Linux System Engineer

Job Title: Linux System Engineer

Career Level From: Associate

Career Level To: Senior Specialist

Organization: Operating Systems (51130661)

Job Specialty: System Administration

What You'll Do

As a Linux System Engineer, you will support national security missions critical to the safety, security, and effectiveness of the United States nuclear weapons stockpile. You will operate within the IT Infrastructure organization, administering and modernizing Linux systems across a large, distributed, and highly regulated environment.

You will install, configure, maintain, and enhance Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems; manage lifecycle operations through Red Hat Satellite; and automate provisioning, configuration, compliance, and remediation using Ansible Automation Platform (AAP). You will collaborate with engineering, cybersecurity, project management, and operations teams to ensure stability, governance, zero‑trust alignment, and compliance with Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) requirements.

Additional Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and optimize core Linux-based infrastructure.
• Manage lifecycle operations through Red Hat Satellite, including host onboarding, content views, patching, provisioning, and remote execution.
• Implement automation using Ansible and Ansible Automation Platform.
• Create and maintain enterprise automation content for provisioning, configuration enforcement, and compliance.
• Support Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), certificate-based authentication, RSA infrastructure, and identity integrations.
• Install, configure, and maintain Linux-based third‑party and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications.
• Ensure configuration compliance with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Baseline Architecture and Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) requirements.
• Provide after-hours emergency support and occasional weekend maintenance.
• Maintain accurate runbooks, operational procedures, system documentation, and training materials.
• Partner with engineering and the Enterprise Architecture Office to implement new capabilities.
• Work with the Network Operations Center to implement monitoring and proactive remediation strategies.
• Assess hardware/software compatibility and provide lifecycle recommendations.
• Troubleshoot issues across Operating System (OS), application, container, and networking stacks.
• Follow change control processes for updates and enhancements.
• Lead requirement analysis and evaluation of alternatives when needed.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline.
• OR Master's degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline.
• OR applicants without a bachelor's degree may be considered based on a combination of at least 8 years of completed education and/or relevant experience

Not applicable.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science/IT with 4+ years experience, or Master’s with 2+ years
• Experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux in production environments
• Familiarity with Red Hat Satellite for patching, provisioning, and lifecycle management
• Foundational experience with Ansible automation
• Ability to adhere to DOE/NNSA cybersecurity directives, STIG/Security Requirements Guide (SRG) requirements, and secure configuration standards
• Understanding of basic networking, Security Enhanced Linuc (SELinux), identity management, and storage concepts
• Ability to document procedures, collaborate effectively, and resolve technical issues
• Experience deploying or operating Ansible Automation Platform, including controller, execution nodes, and automation hub
• Experience with VMware virtualized environments
• Experience with enterprise storage systems (Pure Storage, NetApp)
• Experience implementing hardened configurations aligned with RHEL Baseline
• Experience with backup and recovery workflows
• Understanding of interactions between applications, operating systems, and third‑party integrations
• General networking knowledge (Domain Name System (DNS), routing, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), firewall concepts)
• Experience securing Linux systems (System Security Services Daemon (SSSD), certificate‑based auth, smartcard, RSA)
• Familiarity with container tooling (Podman), Universal Base Images (UBI) images, and emerging modernization efforts
• Experience with monitoring/observability tools and centralized logging
• Experience supporting Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), RSA, and identity management solutions

At Pantex, you won't just find a job—you’ll discover a career of purpose safeguarding national security through work performed nowhere else on Earth. We empower dedicated, innovative individuals like you to achieve their greatest impact surrounded by exceptional talent and limitless opportunities for professional growth.

When you #JointheMission, you choose a lifetime career where your commitment is genuinely valued and rewarded. At Pantex, we believe that extraordinary talent thrives when supported by a balanced life. Discover the flexibility that empowers you to excel, coupled with a benefits package designed for your total peace of mind from comprehensive health coverage and robust retirement planning, to opportunities for continuous learning through education reimbursement.

Notes

The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.

If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.

Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.

Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP). If HRP is required, candidate must complete a counterintelligence-scope polygraph, pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 709. Medical requirements may apply.

Pantex is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to random selection for drug testing without advance notification.

Pantex is an equal opportunity employer, and does not tolerate discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law. Such terms and conditions of employment include, but are not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. Pantex takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans; including disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active-duty wartime, or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.