, including provisioning, configuration, and basic troubleshooting.

• Perform OS security patching and vulnerability remediation while following approved change management procedures.
• Support configuration management initiatives using Ansible, including developing and testing playbooks with Molecule.
• Assist with virtualization and server lifecycle operations in VMware vSphere environments.
• Participate in container platform tasks involving Docker and Kubernetes.
• Support monitoring and observability platforms, including SolarWinds.
• Contribute to deploying and supporting Java based application environments and related backend services, such as tomcat, coldfusion.
• Participate in CI/CD processes involving Git workflows, build automation, and deployment pipelines.
• Participate in developing automated tasks utilizing API’s.
• Maintain system configuration documentation and contribute to SOPs and internal knowledge resources.
• Assist with incident troubleshooting, documenting findings, and supporting senior staff with root cause analysis efforts.

Technical degree (B.S.) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (recent graduates encouraged).

• 1+ years of related work experience required.

• Foundational experience with Linux administration, scripting, and basic automation.

• Due to federal requirements, candidates must provide proof of United States Citizenship to be considered.

• Must be qualified to receive Public Trust, high level clearance

• Must be located around the Morrisville, North Carolina area and able to commute to the on-site location.

• Exposure to modern infrastructure and operations tools (Any combination is acceptable; full proficiency is not expected at entry level.), such as:

• Automation & OS: Ansible, RHEL, Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky

• Virtualization & Containers: VMware, Docker, Kubernetes

• Monitoring & Observability: SolarWinds, Prometheus, Grafana

• Applications & Logging: Java/Tomcat, Splunk, Vector

Technical Skills & Certifications:

• Linux System Basics (Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky, RHEL): Familiarity with CLI operations, system services, filesystems, users, and permissions.

• Operating System Updates & Patching: Exposure to apt, yum, dnf, and structured patching workflows through labs or academic projects.

• Introductory Configuration Management – Ansible: Experience writing simple playbooks, managing inventories, and automating routine tasks.

• Virtualization Fundamentals: Understanding of VMware or similar platforms, including VMs, snapshots, and resource concepts.

• Containerization Basics: Introductory experience with Docker or container workflows.

• Monitoring & Performance Awareness: Experience with Grafana, Prometheus, or SolarWinds through labs or internships.

• Log Aggregation Concepts: Familiarity with Splunk, Loki, or Elasticsearch for reading and searching log data.

• Java Application Environment Exposure: Basic understanding of Java or Tomcat from coursework or labs. Key Competencies:

• Adaptable, motivated, eager to learn new technologies

• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities for cross-team collaboration.

• Ability to work collaboratively under the guidance of senor team members

• High attention to detail, documentation, and compliance standards. Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience with CI/CD tools and Git-based workflows.

• Scripting skills in Python, Bash, or PHP for automation and tooling.

• Understanding of how to interact with RESTful APIs, including authentication and JSON paring.

• Awareness of system hardening principles, least privilege, and general security best practices.

• Familiarity with asset management, patch planning, and structured change processes.

• Interest in performance tuning, compliance, and reliability engineering concepts.

• Optional Certifications (Preferred, Not Required):

• CompTIA Linux+

• Red Hat RHCSA

• VMware VCTA

• Ansible Automation Associate

• Docker or Kubernetes Fundamentals

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Maximus compensation is based on various factors including but not limited to job location, a candidate's education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value analysis including seniority and merit systems, as well as internal pay alignment. Annual salary is just one component of Maximus's total compensation package. Other rewards may include short- and long-term incentives as well as program-specific awards. Additionally, Maximus provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off. Compensation ranges may differ based on contract value but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience. An applicant's salary history will not be used in determining compensation. Maximus will comply with regulatory minimum wage rates and exempt salary thresholds in all instances. Accommodations