Senior System Administrator at AeroVironment in Maryland

Senior System Administrator Location: 308 Sentinel Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The System Administrator III is a senior technical contributor responsible for designing, implementing, securing, and maintaining the organization’s core IT infrastructure. This role provides Tier 3 support for complex incidents, leads infrastructure projects, mentors junior staff, and ensures high availability, performance, and security of critical systems. Position Responsibilities Infrastructure Design & Administration Design, install, configure, and maintain servers, virtualization platforms, storage, and core services (e.g., AD, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy). Manage and optimize virtualization environments (e.g., VMware, Nutanx, Hyper-V, or similar) and related storage solutions (SAN/NAS). Administer Windows and/or Linux server environments, including patching, hardening, and lifecycle management. Implement and maintain monitoring, alerting, and logging systems to ensure reliability and performance. Security & Compliance Implement and maintain security controls (OS hardening, access controls, patch management, endpoint security). Collaborate with security teams to support vulnerability management, incident response, and audits. Ensure systems comply with relevant standards and policies (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST, internal IT policies). Maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies; perform regular DR tests. Operational Support (Tier 3) Serve as the highest internal escalation point for complex infrastructure incidents and problems. Troubleshoot advanced issues involving servers, storage, virtualization, networking interactions, and authentication services. Perform root cause analysis for major incidents and implement long-term corrective actions. Develop and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and standard operating procedures. Automation & Continuous Improvement Develop scripts and automation (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python, or configuration management tools) to streamline deployment, configuration, and maintenance. Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and processes to improve reliability, security, and efficiency. Lead or contribute to infrastructure modernization initiatives (e.g., cloud migration, identity modernization, endpoint management). Collaboration & Leadership Lead and/or serve as technical SME on cross-functional projects, upgrades, and new system implementations. Mentor and provide technical guidance to System Administrator I/II and other IT staff. Collaborate closely with application, network, and security teams to deliver end-to-end solutions. Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. 10-15+ years of progressively responsible experience in system administration, with significant experience in medium to large enterprise environments. Demonstrated experience operating as a Tier 3 resource for complex infrastructure issues. An active TS/SCI with Polygraph Salary Range: $170,000 - $250,000 The AV pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors including, but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity as well as alignment with market data. ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify U.S. person status under the ITAR and the EAR.  A “U.S. person” according to their definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee, or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements. Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits. We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us. Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please. Who We Are Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed. What We Do Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status. ITAR