📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Principal Systems Administrator
Company: RTX
Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States
Job Type: On-site
Category: System Administration
Date Posted: 2025-07-30
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Key Responsibilities: Manage Linux architecture, deployment, and administration; troubleshoot and secure systems; participate in technical meetings and lead discussions on functional area matters.
Key Skills: Linux Architecture, Networking, Security Hardening, Troubleshooting, Active Directory, VMware, Backup and Recovery, Data Storage, Disaster Recovery, Scripting, Incident Management, Change Management, Technical Meetings, System Security, Performance Monitoring, Infrastructure Services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in Linux administration and infrastructure management, with a focus on security and performance optimization. Candidates should be comfortable working in a high-pressure environment and have experience leading technical discussions.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Linux Administration: Manage Linux architecture, deployment, and administration; ensure system security and performance.
Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve technical problems of a moderate to high scope and complexity, including hardware and operating system integration.
Security Hardening: Implement and maintain system security measures to protect against threats.
Technical Meetings: Participate in and lead technical meetings with team members and other program personnel; represent the organization in functional area matters.
Incident Management: Use troubleshooting techniques to resolve technical problems; participate in incident and service request management.
Change Management: Participate in Change Request reviews and Change Management boards at multiple program levels.
Infrastructure Services: Manage infrastructure backup, restore, disaster recovery, and business continuity products; experience with HP server hardware support and diagnosis is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a deep understanding of Linux systems and infrastructure management. Candidates should be comfortable working with various IT infrastructure services and have experience leading technical discussions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Typically requires a University degree or equivalent experience.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and a minimum of 5 years of experience is required.

Required Skills:

Experience supporting Windows and/or Linux operating systems.
Experience with Active Directory, VMware, Administration, backup and recovery.
Experience with Microsoft WSUS, MECM, and Exchange.
Experience with data storage, NAS, and SAN technologies and solutions.
Experience with VMware VSphere (ESXi, vCenter, etc).
Active and transferable U.S. government issued Top Secret security clearance.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with Storage – HP MSA, RAID configuration.
Experience with Window Servers, Active Directory and Group Policy.
Experience with Network and infrastructure services such as domain controllers, global catalogs, DNS, and DHCP.
Experience with Infrastructure backup, restore, disaster recovery and business continuity.
Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8140 / 8570 Certification requirements (CompTIA Security+ CE or equivalent certification and an Operating System Certification).
Experience with NISPOM, JAFAN, JSIG, DFARS and/or DoD/RMF.
Information Technology project lifecycle management processes.
Knowledge in the following areas: patch management, High Performance Computing, OS Upgrades, computer security, system monitoring and logging.
Scripting Experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should have a strong background in Linux administration and infrastructure management, with a focus on security and performance optimization. Experience with various IT infrastructure services and scripting is a plus.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:
- Demonstrate experience with Linux architecture, deployment, and administration.
- Showcase troubleshooting and security hardening skills through case studies or live demos.
- Highlight experience with Active Directory, VMware, and backup and recovery processes.
- Display familiarity with data storage, NAS, and SAN technologies and solutions.
Technical Documentation:
- Provide documentation on system architecture, deployment processes, and server configuration.
- Include testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques.
- Showcase experience with incident and change management processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should provide detailed documentation on their Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, highlighting their ability to troubleshoot and secure systems. Including case studies or live demos of their work is strongly recommended.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $101,000 - $203,000 USD per year. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels.

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability.
401(k) Match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Flexible Work Schedules, Employee Assistance Program, Employee Scholar Program, Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, Holidays.
Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit and whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a good faith estimate and may vary based on experience, location, and other factors. Benefits are subject to the specific business unit and collective-bargaining agreement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

Industry: Defense and Aerospace.
Company Size: Large (over 10,000 employees).
Founded: 1929.
Team Structure:
- The Systems Administrator team is responsible for managing and maintaining the company's Linux infrastructure.
- The team works closely with other IT departments, including Networking, Security, and Database Administration.
- The role reports directly to the Senior Systems Administrator Manager.
Development Methodology:
- The company follows ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) best practices for incident, problem, and change management.
- Agile methodologies are used for software development and project management.

Company Website: RTX Website

📝 Enhancement Note: RTX is a large defense and aerospace company with a strong focus on technology and innovation. The company values trust, respect, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Principal Systems Administrator - Experienced professional with a deep understanding of Linux systems and infrastructure management, responsible for leading technical discussions and making critical decisions.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Senior Systems Administrator Manager.

Technical Impact: Responsible for managing and maintaining the company's Linux infrastructure, ensuring system security and performance. This role has a significant impact on the company's overall IT infrastructure and operations.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Growth: Expand expertise in Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills through technical meetings and discussions, as well as mentoring junior team members.
Architecture Decisions: Gain experience in making critical architecture decisions that impact the company's IT infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for experienced Linux administrators looking to expand their technical expertise and develop their leadership skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with a collaborative workspace designed for IT professionals.

Office Location(s): Tucson, Arizona, United States.

