United Launch Alliance

IT Linux System Administrator 2

United Launch Alliance$81K — $136K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution.
  • Minimum of 2 years of related work experience.
  • Foundational Linux administration skills (users, permissions, patching).
  • Experience with Linux CLI and common distributions (RHEL, Ubuntu).
  • Basic troubleshooting and understanding of system operations (monitoring, backups).
  • Strong communication skills (verbal and written).
  • Ability to obtain and maintain active DoD TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Support the administration and operation of Linux servers.
  • Monitor system health and escalate issues as necessary.
  • Review system logs to identify errors and failures.
  • Assist with patching and upgrades of systems.
  • Help manage user accounts and access controls.
  • Document operational activities and changes fittingly.
  • Participate in team meetings and incident response activities.

Benefits

  • 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution.
  • Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees.
  • Generous paid time off.
  • Flexible work environments.
  • Enjoy a '9/80 schedule' for every other Friday off.
Full Job Description
Requisition ID: 1843

Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00

Location: ULA - Denver, ULA - Cape Canaveral, ULA - Decatur, ULA - Vandenberg AFB

Relocation: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Job Overview & Responsibilities

At ULA the System Administrator 2 - Linux is an entry-level to early-career role responsible for supporting the day-to-day administration, maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting of Linux systems in a production enterprise environment. This position works under the guidance of senior engineers and architects to help keep infrastructure stable, secure, and operational.

The role includes supporting Linux servers, assisting with patching and upgrades, monitoring system health, reviewing logs, managing user access, documenting work, and helping resolve operational issues. The ideal candidate brings strong foundational Linux skills, a willingness to learn, and a professional, team-oriented approach to day-to-day infrastructure support. Experience with HPC environments is helpful, but Linux administration remains the primary focus.
  • Support the administration, maintenance, and day-to-day operation of Linux servers and related infrastructure.
  • Monitor system health, availability, scheduled jobs, and basic performance indicators, and escalate issues as appropriate.
  • Review system and application logs to identify errors, failures, or abnormal conditions.
  • Assist with patching, upgrades, system maintenance, and routine operational tasks.
  • Help manage user accounts, permissions, and access controls in accordance with team processes.
  • Support backup verification, recovery tasks, and operational checks.
  • Troubleshoot basic to intermediate Linux system issues and work with senior team members on more complex problems.
  • Document system changes, procedures, troubleshooting steps, and operational activities.
  • Participate in incident response, support escalations, and team operating rhythms such as status meetings or daily tag-ups.
  • Assist with automation, scripting, or repeatable operational tasks where appropriate.
  • Partner with teammates across infrastructure, network, security, and support teams to resolve issues and improve service reliability.
  • Provide support for HPC-related systems or workloads when assigned, under guidance from senior staff.


Required Education

Bachelor

Required Years of Experience

Minimum of 2 years of related work experience

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university.
  • Four years of directly related exempt work experience may be used to satisfy the bachelor's degree requirement.
  • Foundational Linux administration skills (e.g., users, permissions, services, storage, patching, logs, monitoring).
  • Experience with Linux CLI and common distributions (e.g., RHEL, Rocky, AlmaLinux, Ubuntu).
  • Basic troubleshooting skills and ability to follow procedures and escalation paths.
  • Understanding of system operations: monitoring, backups, scheduled jobs, and server health.
  • Basic knowledge of networking, storage, and security concepts in Linux environments.
  • Ability to perform routine admin tasks with guidance and document work clearly.
  • Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Detail-oriented, dependable, and able to follow processes.
  • Team-oriented with willingness to learn and take feedback.
  • Sound judgment on when to troubleshoot independently vs. escalate.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain active DoD TS/SCI is required. US citizenship is required.


Preferred Qualifications
• Hands-on Linux experience (internships, coursework, homelab, or prior roles)
• Familiarity with enterprise Linux (e.g., RHEL or similar) and package/service management
• Basic scripting or automation experience (Bash, Python, or similar)
• Exposure to enterprise tools (monitoring, ticketing, documentation, change management)
• Familiarity with virtualization, cloud, or storage platforms
• Exposure to HPC or clustered environments is a plus
• Entry-level certification (RHCSA, Linux+, or similar) is a plus
• Exposure to scripting/automation (Bash, Python, Ansible) is a plus
• Familiarity with virtualization, cloud, or HPC environments is a plus
• Understanding of core admin tasks (users/groups, permissions, storage, log analysis, backups)
• Exposure to configuration management or automation concepts
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks
• Collaborative, professional, and patient when supporting others

Summary Salary Range (for ULA - Denver, ULA - Cape Canaveral, ULA - Decatur, ULA - Vandenberg AFBonly): $81,695.00 - $136,159.00

Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a candidate's experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity, market and business considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to base pay.

We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including:
  • 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
  • Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
  • Generous paid time off
  • Flexible work environments


Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

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.

Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information).

About United Launch Alliance

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The company provides reliable and cost-effective launch services for government and commercial customers, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and other agencies. ULA's launch vehicles include the Atlas V and Delta IV families of rockets, which are designed to meet a wide range of mission requirements. The company is committed to delivering innovative solutions that enable customers to achieve their goals in space.
Learn more about United Launch Alliance
Size
3,500 employees
Industry
Founded
2006

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at United Launch Alliance

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar IT Linux System Administrator 2 jobs: