Sr. Systems Administrator (VMAdmin)

Job Title: Sr. Systems Administrator (VMAdmin)

Client: US Geological Survey (USGS) Geological Hazards Science Center (GHSC)

Location: ONSITE Golden, CO.

Citizenship: US or Green Card / Permanent Resident if Background Investigation passed

The candidate will work on systems that are complex to plan, configure, and implement. Participate in the monitoring, maintenance, and upgrade of systems to meet the needs of the GHSC as well as document these systems. The candidate will provide specialized support and system administration of all facets of the virtual infrastructure that fit within the larger architectural operation and will participate in all phases of planning, system design, prototyping, development, testing, documentation, and software maintenance.

The candidate will serve as a Tier-1 IT emergency responder providing phone and on-site support.

The candidate will serve as a VMware administrator responsible for virtual infrastructure (VI) as well as all phases of the virtual machine lifecycle (both Linux and Windows). The candidate will also provide administration to virtual server and storage hardware and software.

The candidate will provide ad-hoc support for standard IT tasks such as patching, configuration, user support, and system builds for linux and windows systems following a proper implementation approach.  The candidate will test and verify the implementation meets standards for that assignment and document updates if needed.

• Administer VMware vSphere, ESXi hosts, vCenter, clusters, resource pools, datastores, and virtual networking.
• Deploy, configure, and optimize virtual machines running Windows and various Linux distributions (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu, Rocky).
• Implement and manage HA/DRS, vMotion, snapshots, templates, and automation frameworks.

• Perform architecture planning using concepts such as virtualization, distributed infrastructure, storage networks, and load balancing
• Able to implement approved operations methodology that will ensure the most efficient use of system resources resulting in technically sound, usable solutions
• Provide OS‑level support for Windows Server (2019/2022) and Linux servers (RockyLinux 9,Ubuntu 22), including patching, configuration hardening, authentication, capacity planning and performance tuning.

• Troubleshoot system‑level issues related to virtualization, kernel, drivers, performance, and storage.
• Apply DISA STIGs, USGS/DOI hardening baselines, patch requirements, and security center findings for both VMware and guest OS environments.
• Coordinate vulnerability remediation for Windows, Linux, and VMware components (e.g., Apache Tomcat vulnerabilities on Linux servers, SNMP configuration alerts, etc.).
• Maintain audit readiness and documentation according to federal and bureau policy.
• Support SAN/NAS integration with VMware environments.
• Manage backup and restore operations for VMs using appropriate enterprise backup tools.
• Assist in DR planning, testing, and failover of virtual infrastructure.

• Monitor virtualization health, resource utilization, performance metrics, and capacity.
• Analyze trends and recommend improvements to optimize compute, memory, storage, and network usage.
• Develop automation solutions using PowerShell, PowerCLI, Bash, Ansible, or similar tools.

• Maintain standardized provisioning and configuration workflows across Windows and Linux VM templates.

• Work closely with system admins, network teams, security teams (including vulnerability management), and application owners to ensure stable service delivery.
• Provide Tier 3 technical support and mentor junior staff or contractors.

• Deep understanding of configuration management COTS such as Puppet or similar technology
• Understand using tools such as Kubernetes, Docker, ECS, EKS, NGINX, Apache, Tomcat, Traefik, Atlassian Suite (Jira, Service Desk) Python, shell scripting, Terraform, CDK and other open-source toolkits to enhance and maintain web applications, etc.
• Use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and Open-Source products to develop and support various scientific computing processes and systems
• Understand infrastructure as code concepts and best practices
• Proficient understanding of and using and configuration of back-up software, Rubrik, Veeam, and a solid understanding of back-up policy on-premise and in an AWS environment.

Technologies/Certifications:

• Hands-on experience administering VMware vSphere/ESXi in a production enterprise.

• Strong background supporting both Windows Server and Linux operating systems.
• Experience with virtualization networking concepts, clusters, HA/DRS, and storage integration.
• Understanding of security baselines, patching, and vulnerability remediation.
• Ability to script or automate administrative tasks (PowerShell/PowerCLI/Bash).

• Deep understanding of configuration management COTS such as Puppet or similar technology
• Familiarity with monitoring tools, configuration management, and change control processes.

• Understanding of ETL concepts and data load procedures
• PostgreSQL 9.6 or higher, Solr/Lucene, Elasticsearch AWS RDS and MongoDB, Python, Linux, Windows, Git, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, ECS, EKS, NGINX, Apache, Tomcat, Traefik, Atlassian Suite (Jira, Service Desk), shell scripting, Terraform,
• Strong troubleshooting and documentation skills.

About Inalab Consulting, Inc.

Inalab Consulting is a leading Small Business IT solutions and strategy consulting firm focused on providing solutions that transform enterprise operations in the government and commercial sectors by dependably bridging the gap between business strategy and technology. The company was founded in 2005 and is a privately held company headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. We see technology as an efficient, economical means to an end, and are dedicated to crafting technical solutions that result in increasing interoperable, responsive, and cost-effective enterprises. We are totally focused on providing “Cost-effective Solutions” to our customers.

 Working at Inalab Consulting, Inc.

Inalab is a diverse, prosperous, and rewarding place to work. We provide our employees with competitive benefits, educational assistance, and career growth opportunities. Every employee is valued for their talents and contributions. We all take pride in helping our customers achieve their goals, which in turn contributes to the overall success of the company.

 Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. US citizenship may be required for some positions.

 With our company you will earn a highly competitive salary commensurate with your skill level and experience. You will also enjoy:

• Minimum of two (2) weeks annual paid time off.
• A comprehensive, company-paid medical, dental, and vision plan and life insurance.
• 401K plan with a vesting schedule for company added contributions.

 Inalab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.