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: Work closely with other IT departments, including Networking, Security, and Database Administration.
Development Tools: Access to various development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices.
Team Interaction: Regular team meetings and discussions to ensure alignment and collaboration on technical projects.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible work schedules available.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site work environment at RTX is designed to foster collaboration and innovation among IT professionals. The company provides access to various development tools and encourages team interaction and knowledge sharing.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Technical Preparation: Brush up on Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security skills. Familiarize yourself with the company's IT infrastructure and development methodologies.
Technical Assessment: Participate in a technical assessment focused on Linux administration, troubleshooting, and security hardening. Expect to demonstrate your ability to diagnose and resolve technical problems of a moderate to high scope and complexity.
Behavioral Assessment: Participate in a behavioral assessment focused on your ability to work collaboratively with other IT departments and make critical architecture decisions.
Final Evaluation: The final evaluation will focus on your technical skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Case Studies: Prepare case studies that demonstrate your experience with Linux architecture, deployment, and administration, as well as troubleshooting and security hardening.
Live Demos: Prepare live demos that showcase your ability to manage and maintain Linux systems, as well as your familiarity with various IT infrastructure services.
Documentation: Provide detailed documentation on your Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, highlighting your ability to troubleshoot and secure systems.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Linux Administration: Brush up on your Linux administration skills, focusing on system security, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.
Incident Management: Familiarize yourself with incident and change management processes, as well as the company's IT infrastructure and development methodologies.
Communication: Prepare to communicate your technical expertise and leadership potential clearly and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the company. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with other IT departments.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Linux Distribution: CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or other enterprise Linux distributions.

Server Hardware: HP server hardware, including ProLiant and Integrity servers.

Virtualization: VMware vSphere (ESXi, vCenter, etc.).

Storage: HP MSA, RAID configuration, NAS, and SAN technologies and solutions.

Networking: Experience with DHCP, DNS, NIS, LDAP, CIFS, NFS, and Samba.

Security: Experience with security infrastructure products and capabilities, such as antivirus software.

Backup and Recovery: Experience with Symantec NetBackup or similar backup and recovery solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role is focused on Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security. Candidates should have experience with various Linux distributions, server hardware, virtualization, storage, networking, and security solutions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Trust: Build trust through technical expertise, reliability, and transparency.
Respect: Respect team members' expertise and opinions, fostering a collaborative work environment.
Accountability: Take ownership of your work and be accountable for your team's success.
Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other IT departments to ensure alignment and consistency in technical projects.
Innovation: Continuously learn and adapt to new technologies and best practices in Linux administration and infrastructure management.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with other IT departments, including Networking, Security, and Database Administration, to ensure alignment and consistency in technical projects.
Code Review Culture: Participate in code reviews and knowledge sharing to ensure high-quality work and continuous learning.
Mentoring: Provide mentoring and technical guidance to junior team members to foster their professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at RTX is focused on trust, respect, accountability, collaboration, and innovation. The company values a collaborative work environment that encourages knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Linux Administration: Stay up-to-date with the latest Linux distributions, server hardware, and virtualization technologies.
Security Hardening: Continuously adapt to emerging security threats and best practices in Linux system security.
Performance Optimization: Optimize Linux systems for performance, ensuring they can handle the company's growing IT infrastructure demands.
Emerging Technologies: Stay informed about emerging technologies in Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Expand your technical expertise in Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security through training, workshops, and online courses.
Conference Attendance: Attend industry conferences and events to network with other IT professionals and learn about emerging technologies and best practices.
Technical Mentorship: Seek mentorship opportunities from experienced team members to gain insights into their technical expertise and career growth strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant technical challenges and growth opportunities for experienced Linux administrators looking to expand their expertise and develop their leadership skills. Candidates should be prepared to adapt to emerging technologies and best practices in Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Linux Administration: Demonstrate your understanding of Linux distributions, server hardware, virtualization, storage, networking, and security solutions.
Incident Management: Explain your experience with incident and change management processes, as well as your ability to diagnose and resolve technical problems of a moderate to high scope and complexity.
Leadership Potential: Discuss your experience leading technical discussions and making critical architecture decisions, as well as your ability to work collaboratively with other IT departments.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Explain your understanding of RTX's company culture, including its focus on trust, respect, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
IT Infrastructure: Describe your experience with the company's IT infrastructure, including its Linux distributions, server hardware, virtualization, storage, networking, and security solutions.
Team Dynamics: Discuss your experience working collaboratively with other IT departments and your ability to foster a positive and productive work environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Case Studies: Present case studies that demonstrate your experience with Linux architecture, deployment, and administration, as well as troubleshooting and security hardening.
Live Demos: Present live demos that showcase your ability to manage and maintain Linux systems, as well as your familiarity with various IT infrastructure services.
Documentation: Provide detailed documentation on your Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, highlighting your ability to troubleshoot and secure systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the company. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with other IT departments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. Principal Systems Administrator position at RTX:

Customize Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, focusing on case studies, live demos, and documentation.
Resume Optimization: Optimize your resume for web technology roles, emphasizing your Linux administration and infrastructure management experience, as well as your technical skills and leadership potential.
Technical Interview Preparation: Brush up on your Linux administration, infrastructure management, and security skills, as well as your understanding of the company's IT infrastructure and development methodologies.
Company Research: Research RTX's company culture, IT infrastructure, and team dynamics to ensure a strong fit for your technical expertise and leadership potential.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Sr. Principal Systems Administrator