Systems Administrator IV
Position: System Administrator IV Location: Remote (supporting NOAA DSRC, Boulder, CO) Terms: Full Time Clearance: Public Trust (High Risk Eligible) Travel: 0–10% RESULTS. INNOVATION. VALUES. ACCOUNTABILITY. RIVA Solutions is a mission-driven IT services company supporting Federal agencies through digital transformation, modernization, and innovative technology solutions. We deliver measurable results while supporting missions that matter. Program Overview The System Administrator IV supports NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratories (ESRL) and N-Wave national network program by providing senior-level systems administration, cybersecurity, cloud integration, and infrastructure engineering support across complex scientific computing environments. Position Overview RIVA Solutions is seeking a System Administrator IV to deliver advanced systems administration and IT support services for NOAA research and operational environments. This role provides technical leadership, supports enterprise infrastructure modernization, enforces cybersecurity compliance requirements, and contributes to strategic architecture and engineering initiatives. Core Responsibilities Lead installation, configuration, maintenance, and upgrades of UNIX/Linux, Windows, and macOS systems and associated infrastructure. Install software releases, system upgrades, patches, and resolve complex software and operating system issues. Perform and oversee enterprise backup and recovery operations and support backup architecture planning. Plan, design, architect, engineer, and deploy new systems and services supporting research and operational missions. Implement and enforce Federal cybersecurity requirements, including NIST and FISMA controls. Support NOAA Assessment & Authorization (A&A) and Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities. Manage vulnerability scanning, remediation efforts, and baseline security configurations. Administer network load balancing, web proxy/WAF infrastructure, firewall rules, and DNS services. Provide technical analysis, requirements gathering, and implementation guidance for complex systems issues. Maintain operational documentation, logs, and status reporting using tools such as Graylog and BigFix. Develop technical documentation including project plans, design documents, interface control documents, and test plans. Support scalable storage systems, virtualization platforms, container environments, and cloud services. Lead and mentor junior systems administrators and technical staff. Participate in on-call rotations and respond to critical incidents and after-hours emergencies. Support Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning and configuration management processes.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience. 6–8 years of enterprise systems administration experience with increasing technical responsibility. Advanced UNIX/Linux administration and expert shell scripting skills. Strong Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and enterprise desktop administration experience. Deep understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, firewalls, and LAN/WAN networking concepts. Extensive experience with vulnerability management, patch compliance, and system hardening. Knowledge of FISMA, NIST 800-53, RMF, and A&A processes. Experience with enterprise backup and recovery solutions such as CrashPlan, NetApp, or equivalent technologies. Demonstrated leadership of technical projects and junior team members. Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust background investigation. U.S. Citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the United States.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with macOS fleet management using Jamf Pro and Apple Business Manager. Experience designing and managing VMware, KVM, Docker, and Kubernetes environments. Working knowledge of AWS, Azure, GCP, or Federal cloud services. Experience supporting High Performance Computing (HPC) and large-scale storage environments. Experience using configuration management tools such as Ansible. Experience supporting Federal scientific or research computing environments. Knowledge of NOAA or DOC security policies and COOP procedures. Active certifications such as RHCE, Security+, CISSP, or equivalent. Salary $135,000 RIVA Benefits Paid Time Off / Sick Leave Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage Life Insurance 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match HSA/FSA Spending Accounts Long- and Short-Term Disability Pet Insurance Wellness Program Initiatives RIVA Flex (Flexible Hours and Hybrid Support, where applicable) Additional Workplace Benefits Equal Opportunity Statement RIVA Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Apply To This Job