Information Systems Administrator

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking an Information Systems Administrator with strong hands-on experience supporting Kubernetes environments, with a primary focus on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). This role is centered on administering, securing, scaling, and optimizing Kubernetes platforms that support production and development workloads in Microsoft Azure., The ideal candidate will bring experience in Kubernetes operations, Linux administration, containerized environments, automation, and cloud infrastructure. This position will play a key role in maintaining reliable, secure, and high-performing AKS environments, supporting application teams running containerized workloads, and improving the overall maturity of SDL’s Kubernetes platform capabilities., * Designs, deploys, administers, and maintains Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters for development and production environments

• Manages Kubernetes cluster operations, including health monitoring, scaling, upgrading, patching, performance tuning, and lifecycle support
• Supports development teams in deploying, managing, and troubleshooting containerized applications running in AKS and Kubernetes environments
• Configures and supports Kubernetes platform services such as ingress, networking, storage, observability, logging, secrets management, and role-based access control
• Integrates AKS with Azure services and enterprise tooling to support monitoring, CI/CD, governance, and security requirements
• Administers, configures, and maintains enterprise Linux systems that support Kubernetes platform operations and related services
• Performs Linux system hardening, patch management, user and permission administration, and configuration management in accordance with DoW and organizational security requirements
• Automates provisioning, configuration, and platform management using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, or similar technologies
• Implements and maintains infrastructure as code to improve scalability, standardization, repeatability, and recovery
• Monitors and troubleshoots issues across Kubernetes clusters, Linux systems, container workloads, and supporting cloud infrastructure
• Develops and maintains technical documentation, standard operating procedures, runbooks, and system records
• Participates in change management, compliance efforts, system audits, and operational readiness activities
• Works collaboratively with software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and engineering teams to improve platform reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency
• Performs system maintenance while minimizing downtime and customer impact and provides after-hours maintenance or on-call support as needed

• 5+ years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in a related technical field such as IT, computer science, information systems, or systems engineering, or 10+ years of revelant experience in lieu of a degree
• 2+ years of hands-on experience supporting Kubernetes or Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) in production environments
• Demonstrated experience administering Linux systems such as RHEL or Ubuntu in enterprise or mission-critical environments
• Working knowledge of Kubernetes administration, including cluster operations, workloads, RBAC, networking, storage, and troubleshooting
• Experience with container technologies such as Docker, Podman, or similar tools
• Strong Linux security skills, including system hardening, patch management, and configuration management
• Experience with identity and access management in Kubernetes and/or Azure environments
• Proficiency in one or more scripting languages such as Bash, Python, or PowerShell
• Experience with automated deployment and infrastructure tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, or similar
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document technical processes and procedures
• Must be willing to travel, though not a normal expectation
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
• Valid CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) is required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire, * 10+ years of experience in Linux, cloud, or systems administration, or 15+ years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience supporting Kubernetes or AKS in production environments
• Experience operating Kubernetes platform services such as ingress controllers, monitoring and logging stacks, policy enforcement tools, secrets management solutions, or CI/CD integrations
• Experience implementing or maintaining containers and Kubernetes hardening standards such as CIS, DoD STIG, or equivalent
• Hands-on experience aligning AKS, Linux, or DevOps workflows with CMMC and NIST 800-171 requirements, including access control, logging, configuration management, and vulnerability remediation
• Relevant certifications such as Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204), Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (AZ-305), Azure DevOps Engineer (AZ-400), or Kubernetes-focused certifications

• $82,000 - $150,000
• Salary commensurate on education and relevant experience

This range serves as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as role, level, location, market conditions, and individual qualifications, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range displayed in the job advertisement reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries across all US locations. Specific salary details for a candidate’s preferred location can be provided by the recruiter or HR manager during the hiring process.

Why Join SDL? *SDL offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. Visit our Benefits Page to learn more about what we offer.

SDL delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense. Join our team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

At SDL, we strive to uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.