Principal System Administrator Jobs
Principal System Administrator jobs are open across federal agencies, defense contractors, healthcare systems, financial services, and large enterprises, from senior administrator to staff and principal levels, with specializations in Linux infrastructure, cloud operations, and enterprise directory services. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Date Posted:
2026-11-05Country:
United States of AmericaLocation:
US-AZ-TUCSON-848 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG 848Position Role Type:
OnsiteU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearanceSecurity Clearance Type:
Secret - CurrentSecurity Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required on day 1
At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling – to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. We bring the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world.
Empowering a global business. Providing affordable solutions. Delivering competitive discriminators by unleashing deep expertise. These are just some of the many ways the Digital Technology team at Raytheon creates success for our customers. Joining our team will allow you to collaborate with Raytheon organizations to enable business growth, speed, and agility through business innovation, technical proficiency, and operational excellence.
Our Digital Technology (DT) organization ensures that Raytheon teammates across the globe are able to communicate, collaborate and innovate for customer success. We create leading-edge technology solutions to prevent security threats, secure the integrity of our systems and support IT infrastructures around the world.
Principal System Administrators, internally known as Principal Analyst, infrastructure Workplace Services, collaborate with many teams to support exciting, critical programs with classified information system capabilities. Success in this role means you can develop, implement and maintain secure, cost-efficient environments across various classified programs. Program teams rely on your collaboration and guidance to define computing requirements and create end-to-end solutions to solve complex IT infrastructure problems.
What You Will Do:
- Provide IT systems administration in a heterogeneous Microsoft Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux environment.
- Responsible for provisioning, installation/configuration, operation, and maintenance of systems hardware and software related to a Linux/Windows infrastructure for classified programs. Duties include, but are not limited to, server management (software and hardware); storage management (logical and physical); cross platform authentication and access management; data backup and restoration; software and license configuration; and workstation support
- Understanding and knowledge of Windows Server internals or Linux fundamentals to include DNS, DHCP, AD, and server replication methods.
- Working as a team member in a fast-paced technological environment. Use troubleshooting techniques to resolve technical problems of a moderate to high scope and complexity to include the integration of hardware and operating systems (OS).
- Understanding data RAID, data backup uses and technologies. Install and configure software applications requested by end users.
- Work with Cybersecurity professionals to maintain security requirements and provide documentation and training on advanced IT processes and procedures and other tasks as assigned.
- Must be able to obtain Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8140 / 8570 Certification requirements (CompTIA Security+ CE or equivalent certification) within 6 months of start date.
- Must be able to develop solutions and documentation for a variety of technical problems.
- Systems are operational 24x7 and occasionally require work effort beyond standard work hours.
- Travel required up to 5%
- Full time 100% Onsite position
Qualifications You Must Have:
- Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and minimum of 5 years of prior relevant experience or a master’s degree and minimum of 3 years of prior relevant experience
- Must have an active and transferable Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
- Must have Windows or Linux experience systems administration experience.
- Experience in one of the following: Active Directory, VMware, MySQL, networking administration experience.
Qualifications We Prefer:
- VMware highly desired
- Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8140 / 8570 Certification requirements (CompTIA Security+ CE or equivalent certification and an Operating System Certification)
- Experience with NISPOM, JAFAN, JSIG, DFARS and/or DoD/RMF
- In-depth working experience in Windows Server
- Experience with data storage, NAS, and SAN technologies and solutions
- Experience using VMWare vCenter, vSphere, and ESX and/or other virtual computing methods.
- Experience supporting engineers in software, simulations, and hardware development.
What We Offer:
Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Safety. Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Relocation Eligibility
As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.
RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
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Principal System Administrator Jobs by Experience Level
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What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal system administrator jobs.
- 7 or more years of hands-on system administration experience in enterprise environments
- Deep expertise in Linux and Windows Server operating systems and Active Directory
- Experience designing and managing cloud infrastructure on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Proficiency with automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, or Terraform
- Strong scripting skills in Bash, Python, or PowerShell for infrastructure automation
- Relevant certifications such as RHCE, MCSA, CompTIA Security+, or cloud provider credentials
Tips for Your Principal System Administrator Job Search
Tailor your resume to infrastructure scope
Principal-level postings expect evidence of enterprise-scale ownership, so list the number of servers, users, or sites you managed, the platforms you owned end-to-end, and any migrations or consolidations you led. Generic system admin bullets won't cut it.
Highlight cross-functional leadership experience
Hiring managers for principal roles want administrators who can drive decisions across security, networking, and dev teams. Call out times you chaired change-advisory meetings, wrote infrastructure standards, or mentored junior admins on your resume.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal system administrator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by your certification stack
Principal roles in federal or defense environments often mandate active Red Hat, Microsoft, or CompTIA certifications for compliance reasons. Search for openings that match your current active credentials first to avoid screening rejections before your resume is read.
Prepare for a multi-stage technical panel
Principal system administrator interviews commonly include a whiteboard or live troubleshooting exercise alongside behavioral rounds. Practice walking through a real outage or configuration failure you owned, explaining your diagnosis process and what you changed afterward.
Negotiate total compensation, not just base pay
Principal roles frequently include on-call stipends, training budgets, and infrastructure tool allowances that vary widely by employer. Before accepting an offer, ask specifically about professional development funding and whether on-call rotation is compensated separately.
Principal System Administrator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal system administrators?
The companies hiring the most principal system administrators right now include Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and SAIC, with the largest share of openings in California, Arizona, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors, healthcare systems, and large financial institutions have consistently driven the most principal-level openings.
How many principal system administrator jobs are remote?
About 20% of principal system administrator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though availability varies significantly by sector. Cloud operations and automation-focused roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while positions tied to on-premises data centers, federal facilities, or regulated healthcare environments typically require on-site presence.
How do you become a principal system administrator?
Start by building a strong foundation in Linux and Windows Server administration, then progress through mid-level roles that expand your scope to enterprise directory services, storage, and virtualization. Pursue certifications relevant to your environment, take ownership of complex projects, and develop skills in infrastructure automation and cloud platforms. Principal roles reward administrators who can design systems, not just maintain them.
Can you get hired as a principal system administrator with limited experience?
Direct entry into a principal role with limited experience is rare because the title signals deep technical ownership and cross-team leadership. The most practical path is to build specialized depth in a high-demand area like cloud infrastructure or configuration management, earn relevant certifications, and target organizations where the principal title reflects specialization rather than seniority, such as smaller companies or startups scaling their infrastructure.
What does the principal system administrator interview process look like?
Expect a multi-stage process that typically opens with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical phone interview covering architecture decisions, troubleshooting scenarios, and tool experience. Later rounds usually include a panel with infrastructure leads or engineering managers and a practical exercise such as a live system review, a design whiteboard, or a walk-through of a past incident you resolved. References and a background check close most processes.
Where can I find and apply to principal system administrator jobs?
You can find and apply to principal system administrator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and certification background, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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