Senior linux administrator (active clearance)

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.

This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

The Senior Linux Systems Administrator will design, build, secure, operate, and maintain Linux-based infrastructure supporting a classified federal program. The position is primarily focused on advanced Linux administration, VMware and KVM virtualization, infrastructure deployment, authentication services, vulnerability management, certificate administration, monitoring, and network connectivity.

The successful candidate must be comfortable building infrastructure from the ground up and supporting it throughout its operational lifecycle. The role also includes DevOps and application-support responsibilities, including infrastructure automation, configuration management, source control, CI/CD, API integration, and troubleshooting applications that interface with network and security systems.

Location

This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

• Design and build secure Linux infrastructure from initial requirements through production implementation and operational handoff.
• Install, configure, administer, patch, harden, and troubleshoot Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems.
• Perform advanced command-line administration using Bash and standard Linux diagnostic and management utilities.
• Administer VMware ESXi, vCenter, and vSphere environments, including hosts, virtual machines, templates, storage, virtual networking, certificates, resource allocation, backups, and recovery.
• Build and maintain KVM-based virtualization environments and support evaluation or migration between virtualization platforms.
• Provision physical and virtual servers and integrate them with network, storage, DNS, NTP, directory, monitoring, backup, and security services.
• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot LDAP and Active Directory integrations, including LDAP, LDAPS, bind accounts, directory searches, groups, permissions, and certificate trust.
• Manage the SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle, including private keys, certificate requests, SANs, certificate installation, chain validation, renewal, expiration tracking, and trust troubleshooting.
• Administer Nessus vulnerability-scanning infrastructure, maintain scan configurations and schedules, analyze findings, and support remediation and validation.
• Maintain monitoring and logging platforms such as Zabbix and Elastic Stack.
• Troubleshoot network connectivity involving routing, DNS, ports, protocols, firewalls, switches, NAT, access controls, and application-to-system communication.
• Create and maintain automation using Ansible, Bash, and Python.
• Use Git and GitLab CI/CD to manage infrastructure code, scripts, configurations, and deployment workflows.
• Read, troubleshoot, and make limited modifications to applications or services developed with frameworks such as Flask or Django.
• Support REST API integration between applications, infrastructure platforms, and network or security elements.
• Develop and maintain accurate build guides, system diagrams, configuration records, operational procedures, backup procedures, and recovery documentation.
• Participate in system upgrades, incident response, problem management, capacity planning, and lifecycle management.

This position requires between 5-20% Travel to accommodate customer meetings and servicing hardware on-site.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Six or more years of experience in Linux systems, infrastructure, network, security, or platform administration.
• Advanced administration experience with Ubuntu and RHEL.
• Strong command-line proficiency, including Bash scripting and CLI-based troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience designing and building production infrastructure from the ground up.
• Hands-on experience administering VMware ESXi, vCenter, and vSphere.
• Experience with KVM or comparable Linux-based virtualization technology.
• Experience administering Nessus or a comparable vulnerability-management platform.
• Experience managing SSL/TLS certificates and public-key infrastructure concepts.
• Strong knowledge of LDAP, LDAPS, and Active Directory integration.
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP, routing, DNS, NTP, firewalls, switching, ports, and network troubleshooting.
• Experience with Ansible and infrastructure automation.
• Working knowledge of Python and Git.
• Experience supporting monitoring and logging tools such as Zabbix and Elastic Stack.
• Ability to troubleshoot across operating systems, virtualization, authentication, applications, and network infrastructure.
• Active TS clearance with current SSBI/T5R investigation and CI polygraph, if those remain mandatory for the program.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with GitLab CI/CD.
• Experience supporting Flask or Django applications.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes and containerized services.
• Experience with REST APIs and network-device integrations.
• Experience with backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability design.
• Experience supporting firewalls, switches, and network-security platforms.
• Familiarity with security hardening and compliance requirements for classified or government systems.

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges:

• $82,969 - $110,625 in these states: AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WI, WV, and WY.
• $87,117 - $116,156 in these states: CO, HI, MI, MN, NC, NH, NV, OR, and RI.
• $91,266 - $121,688 in these states: AK, CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, and WA.

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:

• Benefits
• Bonus Structure

Requisition #: 343753

Life at Lumen

Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.

To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:

https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page. Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Privacy Notice

Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:

https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.