MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking a Systems Administrator to define, implement, and maintain Linux software infrastructure supporting autonomous systems and robotics research. You will contribute to broader Division-level IT initiatives, ensuring security, compliance, and operational excellence in a fast-paced, mission-driven research environment.
What You'll Do
- Maintain and optimize multi-user Linux systems, including resilient automated provisioning, configuration management, OS builds, patching, and performance tuning.
- Develop and manage automation pipelines (Ansible, Puppet), virtualization (VMware, KVM), and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Implement and support FIPS-compliant environments, privilege management, and PKI-based MFA for local and remote systems. Resolve PKI conflicts between LLAN PKI and DoD CAC environments.
- Design, implement, and maintain secure, segmented, and air-gapped networks to meet DoD/UxS compliance for autonomous systems.
- Provision secure, program-specific virtual desktops with rapid turnaround and customizable resources, including GPU-enabled builds.
- Deploy and manage secure registries, container build pipelines, image scanning, and Kubernetes-based deployment targets.
- Maintain hardware emulation targets and support edge-deployable compute networks for field demonstrations and bench-level testing.
- Support large-scale object storage, SAN/NAS systems, backup/recovery, and high-volume research data workflows.
- Serve as escalation for unresolved issues, assist staff with Linux problems, document processes, and communicate system updates.
What We're Looking For
- A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical field; OR 6+ years of directly related experience in Linux systems engineering and administration.
- Expert-level Linux systems administration in multi-user, compliance-driven environments.
- Strong automation skills (Ansible, Puppet, SaltStack) and scripting (Bash, Python).
- Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware, KVM) including deployment, configuration, optimization, and automation of Linux-based workloads.
- Proven expertise in cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP) covering compute, networking, storage, security, monitoring, and infrastructure automation.
- Proven experience implementing FIPS compliance, enhanced privilege management, and PKI-based MFA in mixed security environments.
- Networking expertise (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, firewalls) with experience designing secure/air-gapped network architectures.
- Experience building and maintaining containerized environments (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes) and associated DevSecOps pipelines.
- Hands-on with SAN/NAS management, backup/recovery, and large-scale storage solutions.
- Ability to support high-compliance environments with strong security, auditing, and incident response processes.
Nice to Have
- CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1/LPIC-2 (Linux Professional Institute Certification)
- Security+ (for cybersecurity fundamentals)
- Network+ (for networking basics)
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) (for advanced Linux expertise)
- ITIL Foundation (for IT service management best practices)
- Advanced Linux administration and shell scripting training
- Virtualization and containerization technologies (e.g., VMware, Docker, Kubernetes) training
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or similar) for hybrid environments training
- Cybersecurity principles and compliance frameworks (NIST, DoD 8140 if applicable) training
- High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) strategies for Linux systems training
- Experience supporting robotics, embedded, and real-time control systems.
- Familiarity with hardware emulation targets for safe testing of compute platforms.
- Knowledge of edge-deployable compute networks, including portable, air-gapped server racks.
- Experience with monitoring/observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack).
- Experience with object storage-backed data lakes for large-scale R&D datasets.
- Prior involvement in vendor evaluation, selection, and compliance monitoring.
- Familiarity with real-time services for remote monitoring and autonomous system support.
Technical Stack
- Linux, Ansible, Puppet, SaltStack, Bash, Python
- VMware, KVM, AWS, Azure, GCP
- Docker, Podman, Kubernetes
- Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack
Team & Environment
You will be part of the Engineering Division’s System Administration Team, supporting the Control & Autonomous Systems Engineering Group.
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary range: $111,400 - $147,500
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
- MIT-funded pension and matching 401K
- Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
- Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
- Mentorship programs
- A range of work-life balance options
Work Mode
This is an onsite position.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.
