Linux Automation Engineer with Security Clearance

Linux Automation Engineer (Systems Engineer III) Location: DC3 – Linthicum Heights, MD (On-Site) Clearance: Active Secret Salary Range: $110,000 – $140,000 Job Description The Linux Automation Engineer plays a key role in supporting mission-critical systems for a federal cybersecurity program. This role is responsible for administering and automating Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments, building and managing Kubernetes clusters, and supporting hybrid cloud infrastructure across on-premises and Azure environments. The engineer will design and implement automation-first solutions that improve scalability, reliability, performance, and security across containerized workloads. This position supports CI/CD pipelines, cloud-integrated architectures, and modern DevSecOps practices to accelerate application deployment and infrastructure management. Key Responsibilities • Manage and automate Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems using Ansible. Deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters in on-prem and cloud environments. Implement and optimize CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI. Support containerized application deployments using Docker, Kubernetes, and related tooling. Integrate Azure (primary) and AWS services into mission environments. Develop Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) components to improve repeatability and governance. Provide environment monitoring, observability, and performance tuning. Troubleshoot system, network, and security issues in complex hybrid environments. Collaborate with engineering, security, and cloud teams to support mission objectives. Required Qualifications • Experience administering RHEL systems with Ansible automation. Proficiency with Git and GitLab CI workflows. Hands-on experience deploying and managing Kubernetes clusters. Working knowledge of cloud platforms, especially Azure (preferred) and AWS. Understanding of cybersecurity principles, risk, and system hardening. Strong knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, Helm). Familiarity with core networking concepts and protocols. Preferred Qualifications • Experience automating Ansible Playbooks using AWX or Ansible Tower. Experience with enterprise monitoring tools such as Grafana or SolarWinds. Experience working with SIEM platforms such as Splunk. Programming skills in Python, Java, or C#. Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform. Minimum Experience • 5 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree • 3 years of experience with a Master’s degree • 0 years with PhD OR • Additional 4 years of relevant experience + qualifying certification in lieu of a degree Education Requirements Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: Information Systems • Information Technology • Software Engineering • Computer Science • Data Science • Cybersecurity Certification Requirements (DoD IAT Level II) Must hold one active certification: Security+ • GSEC • SSCP • GICSP • CASP+ • CCNP Security • CCSP • Cloud+ • FITSP-O • GFACT