Junior IT System Administrator – NASA Support

Description 

This is a great opportunity for an IT System Administrator at the beginning of his/her career who is interested in supporting and delivering NASA technical solutions in a team environment that is maintaining Windows, Linux, VMWare, on-prem, and AWS environments, and a strong security posture.

This position supports a group of flight dynamics engineers in the GSFC Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF). The FDF is a NASA Mission Essential Infrastructure facility that provides multi-mission navigation services for a wide range of robotic and human space flight spacecraft missions.

Responsibilities

• Utilize new technical skills and analysis of specialized tools and technologies.
• Provide and support high-level functional systems analysis, design, integration, documentation, and implementation effort.
• Ensure and support system availability, reliability, and performance.
• Assess the current infrastructure state, identify areas of improvement, and make recommendations regarding technology, processes, and documentation.
• Employ industry best practices.
• Support AWS architecture, DevOps, and system cloud migration.
• Directly support all system administration activities.
• Evaluate system subscriptions and licenses and work with Procurement Analyst to get quotes for submitting renewals.
• Maintain, build, and upgrade the organizations VMware infrastructure.
• Design, implement, and maintain a Hybrid VMware/AWS solution.
• Share in an onsite support role as Goddard Space Flight Center supporting critical mission activities including launch, docking, and landing for crewed and uncrewed missions.
• Support Microsoft Windows Active Directory and server environment.

Required Skills

• Have a good understanding of computer hardware, operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux), networking protocols, and server administration. Ability in scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) is also beneficial.
• Must be familiar with diagnosing and resolving hardware and software issues efficiently.
• Must be familiar with troubleshoot network connectivity problems, system errors, and performance bottlenecks.
• Must be familiar with configuring and managing network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers.
• Must be familiar with implementing security measures to protect systems from unauthorized access, malware, and other threats.
• Must be familiar with establishing and maintaining backup strategies to ensure data integrity and develop disaster recovery plans to minimize downtime during system failures.
• Must be familiar with monitoring system performance, analyze system logs, and proactively optimize system resources (e.g., CPU, memory, storage) to ensure optimal performance and availability.
• Must be able to maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with team members, end-users, and other stakeholders.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and a customer-centric approach.

• Must be able to provide effective support and guidance to end-users, resolving technical issues and ensuring user satisfaction.
• Familiar with executing Infrastructure-as-Code, using tools such as Ansible, Terraform, Chef, or Puppet, to automate and manage infrastructure deployments in the cloud and on-prem.

• On occasion will be required to be available to provide mission support, such as for launches, which at times may include after hours, overnight, or weekends.
• Must be familiar with presenting and assembling professional presentations.

Desired Skills

• Familiar with automating routine tasks using scripting languages and configuration management tools to streamline administrative processes and improve efficiency.
• Familiar with executing Infrastructure-as-Code, using tools such as Ansible, Terraform, Chef, or Puppet, to automate and manage infrastructure deployments in the cloud and on-prem.
• One or more of the following AWS certifications: Solution Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, or Advanced Networking Specialty.
• One or more of the following certifications: CompTIA A , CompTIA Server , GCWN, RHCSA, CISA, or VCP-DCV, VCAP Deploy, VCAP Design, VCDX, or any certification demonstrating advance knowledge in system administration or VMWare.
• Experience working at a NASA facility.

Required Experience

• 0 - 3 years professional experience.
• 0 - 3 years of System Administration experience.

Required Degree

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related discipline with a GPA of 3.8 or higher.

Equivalent work experience may substitute for degree.

Security Clearance Requirements

Must be eligible to obtain a DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and push a cart that contains up to 100 pounds of hardware. 
• The employee may be required to walk to various offices and travel to other buildings within the Goddard facility.
• When employee is assigned, it is required to monitor various statuses without a break for extended periods at a time and be able to maintain a professional posture even during stressful situations.
• The employee will be required at times to work in a server room which may be moderately noisy and cold.

About Us
Pearl River Technologies (PRT) is an SBA certified HUBZone small, disadvantaged business (SDB) providing professional, technical, and administrative support services to federal, state and local government agencies. Through our support and commitment to the HUBZone program, we successfully offer our customers the highest quality of service, while creating opportunities and growth for our employees.

US citizenship required / EEO/AA / E-Verify Participation

As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, Pearl River Technologies LLC provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to an individual's protected status, including race/ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, disability, military service, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status.