TS/SCI REQUIRED· NORTHERN VA / ON-SITE · FULL-TIME
Senior / Principal Linux Engineer.
We need the engineers who actually understand what happens under the abstraction layer. If you're happiest at the CLI and love solving complex performance, security, and hardware puzzles in restricted or air-gapped environments, this is your role.
Why IDS?
We are a firm founded and run by engineers who love the craft. We value the “relentless execution” mindset—moving the ball forward every day and delivering for the mission on the fastest possible timeline. If you have a homelab, a stack of technical side projects, and a genuine curiosity about how complex systems interact, you’ll fit in here.
What you’d do
Systems Mastery: Design, build, and optimize Linux-based infrastructure (RHEL, Ubuntu, Rocky) that powers mission-critical federal programs.
Kubernetes and Containers: Orchestrate workloads using Kubernetes (GKE, OpenShift, or upstream) and manage container runtimes in secure environments.
Automate the Mission: Write the Ansible, Terraform, or Python required to eliminate manual overhead and ensure systems are resilient and repeatable.
Solve the Under-the-Hood Puzzles: Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues across the kernel, drivers, storage protocols, and networking in air-gapped enclaves.
Hardware-Software Integration: Partner with OEMs to deploy and harden systems where the hardware and software must be perfectly tuned for the mission.
Lifecycle Support: Provide the long-term ‘care and feeding’ required to keep accredited mission systems operational and secure for years to come.
What we’d expect
7+ years of Linux Engineering: Deep expertise in Linux systems administration within enterprise or federal environments.
Active TS/SCI Clearance: Most of our work requires an active TS/SCI with a polygraph.
Automation First: Proficiency with Ansible for configuration management and Terraform for infrastructure provisioning.
Container Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and containerization (Docker, Podman).
Command Line Native: You’re more comfortable at the CLI than in a GUI. You understand how the OS interacts with hardware, storage, and the network.
Full-Stack Awareness: Functional understanding of the whole stack—networking, security, and enterprise storage.
Nice to have
Red Hat Certifications: RHCSA, RHCE, or Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) credentials.
Linux Certifications: LPIC, CompTIA Linux+, or similar industry-standard certifications.
OEM Experience: Certifications or hands-on experience with Dell, HPE, NetApp, or Cisco hardware.
SCIF Operations: Experience operating in SCIF environments or supporting ‘dark site’ deployments.
Virtualization: Proficiency with VMware or KVM-based virtualization.
HOW TO APPLY
Send us your resume.
Email careers@ids4it.com with your resume attached. Applications are read by a real engineer on our team — no ATS black hole — and if we're a fit, you'll hear back within a week.
