Windows Systems Administrator

Location: Bethesda, MD

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Your most important work is ahead.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Digital Modernization is seeking a skilled Windows Systems Administrator to support the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) National Media Exploitation Center (NMEC). This is a mission-critical role providing engineering and operational support to Windows server environments across connected and disconnected networks. The Windows Engineer will design, maintain, and secure Windows platforms while ensuring patch deployment and lifecycle management in bandwidth-constrained, isolated, and edge environments.

This role requires VMware expertise, deep familiarity with Windows server patching, and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues across environments where standard enterprise connectivity and automation pipelines may not apply. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including systems engineering, cybersecurity, and mission application owners—to sustain resilient operations in support of national security missions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engineer, implement, and maintain Windows server environments supporting NMEC operations, including edge and disconnected networks.

• Plan and execute Windows security patch deployment and updates across isolated environments, ensuring compliance with DoD and DIA security standards.

• Support VMware-based virtualization platforms, including provisioning, upgrades, migrations, and lifecycle management.

• Troubleshoot complex Windows and VMware issues impacting availability, performance, or security.

• Develop, maintain, and update technical documentation (as-built diagrams, runbooks, patch management procedures, compliance records).

• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure RMF (Risk Management Framework) compliance and zero-trust principles across Windows infrastructure.

• Contribute to operational efficiency by leveraging automation (PowerShell scripting, WSUS, SCCM/Configuration Manager).

• Provide Tier II/III engineering support to O&M operations, including on-call and surge support as mission requires.

• Partner with system engineers and program leadership to design resilient architectures for degraded, denied, or intermittent environments.

Basic Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in Windows server administration, patching, and lifecycle management in enterprise or disconnected/edge environments.

• 5+ years of hands-on VMware experience supporting Windows infrastructure (vSphere 6.7/7.0+).

• Proficiency with PowerShell scripting and Windows automation for patching, reporting, and compliance.

• Experience authoring and maintaining system documentation (runbooks, SOPs, as-builts).

• Understanding of RMF, STIGs, and DoD IA compliance requirements.

• Candidate must, at a minimum, meet DoD 8570.11- IAT Level II certification requirements (currently Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, GSEC, or SSCP along with an appropriate computing environment (CE) certification)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, with 8+ years of relevant Windows engineering experience (additional experience may substitute for degree).

Clearance

• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph required OR active TS/SCI and willingness to get a Poly.

• US Citizenship is required due to the nature of the government contracts we support.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting DIA, NGA, or NMEC environments.

• Familiarity with SCCM, WSUS, and automated patch deployment in disconnected/air-gapped environments.

• Industry certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), or equivalent.

• Knowledge of containerized workloads, high-availability clusters, and cross-domain solutions.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.