Principal System Administrator

At ARA, we strive to hire valuable colleagues with not only the right skills but also that demonstrate our core values of passion, freedom, service, and growth. As a Principal System Administrator on our team, you are the backbone of our customer support and will be responsible for implementing and maintaining IT systems critical to the success of our projects as well as national security. Everyone who works here is important, from new faces to those who have worked here since the beginning. Your contribution matters and you'll have the opportunity to make a real-world impact by joining our team!

As a valued team contributor, your tasks will include providing support for implementation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of Information Technology (IT) systems. Managing IT system infrastructure and any processes related to these systems. Providing support to IT systems including day-to-day operations, monitoring, and problem resolution for all of the client/server/storage/network devices, mobile devices, etc. Providing Tier 1 (Help Desk) and Tier 2 (Escalation) problem identification, diagnosis, and resolution of problems. Providing support for the escalation and communication of status to agency management and internal customers. Providing support for the dispatch system and hardware problems and remaining involved in the resolution process. Configuring and managing UNIX and Windows operating systems and installing/loading operating system software, troubleshooting, maintaining the integrity, and configuring network components along with implementing operating systems enhancements to improve reliability and performance.

Principal System Administrator Required Experience & Skills:

• Hold an active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph Security Clearance
• BS Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related degree along with 15 years of relevant experience OR 20 years of related experience in lieu of a degree
• Provide support for implementation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of IT systems
• Provide Tier 1 (Help Desk) problem identification, diagnosis, and resolution of problems
• Manage the daily activities of configuration and operation of IT systems
• Provide support to IT systems including day-to-day operations, monitoring, and problem resolution for all of the client/server/storage/network devices, mobile devices, etc.
• Provide support for the escalation and communication of status to agency management and internal customers
• Optimize system operations and resource utilization, and perform system capacity analysis and planning
• Provide support for the dispatch system and hardware problems and remains involved in the resolution process
• Configure and manage UNIX and Windows (or other applicable) operating systems and install/loads operating system software, troubleshoot, maintain the integrity of and configure network components, along with implementing operating systems enhancements to improve reliability and performance
• Support the design of systems, mission architecture, and associated hardware
• Possess a working knowledge and understanding of system administration interdependencies as part of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• Analyze and resolve complex problems associated with server hardware, applications, and software integration

Anticipated salary range: $132,825 - $162,900. Offer may vary depending on experience and skill set.

Who is ARA?

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 1,700 employee-owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software, and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norms. The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. Employee ownership ensures you have a voice in what happens in the company. We are also very proud of our Women's Initiative Network (WIN), whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.

To find out more about what the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Division has to offer, visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)