Systems Engineer - OpenShift

Zachary Piper Solutions is currently seeking a Systems Engineer/ Senior OpenShift Administrator to support NIWC Pacific based in San Diego, CA. This position is a full-time role that will be 100% onsite. In this role, you will oversee the health, performance, and stability of enterprise on-premises OpenShift environments supporting U.S. Government operations. You will play a pivotal role in OpenShift administration, infrastructure optimization, automation, and platform security within a mission-driven environment supporting critical national security initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end administration, scaling, maintenance, and architectural optimization of on-premises Red Hat OpenShift clusters.
• Ensure secure, highly available enterprise infrastructure supporting mission-critical applications.
• Monitor cluster health, capacity, and performance, proactively identifying and resolving operational issues.
• Troubleshoot cluster and infrastructure problems using logs, events, system diagnostics, and monitoring tools.
• Configure and maintain cluster security settings, user access controls, RBAC permissions, and network policies.
• Perform software upgrades, security patching, backups, and lifecycle management activities.
• Develop and maintain automation solutions using Bash, Python, and Ansible.
• Collaborate with agile development teams supporting custom applications for government customers.
• Document system configurations, operational procedures, and troubleshooting methodologies.
• Support compliance initiatives, including implementation of Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).
• Assist with Kubernetes platform administration and containerized application support.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on OpenShift best practices and platform optimization.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance
• One DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification:
  • CySA+
  • Security+
  • CCNA Security
  • GICSP
  • GSEC
  • SSCP
• 7+ years of Linux systems administration experience
• 3+ years of proven experience managing and deploying OpenShift environments
• Experience troubleshooting cluster and infrastructure issues
• Strong understanding of Kubernetes fundamentals
• Experience with automation and scripting tools including Bash, Python, and Ansible
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot technical challenges
• Experience creating and maintaining technical documentation

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with SUSE Rancher
• Advanced Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) administration
• STIG implementation and compliance experience
• Enterprise Kubernetes administration experience
• Experience supporting government or defense environments

Compensation

Salary Range: $150,000 - $160,000 depending on experience

Benefits Include:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Sick Leave (where required by law)

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Keywords: OpenShift, Red Hat OpenShift, SUSE Rancher, Rancher, Kubernetes, Linux Administration, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ansible, Bash, Python, Container Platforms, DevOps, Platform Engineering, Infrastructure Engineering, Cluster Administration, Kubernetes Operations, STIG, Security Compliance, Secret Clearance, DoD 8570, Security+, CySA+, GSEC, SSCP, CCNA Security, Systems Engineering, Enterprise Infrastructure, Government IT, High Availability, Automation, Infrastructure Security, Mission-Critical Systems, NIWC Pacific.