Senior Classified Systems Administrator - Linux RHEL

Location: Cambridge, MA

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Senior Classified Systems Administrator supports the day-to-day activities of users, perform system maintenance, and upkeep of Information Technology and the design, development, documentation and deployment of IT solutions. Duties include data administration, knowledge management, customer service, technical support, network services, system administration and systems security analysis. Installs, configures, troubleshoots, and maintains server configurations (hardware and software) to ensure their confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Also manages accounts, firewalls, and patches. Responsible for implementing access control, resetting passwords, account creation, and general administration.

This role is full time on-site in Cambridge, MA.

Duties/Responsibilities

Additional Job Description

• Applicants selected for this position require an active government Secret security clearance.
• 3-5  years building, deploying, and managing containers with rootless Podman (or comparable runtimes).
• Expert‑level Ansible (playbooks, roles, collections) for large‑scale infrastructure.
• Hands‑on experience with Nexus Repository Manager (Docker, Maven, NuGet, raw).
• Knowledge of Packer for immutable image creation (VM, container, cloud).
• Production deployment and operation of HashiCorp Vault (dynamic secrets, policies, auth methods).
• Design, implement, and maintain robust GitLab CI/CD pipelines (including runners, caching, and security scanning).
• Proven experience deploying, managing, and troubleshooting production Kubernetes clusters; comfortable with Helm, custom resources, and networking.
• Ability to design and evaluate end‑to‑end platform architectures, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security across all layers.
• Strong Linux administration (systemd, networking, security hardening) and comfort with rootless container environments.
• Demonstrated track record of reducing manual toil through code‑driven processes and tooling.
• Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.

Job Location - City

Cambridge

Job Location - State

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code

02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is

$95,000.00 - $245,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role.Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected].