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Principal Systems Administrator – Avionics (Rancho Bernardo CA and Sigonella Italy)

Northrop Grumman

San Diego, CAFull-time$104–155K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$104–155K/yr
Location
San Diego, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Citizenship required

Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Security+ CE Or Within 6 Months, requiredTop Secret clearance, required

Job overview

Northrop Grumman seeks a Principal Systems Administrator to support its Avionics Engineering Organization. The role is onsite in Rancho Bernardo, California, with frequent travel to Sigonella, Italy, and involves administering Windows/VMware and Linux/Red Hat systems for a classified government contract. The administrator maintains multi-user systems, supports security and reliability, and coordinates with engineering, IT, customers, and vendors.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Windows Server Administration, requiredDomain Architecture, requiredMulti-Network Administration, requiredWindows Administration, nice to haveLinux Administration, nice to haveVMware, nice to haveNISPOM, nice to haveDCID 6/3-ICD 503, nice to haveRisk Management Framework, nice to haveSTIG, nice to haveJAFAN, nice to haveJSIG, nice to haveComputer Hardware Configuration, nice to haveServer Management, nice to haveBasic Networking, nice to haveCisco, nice to haveActive Directory, nice to haveLDAP, nice to haveSAN Storage, nice to haveScripting, nice to haveSystem Imaging, nice to haveSystem Deployment, nice to haveCertification and Accreditation, nice to haveWritten Communication, nice to haveOral Communication, nice to haveLifting 40 Pounds, requiredAfter-Hours Availability, requiredWeekend Availability, requiredTravel, required

Qualifications

Bachelor's+5, Master's+3, Associate+8, HS+9, or Certifications+8 Years, requiredSecurity+ CE or Within 6 Months, requiredActive US Top Secret Clearance, requiredCurrent Security+ CE, CASP, CISSP or Similar, nice to haveDoD 8570/8140-03 OS Certification, nice to have

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 50% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Systems Administrator – Avionics to join the team of qualified individuals in our Avionics Engineering Organization. This role is located onsite in Rancho Bernardo, CA with frequent travel to Sigonella, Italy.

In this role, you will support the Avionics team by maintaining smooth operation of multi-user computer systems, including coordination with network, software, and system engineers, PC desktop technicians, project managers, end users, and customer and IT management. You will also be responsible for performing as a Windows\VMware and Linux\Redhat System Administrator for a classified government contract.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at the Rancho Bernardo, CA facility with frequent travel to Sigonella, Italy. This position requires the ability to travel up to 50% of the time.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Perform as a Windows\VMware System Administrator for a classified government contract.

  • Perform as a Linux\Redhat System Administrator for a classified government contract.

  • Maintain smooth operation of multi-user computer systems, including coordination with network, software, and system engineers, PC desktop technicians, project managers, end users, and customer and IT management.

  • Analyze internal and external customer requirements and determine equipment and software requirements for solutions to problems by means of automated systems.

  • Review recommendations and system enhancements that will improve the performance and reliability of the system including installing, upgrading/patching, monitoring, problem resolution, and configuration management.

  • Provide backup and recovery services; manage file systems and disk space; manage virus protection on a routine basis.

  • Create and maintain user and computer accounts and modify file permissions and security access lists.

  • Test new releases of products to ensure compatibility and minimize user impact.

  • Develop and document technical processes and procedures as needed.

  • Interact, meet, discuss, and troubleshoot issues with vendors; evaluate vendor products, services, and suggestions.

  • Adhere to strict Information Systems security guidelines in all cases.

  • Maintain security audit and logging information on all classified networked and standalone computers as directed by the Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM).

  • Prepare security documentation for input to Computer Security.

  • Report project status as required for all recurring and non-recurring efforts.

  • Work independently to determine and develop approach to solutions.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Must have a Bachelor’s degree AND 5 years of related professional or military Systems Administration experience, OR Master’s degree AND 3 years of related professional or military Systems Administration experience OR Associate degree AND 8 years of related professional or military Systems Administration experience OR High School Diploma AND 9 years of related professional or military Systems Administration experience in lieu of degree OR have relevant certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or other relevant Industry Certifications AND 8 years of related professional or military Systems Administration experience in lieu of degree.

  • Must have Current Security + CE, or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire date.

  • Must have experience managing Windows Server OS and domain architecture.

  • Must have ability to support multiple networks, ensure necessary administration tasks are completed, and direct others as necessary.

  • Must have ability to lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.

  • Must have ability to work after hours and weekends as needed.

  • Must have the ability to travel up to 50% of the time.

  • Must have an Active US Government Top Secret Clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience operating under and managing systems within NISPOM Chapter 8, DCID 6/3-ICD 503, RMF, STIG, JAFAN, or JSIG information system environments.

  • Experience installing, configuring, and maintaining computer hardware in a networked environment.

  • Server management experience.

  • Currently valid Security+ CE, CASP, CISSP or similar security certification.

  • Windows domain architecture experience.

  • Demonstrated understanding of basic networking, including subnets, routing, and VLANs; Cisco experience and/or certification.

  • Windows AD, LDAP, VMWare, and knowledge of SAN storage systems.

  • Linux Operating System experience and/or certification for current versions.

  • VMWare experience with current version.

  • Rudimentary Scripting experience.

  • Experience with the creation and deployment of system images in an enterprise environment. - Experience with Certification & Accreditation process.

  • DoD 8570 / 8140-03 Certification in a primary OS (Windows, Linux, Cisco).

  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization, with internal and external customers, in written and oral format.

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Job Category: Information Technology

How this job compares

Set against the 2,264 open Systems Administrator jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 14, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$104–155K/yr
  • California median$103–160K/yr140 salary ranges
  • US median$94–150K/yr1,471 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $130K, is 3% below the California median midpoint ($133K) — in the middle half of Systems Administrator salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 203 open Systems Administrator jobs in California and 2,264 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Systems Administrator postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (1,904 postings).
Education
351 of the 2,264 open Systems Administrator jobs (16%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 14, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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