Description Are you an accomplished senior systems administrator who also enjoys leading people and services? Do you have deep experience supporting classified environments-and the desire to guide others while remaining "hands on keyboard" a lot of the time? If so, we invite you to join our team at APL! We are ranked as one of Computerworld's Top Places to Work in IT six years running, and are seeking an Section Supervisor - Classified IT Systems Administration who will function as a senior Tier 3/4 hands-on systems administrator and technical lead, with supervisory responsibilities-leadership, mentoring, and service management-embedded in daily technical work. This blended role requires deep technical expertise and broad leadership to deliver secure, reliable, and innovative IT solutions for critically important programs.
In this role, you will: - Act as the senior Tier 3/4 point of contact for complex system administration issues related to virtualization platforms, HPC clusters, cross domain integrations, and multi-site secure networks.
- Build, implement, and maintain robust technical solutions that meet or exceed regulatory security standards.
- Lead technical problem-solving, root cause analysis, and remediation of critical incidents, ensuring high availability and performance.
- Automate build, configuration, and compliance activities using scripting or infrastructure as code where practical.
- Develop and maintain detailed user documentation, runbooks, and lifecycle plans.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop a small team of systems administrators, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.
- Manage staff alignment to work, maintaining positive quality of life to work ratios and hiring when necessary.
- Apply ITIL aligned service management and sound project management practices to prioritize work, manage backlogs, and meet service level objectives.
- Coordinate technology roadmaps and major upgrades, balancing operational risk with mission needs.
- Communicate complex technical and service information to sponsors, users, and senior leadership in clear, actionable terms.
- Champion continuous improvement-encouraging innovation, acknowledging "noble failures," and refining processes based on lessons learned.
Qualifications You will meet our minimum qualifications if you: - Hold a BS degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Possess 5 + years of senior level system administration experience in classified environments.
- Have experience applying ITIL or project management methodologies within IT operations.
- Demonstrate effective leadership and mentoring skills.
- Hold (or can obtain) an IAT Level II certification (e.g., Security+ CE).
- Hold an active Top Secret security clearance and be able to obtain an SCI. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.
You will exceed our minimum qualifications if you: - Bring 8+ years system administration experience and 5 + years leading technical teams.
- Hold advanced certifications such as ITIL 4 Managing Professional, ITIL v3 Expert, or PMI PMP.
- Have deep expertise with DevSecOps pipelines, large hybrid Windows/Linux enclaves, or HPC environments of 100 + nodes.
- Demonstrate proven success managing IT compliance with complex regulatory requirements.
- Have guided multi-phase IT infrastructure projects from conception through operational hand off.
About Us Why Work at APL? The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate $105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate $265,000 Annually
