Linux (RHEL) Operating Systems Lead

The Linux (RHEL) Operating System Lead is responsible for the administration and optimization of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems supporting the NRC’s High Performance Computing System (HPCS), including the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) cluster and cloud-based environments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in Linux system administration (RHEL preferred)
• Strong experience with:
• Linux system performance tuning
• Shell scripting (Bash, Python)
• System monitoring tools
• Experience supporting HPC environments or compute clusters
• Familiarity with:
• Virtualization (VMware)
• Cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure)
• Knowledge of FISMA, NIST, and federal security standards
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Clearance

• Must be able to obtain and maintain an NRC security clearance (Public Trust or higher)

Preferred Qualifications

• Red Hat certifications (RHCSA, RHCE)
• Experience with:
• HPC schedulers (e.g., Slurm, PBS)
• Parallel computing environments
• Experience with scientific/engineering tools (e.g., ANSYS, CFD applications)
• Automation tools (Ansible, Puppet)

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain RHEL-based systems in standalone and cloud environments
• Support HPC/CFD Linux cluster operations, including performance tuning and job scheduling
• Install, configure, and maintain scientific and engineering applications (e.g., ANSYS, Nek5000)
• Monitor system health, performance, and availability
• Troubleshoot system failures and restore services quickly
• Implement security patches, updates, and vulnerability remediation
• Support continuous monitoring and FISMA compliance activities
• Manage user accounts, permissions, and access controls
• Configure networking, storage, and cluster components
• Maintain system documentation, scripts, and operational procedures
• Automate administrative tasks where possible
• Support system upgrades, capacity planning, and scaling
• Collaborate with stakeholders and participate in technical planning discussions

Deliverables & Expectations 

• Monthly status and asset reporting
• Participation in system health reviews and change control boards
• Continuous improvement and modernization of systems
• Maintain high availability and operational readiness of HPCS systems

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Location: Rockville, MD
• Type of environment: Onsite – NRC Headquarters (Rockville, MD) with support to NRC data centers, CFD cluster, and cloud environments
• Noise level: Medium
• Work schedule: Standard hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Amount of Travel: Participation in on-call rotation. Ability to respond onsite within 1 hour if required

TekSynap is a fast growing high-tech company that understands both the pace of technology today and the need to have a comprehensive well planned information management environment. “Technology moving at the speed of thought” embodies these principles – the need to nimbly utilize the best that information technology offers to meet the business needs of our Federal Government customers. Apply now to explore jobs with us at www.TekSynap.com. 

We offer our full-time employees a competitive benefits package to include health, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability plans, vacation time and holidays. 

TekSynap is a drug-free workplace. We reserve the right to conduct drug testing in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. All employees and candidates may be subject to drug screening if deemed necessary to ensure a safe and compliant working environment.

By applying to a role at TekSynap you are providing consent to receive text messages regarding your interview and employment status.  If at any time you would like to opt out of text messaging, respond "STOP". As part of the application process, you agree that TekSynap Corporation may retain and use your name, e-mail, and contact information for purposes related to employment consideration. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. TekSynap does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, national origin, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”). This nondiscrimination policy extends to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as well as the use of all company facilities, participation in all company-sponsored activities, and all employment actions such as promotions, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. TekSynap is committed to ensuring that our online application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an application, please contact hr@teksynap.com for assistance.