IT Linux System Administrator 2Date: Jul 6, 2026
Location: Centennial, CO, US, 80112 Cape Canaveral, FL, US, 32925 Decatur, AL, US, 35601 Vandenberg AFB, CA, US, 93437
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Company: United Launch Alliance
Requisition ID: 1843
Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00
Location: ULA - Denver, ULA - Cape Canaveral, ULA - Decatur, ULA - Vandenberg AFB
Relocation: No
Travel Requirements: 10%
At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team.
Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!
Job Overview & Responsibilities
At ULA the System Administrator 2 – Linux is an entry-level to early-career role responsible for supporting the day-to-day administration, maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting of Linux systems in a production enterprise environment. This position works under the guidance of senior engineers and architects to help keep infrastructure stable, secure, and operational.
The role includes supporting Linux servers, assisting with patching and upgrades, monitoring system health, reviewing logs, managing user access, documenting work, and helping resolve operational issues. The ideal candidate brings strong foundational Linux skills, a willingness to learn, and a professional, team-oriented approach to day-to-day infrastructure support. Experience with HPC environments is helpful, but Linux administration remains the primary focus.
Support the administration, maintenance, and day-to-day operation of Linux servers and related infrastructure.
Monitor system health, availability, scheduled jobs, and basic performance indicators, and escalate issues as appropriate.
Review system and application logs to identify errors, failures, or abnormal conditions.
Assist with patching, upgrades, system maintenance, and routine operational tasks.
Help manage user accounts, permissions, and access controls in accordance with team processes.
Support backup verification, recovery tasks, and operational checks.
Troubleshoot basic to intermediate Linux system issues and work with senior team members on more complex problems.
Document system changes, procedures, troubleshooting steps, and operational activities.
Participate in incident response, support escalations, and team operating rhythms such as status meetings or daily tag-ups.
Assist with automation, scripting, or repeatable operational tasks where appropriate.
Partner with teammates across infrastructure, network, security, and support teams to resolve issues and improve service reliability.
Provide support for HPC-related systems or workloads when assigned, under guidance from senior staff.
Required Education
Bachelor
Required Years of Experience
Minimum of 2 years of related work experience
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university.
Four years of directly related exempt work experience may be used to satisfy the bachelor’s degree requirement.
Foundational Linux administration skills (e.g., users, permissions, services, storage, patching, logs, monitoring).
Experience with Linux CLI and common distributions (e.g., RHEL, Rocky, AlmaLinux, Ubuntu).
Basic troubleshooting skills and ability to follow procedures and escalation paths.
Understanding of system operations: monitoring, backups, scheduled jobs, and server health.
Basic knowledge of networking, storage, and security concepts in Linux environments.
Ability to perform routine admin tasks with guidance and document work clearly.
Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
Detail-oriented, dependable, and able to follow processes.
Team-oriented with willingness to learn and take feedback.
Sound judgment on when to troubleshoot independently vs. escalate.
Ability to obtain and maintain active DoD TS/SCI is required. US citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on Linux experience (internships, coursework, homelab, or prior roles)
- Familiarity with enterprise Linux (e.g., RHEL or similar) and package/service management
- Basic scripting or automation experience (Bash, Python, or similar)
- Exposure to enterprise tools (monitoring, ticketing, documentation, change management)
- Familiarity with virtualization, cloud, or storage platforms
- Exposure to HPC or clustered environments is a plus
- Entry-level certification (RHCSA, Linux+, or similar) is a plus
- Exposure to scripting/automation (Bash, Python, Ansible) is a plus
- Familiarity with virtualization, cloud, or HPC environments is a plus
- Understanding of core admin tasks (users/groups, permissions, storage, log analysis, backups)
- Exposure to configuration management or automation concepts
- Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks
- Collaborative, professional, and patient when supporting others
Summary Salary Range (for ULA - Denver, ULA - Cape Canaveral, ULA - Decatur, ULA - Vandenberg AFB only): $81,695.00 - $136,159.00
Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a candidate's experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity, market and business considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to base pay.
What makes ULA different?
Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.
We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including:
401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
Generous paid time off
Flexible work environments
Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.
Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information).
ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program. Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster (English / Spanish) and Right to Work Poster (English / Spanish).
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted
Nearest Major Market: Denver
