Position: Linux Systems Administrator (RHEL / VMware) – NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Location: Huntsville, AL — NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
Workplace Type: On site at MSFC
Residency: Must reside within 50 miles of MSFC (non-negotiable)
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority: Mid level
Compensation: $80,000–$88,000 + Excellent Benefits
Altech Solutions is hiring a Linux Systems Administrator to support NASA enterprise IT and aerospace infrastructure at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This is a hands-on, on-site role for someone who runs RHEL every day and wants that work pointed at NASA mission systems.
You will keep the Linux environment behind NASA operational systems healthy: installing and configuring servers, patching and hardening, tuning performance, managing storage and file systems, automating the repetitive parts, and troubleshooting problems to root cause. Much of that environment runs virtualized, so VMware experience is a real advantage here — not required to apply, but it will move you up the list. You will work alongside database administrators, network engineers, application teams, and NASA customers.
Before You Apply — Two Hard Requirements
• U.S. Citizenship is required — this is a federal contract. We cannot sponsor or transfer visas and cannot accept H-1B, OPT/CPT, EAD, or permanent resident (green card) status. Applications that do not meet this requirement cannot be considered.
• You must live within 50 miles of Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL), or be already relocated at your own expense before your start date. This role is on site. It is non-negotiable and we do not offer relocation assistance.
You must also be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance. Candidates who already hold an active Public Trust are strongly preferred, and an active Secret or higher is a significant plus — it shortens processing considerably.
What You'll Do:
• Install, configure, and maintain Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers — physical and virtual — in support of NASA operational requirements.
• Perform patching, updates, and security hardening, including STIG compliance and vulnerability remediation.
• Monitor system health and performance; tune systems for optimum performance and resolve faults before they reach users.
• Manage storage and file systems — LVM, partitions, NFS, and disk provisioning — and support backup and recovery operations.
• Write and maintain shell or Python scripts, and use configuration management tooling, to automate routine administration.
• Manage user accounts, groups, permissions, and access controls, including directory integration.
• Support the virtual infrastructure the Linux estate runs on — provisioning, patching, and troubleshooting Linux virtual machines, and working with vSphere and ESXi alongside the team.
• Troubleshoot system, service, storage, and network issues to root cause, and document the resolution.
• Develop and maintain system documentation, build records, and standard operating procedures.
• Track and resolve issues through the ticketing system, and support scheduled maintenance and change management.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field
• 6 years of professional Linux systems administration or IT infrastructure experience
• Strong hands-on Red Hat Enterprise Linux administration — installation, configuration, patching, and troubleshooting
• Shell scripting and command-line proficiency; Python or similar a plus
• Working knowledge of storage and file systems — LVM, NFS, partitions, disk provisioning
• Understanding of networking fundamentals and IT security best practices
• Experience with system backups and recovery
• Self-directed, with strong documentation and communication skills
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance or higher
• Residence within 50 miles of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
Preferred Qualifications
• VMware vSphere and ESXi experience — the strongest differentiator for this role after Linux itself
• Active Public Trust clearance (or an active Secret or higher)
• Red Hat certification — RHCSA or RHCE
• CompTIA Security+ or Linux+
• Direct experience supporting government, aerospace, or NASA mission-critical environments
• DISA STIG hardening, SCAP, or OpenSCAP compliance experience
• Configuration management and automation — Ansible, Puppet, or similar
• Windows Server administration alongside Linux
• Enterprise storage — SAN or NAS, RAID, LUN presentation
• Kickstart, Red Hat Satellite, or other automated provisioning tooling
• Familiarity with containers — Podman, Docker, or OpenShift
About Altech Solutions
Altech Solutions is a federal IT services company supporting NASA cyber, infrastructure, field support, and data analytics work across multiple NASA centers. On the AEGIS program we work as a subcontractor to Leidos, supporting NASA's enterprise IT environment. We are small and direct — you will know the people you work for, and your work will be visible.
Altech Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
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