Job Description & Details
This Systems Administrator role is a solid, hands-on operations gig focused on keeping a critical Transportation Operations Center running without a hitch. You will be knee-deep in managing both Linux and Windows environments, handling everything from Tier 1 helpdesk escalations to high-level infrastructure provisioning and cybersecurity defense. If you like variety and hate being stuck doing just one thing all day, this environment will keep you moving.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
Your day-to-day will be a mix of firefighting and long-term infrastructure improvements. You'll be configuring and deploying RedHat Linux and Windows servers, setting up user endpoints, and jumping into break/fix triage across all support tiers. Beyond the hardware and OS deployments, you're expected to keep meticulous documentation, audit system logs for security anomalies, handle daily backups, and ensure everything aligns with strict compliance standards. Expect to troubleshoot pesky connection issues, patch OS vulnerabilities regularly, and tune performance so the GIS and Asset Management systems don't bottleneck.
The Core Tech Stack
You absolutely need a strong foundation in RedHat Linux and Windows Server administration, as you'll be provisioning and maintaining both from scratch. Experience with cybersecurity controls, threat hunting fundamentals, and basic system monitoring tools is non-negotiable since you are expected to spot intrusions and maintain system integrity. Familiarity with GIS infrastructure applications or Asset Management platforms will also give you a massive leg up because you'll be configuring the software layers that sit directly on top of your hardware.
Interview Expectations
Expect the hiring manager to throw a scenario at you where a critical server running a mixed Linux and Windows stack goes down during a peak traffic window, and they'll want to hear your exact triage and communication playbook. They want to see how you balance immediate containment with updating panicked stakeholders. You'll also likely be grilled on your approach to security patching and threat hunting; be ready to explain a time you identified an anomaly in system logs and the exact steps you took to mitigate the risk without disrupting production services.
Application Advice
To get past the ATS, make sure your resume heavily features exact keyword matches like 'RedHat Linux', 'Windows Operating Systems', 'Tier 1 - 3 Support', and 'cybersecurity controls'. Don't just list technologies—write out bullet points that demonstrate your experience with provisioning hardware, managing backups, and performing root-cause analysis on failing systems. Emphasize your documentation habits and customer service mindset, as public-sector or regulated operations environments care deeply about audit trails and clear communication.