Systems Administrator III

Who is Trace3 ? Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to our clients. Equipped with elite engineering and dynamic innovation, we empower IT executives and their organizations to achieve competitive advantage through a process of Integrate, Automate, Innovate. Our culture at Trace3 embodies the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business. Employees can grow their career and have fun while doing it! Trace3 is headquartered in Irvine, California. We employ more than 1,200 people all over the United States. Our major field office locations include Denver, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Texas, San Francisco.   Ready to discover the possibilities that live in technology? Come Join Us! Street-Smart   -  Thriving in Dynamic Times We are flexible and resilient in a fast-changing environment. We continuously innovate and drive constructive change while keeping a focus on the “big picture.” We exercise sound business judgment in making high-quality decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are highly creative and can dig deep within ourselves to find positive solutions to different problems. Juice -  The “Stuff” it takes to be a Needle Mover We get things done and drive results. We lead without a title, empowering others through a can-do attitude. We look forward to the goal, mentally mapping out every checkpoint on the pathway to success, and visualizing what the final destination looks and feels like. Teamwork -  Humble, Hungry and Smart We are humble individuals who understand how our job impacts the company's mission. We treat others with respect, admit mistakes, give credit where it’s due and demonstrate transparency. We “bring the weather” by exhibiting positive leadership and solution-focused thinking. We hug people in their trials, struggles, and failures – not just their success. We appreciate the individuality of the people around us. * This position can be either W2 Contract  or FTE JOB SUMMARY: The System Administrator III provides advanced system administration, maintenance, and support for government clients within Trace3’s Federal, State, and Local practice. This role ensures the availability, performance, and security of IT infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. The administrator will manage and troubleshoot systems, implement security controls, support compliance requirements, and collaborate with engineering and cybersecurity teams to sustain mission-critical operations. This position requires strong technical expertise, customer engagement skills, and the ability to work within regulated environments. SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Systems Administration & Maintenance Administer, configure, and maintain Windows and/or Linux servers in production, staging, and development environments. Perform advanced troubleshooting of system, network, and application issues. Monitor system performance, availability, and capacity; recommend and implement optimizations. Manage patching, updates, and server lifecycle tasks according to government security and compliance requirements. Infrastructure Operations Support Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and identity management. Administer virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper-V). Manage storage systems, backup/recovery tools, and disaster recovery procedures. Support cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCC High) including provisioning, monitoring, and policy enforcement. Operational Support Provide Tier II/III support for escalated service desk tickets and operational issues. Create and maintain system documentation, runbooks, and standard operating procedures. Support onboarding of new systems, services, and technologies. Collaborate with network engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering teams to resolve cross-functional issues. Project & Customer Engagement Participate in technical planning and deployment of infrastructure improvement projects. Interface with government clients, program managers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and provide status updates. Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and automation opportunities to improve environments. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience. 8+ years of hands-on system administration experience supporting Windows and/or Linux environments. Experience supporting enterprise infrastructure (Active Directory, VMware, cloud services, storage, backups, etc.). Knowledge of cybersecurity practices, STIG/SCC tools, and vulnerability remediation. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher as required). DoD 8570/8140 Baseline Certification (e.g., Security+, CCNA Security, CySA+, or equivalent). Experience supporting federal, state, local, or DoD client environments. Familiarity with RMF, NIST 800-53, CMMC, or FedRAMP compliance frameworks. Microsoft, VMware, AWS, or Azure technical certifications (MCSA/MCSE, VCP, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Administrator, etc.). Experience with automation/scripting (PowerShell, Bash, Python). Experience with configuration management (Ansible, SCCM/MECM, Chef, or Puppet). PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: Remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time. Operate a computer, keyboard, and other office equipment using hands and fingers. Communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and through ele