CESO Sr. Linux RHEL Engineer

SMS is seeking an experienced Senior Linux RHEL Engineer  to work in the Network Operation Center (NOC) within the CESO environment. As a dynamic systems integrator, SMS offers proven solutions in engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. With expertise in modernizing and optimizing legacy infrastructure and systems, ensuring operational efficiency, and designing, implementing, and managing secure environments, SMS supports business and mission goals with proficiency, quality, and integrity.

With the CESO program, the Defense Information System Agency (DISA) is looking to transform the existing Secure Web Services (SWS) environment, which provides secure information sharing to the community, into a more mature service offering to meet the DoD and intelligence communities.  As part of this task order, Leidos will manage the commercial cloud migration and disestablishment of legacy systems, fully automate the continuous development & continuous integration environment, fourth estate consolidation, professionalize services – ITIL/DevSecOps based processes, improve the customer experience 1st call resolution, and achieve development of a service catalog for Defense Working Capital Fund (DWCF) Model.

This position is in Arlington, VA with occasional/situational travel.

SMS has been serving the advanced information technology needs of the federal government since 1976, delivering talented teams and innovative, cost-effective solutions and services to support our customers’ missions for more than 40 years. SMS is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with offices and on-site operations at customer locations throughout the United States. For additional information on SMS, visit www.sms.com.

Submit your resume today!

Primary Responsibilities

• Transition environment to a LDAP/AD authentication environment using vendor best practices.
• Establish YUM repositories for centralized access across the environment to streamline system patching and application installations and upgrades.
• Provide direction and guidance to junior members of the team to promotes upward mobility within the team.
• Establish system policies and standards that ensure consistent implementation of systems across the environment that can be maintained by members of the NOC. 
• Design, implement, and maintain Linux-based server environments, ensuring scalability, security, and high availability.
• Design, implement, and maintain cloud-based solutions on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Perform system administration tasks, including installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and patch management of Linux servers.
• Monitor system performance and implement optimizations to ensure optimal resource utilization.
• Implement and enforce security best practices across the Linux environment in line with governments standards and STIG requirements.
• Develop and implement automation scripts (Bash, Python, etc.) to streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
• Utilize configuration management tools such as Ansible or Puppet for system automation.
• Automation of manual processes in the software development, build, and testing lifecycle to reduce human errors and improve operation efficiencies.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• In-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems (e.g., Red Hat, Ubuntu, CentOS)
• Installing and maintaining of Linux operating systems, their updates, and install required software in cloud based Virtual Machines (VMs). (In Amazon Web Services (AWS))
• Show a willingness and ability to learn unfamiliar software and systems to fulfill the needs of the project team.
• In-depth Git Versioning Control understanding and ability to migrate codebase between environments for releases.
• Experience working with JSON or YAML to write Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible).
• Comfortable performing YUM updates, VM reboots, creating server certificates, and other common Sys Admin tasks.
• Troubleshooting experience (VM & application logs & tracking down sources/causes of VM or application issues

Basic Qualifications

• IAT Level II Baseline Certification (e.g. CCNA Security, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, CND, SSCP)
• Ability to obtain an Amazon System Operations certification or Amazon Developer certification within 120 days.
• Candidate must possess an active DOD Top Secret level security clearance, and be eligible to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI.
• Will be required to obtain and maintain CI Poly after on-boarding.
• BS and 10+ years of hands-on Systems engineering and administration experience.
• Background in using tools like Ansible or Puppet for system automation.
• Works independently or as part of a team
• Communicates with colleagues across multiple areas (project managers, technical leaders, etc)
• Experience working in a high op-temp, top secret environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experienced with DISA and DISA’s support to mission partners
• Experience with Docker / Kubernetes
• Has experience working with Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux).

SMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

SMS is a veteran-owned network integrator established in 1976.  With an employee retention rate averaging over 5 years, our ability to hire quality people and retain them in a rapidly evolving IT market proves why we are a world-class information technology company. At SMS, we place a high value on quality of service, customer satisfaction, and best-of-breed policies and practices. As a result, SMS is proud to be ISO 9001:2008 Registered and a CMMI Level 3 certified company, ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers, partners and employees.