Lead Systems Administrator

SMS Data Products is seeking a dynamic, highly skilled, and motivated Senior Level Cyberspace Functional Lead to join our SysAd team at Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery, AL within the US Air Force AFINC II contract. The position will support the 26th Network Operation Squadron (NOS) Systems Administration’s (SysAd) Cyberspace Operations and Maintenance (O&M) team. A successful candidate will be leading the Enterprise of Things technical team with the organization's mission-critical applications, system platforms, and core services. A candidate will play a vital role in advising and crafting quality technical solutions as needed by leadership as well as coordinating expectations and projects across stakeholders.

We offer 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.

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 45 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.

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Tasks & Leadership Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and provide oversight for Systems Administration section:
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to coordinate and implement enterprise-level projects.
• Determine project requirements, plans and developing work schedules for a team of technical administrators
• Distribute tasks and assignments to achieve daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual goals
• Key liaison with team members, management, and clients to ensure projects are completed and requirements are met across the functional areas.
• Identify risks, understand business requirements, breakdown procedures and form contingency plans for the sections within your domain.
• Analyze existing operations and schedule training sessions and team syncs to discuss projects and current priorities.
• Update work schedules, time-cards, evaluations and perform administrative actions required for the successful management of staff.
• Motivate staff and create a space to foster staff questions and voice concerns toward continuous improvements
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the technology team areas
• Write progress reports and deliver presentations to the relevant stakeholders
• Lead and manage a team of talented engineers, senor/mid-level/junior admins, subject matter experts (SMEs), specialists, integrators, operators by providing guidance, mentoring, and support to provide technical guidance
• Develop and implement strategies for secure and effective utilization of Domain Services and core functional services such as: Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, Terminal Services, LTMA, Microsoft O365 suite, IIS, Exchange SharePoint, SQL, MECM/SCCM/WSUS, SolarWinds Orion, Veritas NetBackup, etc.
• Manage expectations and report project progress to stakeholders, team members, and management.
• Promote knowledge sharing between information owners/users throughout the System Administration team’s operational processes and systems.
• Advise stakeholders on recommended improvements to business processes, services, and capabilities that align to critical business functions in collaboration with organizational stakeholders
• Attend, brief and/or lead technical or leadership meetings with colleagues such as Military, Civilian and Contractors
• Provide updates and status briefs to program or project managers, team managers, principal engineers, subject matter experts or senior staff to ensure their visibility of ongoing efforts.

Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications for this position. If a candidate does not meet all the qualifications, they may still be considered depending upon certification and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles and privacy principles to organizational requirements (relevant to confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, non-repudiation).
• Ability to work pro-actively in identifying risks and proposing solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are critical, including the ability to discuss technical concepts with non-technical personnel.
• Proficiency in developing high quality technical solutions within a large-scale enterprise multi-enclave environment.
• Foundational knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies
• Robust knowledge of systems engineering process, cyber threats and vulnerabilities, specific operation impacts of cybersecurity lapses.
• Systems Administration, Integration and Vulnerability Assessment Competencies:
  • Knowledge of security system design tools, methods, and techniques; database systems; operating systems; embedded systems; N-tiered typologies (including server and client operating systems)
  • Ability to review vulnerability scans and recognize vulnerabilities in security systems
  • Knowledge of various types of computer configuration management techniques, system fault tolerance methodologies, installation, integration, and optimization of system components.
  • Knowledge of key concepts in security management (e.g., Release Management, Patch Management), Security Assessment and Authorization process
  • Skill in executing the integration of hardware and software solution and/or processes
• Information Systems/Network Security Competencies:
  • Knowledge of network security (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, perimeter) architecture concepts including topology, protocols, components, principles (e.g., application of defense-in-depth) and demilitarized zones
  • Ability to set up a physical or logical sub-networks that separates an internal local area network (LAN) from other trusted or untrusted networks
  • Knowledge of network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision to ensure team objectives and contract requests are being met and addressed efficiently. Understand current mission and competing priorities and customer needs
• Demonstrate advanced diagnostics, analytical, critical thinking and troubleshooting skills.
• Passion for continuous learning in Information Technology (IT) technical/infrastructure technologies
• Maintain effective communications with external and internal teams essential to systems, applications, security compliance, IT-as-a-Services (ITaaS) and enterprise of things (EoT) operations
• Manage and evaluate workloads to accommodate and align business objectives, security concerns, and costs.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems and develop effective solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.                                                                                                                                                                                  

Education/Experience

• Associates degree in S.T.E.M. related discipline
• 8 years relevant experience
• or 7 years in DoD/IT environments with enterprise or technical solution experience

Certifications

• Requires One of the following DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification to begin on contract:
  • CompTIA Security+ CE (Continuing Education)
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CE (Continuing Education)
  • (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP)
  • GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
  • (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
• Requires at least ONE or more DoDM 8140.03 Computing Environment/Operating System (CE/OS) Cyberspace Workforce Certification requirement(s) from the list below:
  • DBA: Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
  • SAN: Dell Certified Associate; EMC Information Storage & Management Associate (EMC-ISA).
  • VMware: VMware Certified Professional (VCP)- Data center Virtualization
  • NetBackup: Administration of Veritas NetBackup; Administration of NetBackup and Appliances; or Administration of Veritas Backup Exec

Clearance: 

• Active DoD Secret required or ability to complete investigation process for interim with potential to upgrade.

SMS is a dynamic systems integrator established in 1976, delivering talented teams and innovative, cost-effective solutions and services to support our customers’ missions for more than 47 years. Our ability to hire and retain quality people in a rapidly evolving IT market is proven through our employee retention rate averaging over 3 years. At SMS, we place a high value on quality of service, customer satisfaction, and best-of-breed policies and practices, resulting in CMMI Level 3 certification and ISO registrations including 9001:2015, 20000-1:2018, and ISO/IEC 27001:2013. SMS is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with offices and on-site operations at customer locations throughout the United States. 

SMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.