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System Administrator

Leidos

San Diego, CAJob$87–157K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$87–157K/yr
Location
San Diego, CA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

DoD IAT Level II CertificationSecret clearance

Job overview

Leidos seeks a Systems Administrator to support classified IT operations across a geographically distributed WAN. The role covers Windows, Active Directory, VMware, and Linux administration; troubleshooting routine infrastructure issues; coordinating with cybersecurity and remote-site teams; and tracking work through resolution. The administrator will also support approved deployments and recovery testing, maintain operational documentation, and help improve repeatable processes.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Windows AdministrationActive DirectoryGroup PolicyDNSVMware vSphereVirtualization AdministrationBackup and RecoveryMicrosoft Hyper-VLinux AdministrationRed Hat Enterprise LinuxUbuntuSoftware InstallationPermissions ManagementService TroubleshootingLog AnalysisOperating System TroubleshootingNetwork TroubleshootingChange ManagementIT Ticketing SystemsDocumentationTask OrganizationRisk Management FrameworkSCAP ScanningSTIG ComplianceVulnerability ReportingWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationTeamworkWindows Server Failover ClusteringVirtualization MigrationDell PowerEdgeDell PowerStoreDell PowerProtectDell PowerVaultSharePointDockerCisco Unified Communications ManagerClassified Systems SupportTACLANE/GEM One OperationsCOMSEC Coordination

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience4+ Years ExperienceActive Final Secret ClearanceDoD IAT Level II Certification

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

Description

Leidos' Corporate Information Security Office, reporting through the Digital sector, is seeking a Systems Administrator to support classified IT operations across a geographically distributed wide-area network (WAN) environment, supporting users, infrastructure, and IT personnel at multiple locations nationwide.

In this role, you will provide hands-on technical support for day-to-day WAN operations across a geographically distributed environment. The role focuses on independently troubleshooting routine issues, working with IT personnel at remote WAN sites, communicating technical status, and following issues through resolution. The role combines strong Windows, Active Directory, and VMware skills with practical Linux experience, sound judgment, and a persistent approach to troubleshooting. The individual will work with senior technical staff, cybersecurity personnel, local IT leadership, and WAN PMO.

Location:

Primary Responsibilities

This role includes a combination of duties to protect information, and maintain security controls, for an entire system, site, or program to reduce risk.

  • Systems administration. Systems administration. Support Windows 11, Windows Server, Active Directory, and VMware vSphere environments, including virtual machine administration, host management, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance. Support account and access administration, Group Policy, patching, and routine backup and recovery.

  • Security and encryption operations. Implement approved hardening and remediation with cybersecurity personnel. Following required training and authorization, support documented TACLANE/GEM One tasks with COMSEC personnel and site teams.

  • Linux and application support. Support Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu, primarily workstations with some server support. Investigate issues involving approved applications and back-end services, using documentation and specialist support when needed.

  • Operational follow-through. Use Jira as the primary intake and tracking mechanism. Maintain clear updates, follow approval and change workflows, communicate with users, and track issues through resolution, including work performed by other team members.

  • Remote-site technical support. Work with IT personnel at geographically dispersed WAN sites to troubleshoot technical issues, exchange technical information, and support resolution of problems across the environment. Assist with implementing approved configurations as needed.

  • Technical troubleshooting and escalation. Troubleshoot routine server, storage, backup, connectivity, and service issues across distributed WAN locations. Gather diagnostic information, work with designated technical specialists, and support resolution of issues requiring additional expertise.

  • Deployments and modernization. Support approved server deployments, recovery testing, and potential virtualization migrations. Document existing configurations and help remote teams implement and validate approved designs.

  • Shared knowledge. Maintain runbooks, configuration records, and troubleshooting notes. Cross-train teammates, improve repeatable processes, and help build backup coverage for recurring operational tasks.

Basic Qualifications

  • Education . Bachelor’s degree with 4-8 years of experience or equivalent relevant industry-standard certifications and experience.

  • Clearance and certification. Active, final Secret clearance, ability to maintain that clearance, and current DoD 8570 / 8140 IAT level II or higher certification such as CompTIA Security+.

  • Windows and identity services. Hands-on Windows workstation and server administration, with strong Active Directory troubleshooting, user/group management, permissions, Group Policy, and DNS knowledge.

  • Virtualization and recovery. Virtualization and recovery. Hands-on experience administering VMware, vSphere in an enterprise environment, including virtual machines, hosts, and routine troubleshooting of virtualization, backup, and recovery issues. Familiarity with Microsoft Hyper-V is also expected to support planned virtualization modernization and migration efforts.

  • Linux administration. Hands-on Linux experience, including familiarity with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu, software installation, permissions, services, logs, and operating-system troubleshooting.

  • Troubleshooting and judgment. Ability to isolate system and basic network-connectivity problems, research unfamiliar issues using approved resources, work within change controls, and recognize when to escalate.

  • Communication and teamwork. Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with technical teams across multiple locations to troubleshoot issues, exchange information, and support problem resolution.

  • Operational discipline. Knowledge of change management procedures, roles, and responsibilities. Experience using an IT ticketing system, maintaining useful documentation, organizing competing tasks, and following issues through resolution in a shared-support environment.

  • Risk management. Experience with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and maintaining compliance artifacts such as SCAP scans, STIGs, and Vulnerability reports.

·

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following is helpful. Candidates are not expected to have experience with every listed platform.

  • Virtual Environments and migrations. Practical Microsoft Hyper-V administration, Windows Server Failover Clustering, or participation in VMware-to-Hyper-V or other virtualization migrations. Experience supporting both VMware, vSphere, and Hyper-V is preferred.

  • Server, storage, and backup platforms. Dell PowerEdge, PowerStore, PowerProtect, or PowerVault administration and troubleshooting, or comparable enterprise platforms.

  • Applications and voice. Familiarity with SharePoint, Docker, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), or other enterprise application and appliance management interfaces.

  • Classified and specialized operations. Experience supporting classified systems, TACLANE/GEM One operations, coordination with COMSEC personnel, or routine HPC support.

  • Workflow and automation. Familiarity with Jira, distributed-site support, and PowerShell or Bash scripting to simplify repeatable administrative tasks.

  • Cloud and continued learning. Introductory cloud knowledge, particularly AWS; foundational cloud or relevant technical certifications; and interest in developing new skills. Production cloud experience is not required.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 27, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits .

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [email protected] .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

REQNUMBER: R-00195584

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Leidos will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in accordance with relevant Laws. Leidos is an equal opportunity employer/disability/vet.

How this job compares

Set against the 2,521 open Systems Administrator jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$87–157K/yr
  • California median$103–152K/yr138 salary ranges
  • US median$85–130K/yr1,681 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $122K, is 6% below the California median midpoint ($130K) — in the middle half of Systems Administrator salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 181 open Systems Administrator jobs in California and 2,521 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience; Systems Administrator postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years at the median (2,169 postings).
Education
723 of the 2,521 open Systems Administrator jobs (29%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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