Linux Systems Administrator
BWXT· Defense & Space· Oct 5, 2026 · 23d ago
Oak Ridge, TN, US
In office
Full-time
Mid
$115K–$166K est.
3+ years exp
Job description
At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram .
Welcome to BWXT
We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth, collaboration, and technical excellence. At our Oak Ridge, Tennessee Enrichment Operations site, you will join teams working at the forefront of advanced nuclear manufacturing, precision engineering, and mission‑critical national security programs. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself, partner with seasoned experts, and contribute to innovation shaping the future of nuclear technology. Our work requires a wide range of skills, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and career stages who share a passion for meaningful impact and technical advancement.
Position Overview
As our Linux Systems Administrator, you will support secure, high‑availability computing environments essential to engineering, manufacturing, simulation, and analytics operations at the Oak Ridge Enrichment Operations site. You will maintain, configure, and optimize Linux-based systems, storage solutions, user environments, and automation frameworks. Operating in a DOE/NNSA high‑security environment, you will ensure reliability, cybersecurity compliance, and performance across mission‑critical computing infrastructure.
Location
On-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Q Clearance Required)
Your Day to Day as a Linux Systems Administrator
• Install, configure, harden, and maintain Linux systems (RHEL, Rocky, Ubuntu, or similar) supporting engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Manage authentication services, user/group permissions, identity controls, and privileged access workflows.
• Implement secure configurations aligned with DOE/NNSA cybersecurity requirements.
• Administer storage environments, NFS/SMB shares, file systems, backups, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot infrastructure issues, and optimize compute environments.
• Develop scripts and automation using Bash, Python, or Ansible to streamline administrative tasks.
• Manage patching, update cycles, OS lifecycle management, and package repositories.
• Support virtualization or container tooling (VMware, KVM, Docker/Podman).
• Work closely with cybersecurity teams to conduct audits, monitor compliance, and resolve findings.
• Provide technical support for engineering workloads, simulation tools, HPC environments, or manufacturing systems.
• Maintain secure documentation including system configurations, runbooks, network diagrams, and compliance records.
• Assist in rollout of new servers, infrastructure upgrades, and modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, IT, operations, and security teams.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 3+ years of experience administering Linux systems in production environments.
• Proficiency with Linux administration, shell scripting, networking fundamentals, and system monitoring.
• Experience with automation tools (Ansible, Bash, Python) and system-hardening practices.
• Knowledge of virtualization or container technologies.
• Experience maintaining secure environments and applying compliance frameworks.
• Strong troubleshooting and documentation skills.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in classified, regulated, or high‑security IT environments.
• Familiarity with HPC systems, cluster management, or distributed computing.
• Experience with CI/CD tooling, Git, or automated deployment pipelines.
• Knowledge of monitoring platforms such as Nagios, Prometheus, Grafana, or Elastic.
• Experience with identity management tools (FreeIPA, Active Directory integration, LDAP).
• Certifications such as RHCSA, RHCE, CompTIA Linux+, or Security+.
• Experience supporting engineering simulation workloads or manufacturing IT infrastructure.
What We Offer
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible schedules and paid time off (as applicable for IT roles).
• Professional training, certification support, and career development pathways.
• Inclusive, collaborative culture with cross-generational teamwork.
• Opportunities to directly support mission-critical DOE/NNSA operations.
• Continuous learning and exposure to advanced high-security computing environments.
Pay: $70,000 - $103,000
The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $70,000 and $103,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.
As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.
All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.
BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.
BWX Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (BWXT) is not responsible for and does not accept any liability for fees or other costs associated with resumes or candidates presented by recruiters or employment agencies, unless a binding, written recruitment agreement between BWXT and the recruiter or agency exists prior to the presentation of candidates or resumes to BWXT and includes the specific services, job openings, and fees to be paid (“Agreement”). BWXT may consider any candidate for whom a recruiter or agency has submitted an unsolicited resume and explicitly reserves the right to hire such candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency unless an Agreement is in place prior to presentation and such Agreement explicitly encompasses the job opening for which such fees or costs are sought. An email, verbal or other informal contact with any person within BWXT will not create a binding agreement. Agencies or recruiters without an Agreement are directed not to contact any hiring managers of BWXT with recruiting inquiries or resumes. Recruiters and agencies interested in partnering with BWXT may contact BWXT’s Talent Acquisition team at talent_acquisition@bwxt.com.
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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Paid Time Off