Cloud Systems Administrator

Location: Bethesda, MD (Hybrid, minimum 3 days per week)

Required Clearance: Ability to obtain Public Trust

LCG is a minority-owned technology consulting firm that has been a trusted partner to more than 40 federal agencies, including 21 of the 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For over 25 years, LCG has brought digitization and innovation to the Health and Human Services (HHS) and the NIH ecosystems. We support IT organizations by bringing precision technology and operation models that achieve mission capabilities and performance success.

Position Description:

We are seeking a Cloud Systems Administrator to lead and support our on-premises-to-cloud migration efforts, with a primary focus on Microsoft Azure services. This role involves closing out an on-prem data center, administering multi-cloud environments (Azure and AWS), and collaborating with National Institutes of Health (NIH) stakeholders, including NIH Center for Information Technology (CIT) and the STRIDES Program. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in Windows Server, VMware, Active Directory, and scripting, as well as a proven track record in designing, deploying, managing, and optimizing cloud infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities:

* Perform assessments of existing on-prem environments, applications, and data, identifying cloud readiness and key dependencies.

* Develop detailed migration activities, timelines, and resource requirements, collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

* Coordinate pilot migrations to validate tools, processes, and architectural assumptions before full-scale adoption.

* Establish governance, security, and compliance frameworks aligned with NIH, federal mandates, and Azure best practices.

* Manage and monitor migration progress, proactively resolving issues and minimizing downtime.

* Configure, deploy, and maintain Azure and AWS resources for a hybrid cloud environment (compute, storage, networking, security).

* Optimize cost, performance, and reliability through capacity planning, load balancing, and resource rightsizing.

* Implement monitoring and alerting solutions to provide real-time visibility into system health and usage.

* Manage VMware vSphere, ESXi hypervisors, vCenter, and SRM for any remaining on-prem systems, with a focus on high availability and scalability.

* Oversee day-to-day operations such as patching, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.

* Develop PowerShell scripts (and/or other languages) to automate routine tasks in both on-prem and cloud environments.

* Evaluate and implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) frameworks (ARM Templates, Terraform, Bicep) for consistent and repeatable deployments.

* Work with security teams to enforce NIH CIT policies and maintain adherence to federal regulations.

* Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, including system designs, SOPs, installation instructions, and change management records (RFCs).

* Serve as a primary liaison between research teams, NIH CIT, third-party vendors, and internal IT stakeholders.

* Communicate technical concepts and migration progress to non-technical stakeholders, highlighting key risks, benefits, and timelines.

* Participate in project planning, budgeting, and status reporting activities.

Requirements:

* Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

* At least five (5) years of experience in systems administration, with a proven track record in Windows Server, Active Directory, VMware, and scripting.

* Strong hands-on experience with designing, migrating, administering, and optimizing Azure services (Azure VMs, Storage, Azure AD, Networking, etc.).

* Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and execute large-scale on-premises-to-cloud migrations; knowledge of migration frameworks, tools, and methodologies.

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting complex technical information to diverse stakeholders.

* Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to shifting requirements.

* Collaborative mindset with a customer-focused attitude, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator/Architect, VMware Certified Professional, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, ITIL v4 Foundation).

* Familiarity with NIH CIT and STRIDES resources, processes, and compliance requirements.

Compensation and Benefits

The projected compensation range for this position is $115,600 to $154,000 per year benchmarked in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The target salary for this role is $132,200.00. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Salary at LCG is determined by various factors, including but not limited to role, location, the combination of education/training, knowledge, skills, competencies, certifications, and work experience.

LCG offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance options (medical, dental, vision), life and disability insurance, retirement plan contributions, as well as paid leave, federal holidays, professional development, and lifestyle benefits.

Devoted to Fair and Inclusive Practices

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

If you are interested in applying for employment with LCG and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department by email at hr@lcginc.com.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fraudulent job offers using LCG's name. LCG will never request payment-related details or advancement of money during the application process. Legitimate communication will only come from lcginc.com or system@hirebridgemail.com emails, not free commercial services like Gmail or WhatsApp. If you receive suspicious emails asking for payment or personal information, contact us immediately at hr@lcginc.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.