Job DescriptionDescription SAIC is seeking an experienced
Senior System Administration Lead in Colorado Springs, CO to manage and enhance our enterprise IT infrastructure on the NITES program, supporting the critical NORAD/NORTHCOM mission. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise across multiple IT domains; including enterprise virtualization (VDI), database administration, web services, network operations, and Service Validation and Testing (SVAT).
This role requires a proven leader capable of managing, mentoring, and guiding a cross-functional team of specialized IT technicians. This individual will oversee the planning, integration, security, and operational maintenance of a highly demanding, geographically dispersed DoD enterprise environment, ensuring full compliance with DoD policies, Zero Trust architecture, and IT service management standards.
Key Responsibilities: - Team Leadership & Management: Direct and mentor a diverse team of technical specialists (System Administrators, VDI Engineers, DBAs, and SVAT Specialists), ensuring operational excellence and continuous professional development.
- Enterprise Infrastructure Oversight: Manage and optimize complex IT environments encompassing Windows (2016-2025) and RHEL Linux servers, Active Directory, and VMware/Nutanix virtualization technologies (including vSphere, vCenter, and Horizon VDI).
- Database & Web Services Management: Oversee the administration of on-premises and cloud-based databases (SQL, Oracle), IIS, ensuring data integrity, backups, and seamless cross-domain integration.
- Security Integration: Supervise and enforce system security protocols, including OS/Application hardening (DISA STIGs), PKI/SSL certificate management, Comply to Connect, and Zero Trust implementations.
- Quality Assurance & Testing (SVAT): Guide the Service Validation and Testing lifecycle. Review test plans, ensure defect management via Ivanti/ServiceNow, oversee the Test and Integration Laboratory (TIL), and present validation documentation at Configuration Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.
- Documentation & Compliance: Ensure the accurate documentation of system configurations, Plan of Action and Milestones (POAMs), security policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Qualifications TYPICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience.
Required Skills & Qualifications: - Security Clearance: Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI.
- Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, System Engineering, or a related field plus a minimum of 9 years of relevant IT experience (or Associate degree + 11 years, or High School diploma + 13+ years). Must have proven experience in technical leadership or senior administration role within a DoD environment.
Certifications: - Active DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II or III certification (e.g., Security+ CE, SSCP, CISSP, or CASP+).
- Relevant Computing Environment Certification (e.g., Microsoft Certified Azure/Windows Fundamentals, VMware VCP, Nutanix NCP, or Linux equivalent).
Skills / Competencies: - Domain Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of enterprise virtualization, multi-environment databases, collaboration tools (SharePoint/O365), and core networking principles (TCP/IP, OSI).
- DoD Frameworks: Deep knowledge of Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM), DISA STIGs, Risk Management Framework (RMF), and high-assurance platform integration.
- Testing & ITSM: Strong grasp of QA processes, system acceptance testing, defect management, and ITIL-based service delivery.
- Leadership & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot complex problems, make strategic technical decisions, and lead geographically dispersed technical teams.
- Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate detailed technical information to senior leadership, stakeholders, and technical staff.
Preferred Skills / Certifications / Qualifications: - Advanced Certifications: CISSP or Security X; ITIL v3 or v4 Foundation; VMware Certified Professional (VCP/VCAP); Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert; CCNA/CCNP.
- Scripting & Automation: High proficiency in scripting languages such as PowerShell, Python, JavaScript, and Perl for system automation.
- Advanced Architectures: Experience with domain flattening tools, AWS/Google/Azure GovCloud deployments, and advanced data replication/migration projects.
Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.
Overview SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.
