"Alerted.org

Senior Azure System Administrator (Contract to Hire)

Up to $120K/year

*100% onsite in Alexandria, VA*

*Requires an active SECRET security clearance to start*

Job Description:

Our customer is currently seeking an experienced?Sr. Azure Systems Administrator to join their team. This is a pivotal role responsible for the administration and management of their Azure cloud and On-Prem infrastructure, ensuring their systems are secure, scalable, and resilient. Contractor is required to be onsite.

Company Overview:

Our customer has expertise in operating, maintaining, and modernizing applications and IT systems for the Federal Government. They provide scientific and engineering expertise for critical agency missions. Their goal is to be at the forefront of change so that we can bring the best ideas to fruition for their clients’ missions.

Mission & Vision:

To be the leading provider of enduring systems engineering and software solutions, delivering measurable results, exceeding customer expectations, and fostering a workplace that promotes continuous growth and empowers employees to thrive, while enabling the missions of our customers and partners with high-quality products and services that lead to 100% satisfaction.

Summary of the position:

The Senior Azure Systems Administrator is a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining scalable infrastructure / enterprise architectures. Subject matter expertise in Azure and VMware troubleshooting is essential for success. This role requires deep expertise in modern enterprise cloud systems, frameworks, and technologies, as well as a strong understanding of security configuration / optimization. The Senior Azure Systems Administrator collaborates with cross-functional teams — including product managers, designers, and developers — to deliver high-quality enterprise systems solutions that align with business goals. In addition to hands-on tier 3 helpdesk support, this position often mentors junior developers, contributes to architectural decisions, and drives continuous improvement across the enterprise architecture and operations lifecycle.

Essential Job Duties:

1. **Azure Infrastructure Management**

2. Azure Infrastructure / Enclave Management Black/Red Subs

3. Infrastructure Service Request Submission & Tracking

4. User account management via Active Directory or Azure AD

5. Deploy, configure, and maintain Azure resources (VMs, storage, networking, etc.)

6. Manage Azure Active Directory, role-based access control (RBAC), and identity services

7. Monitor and optimize performance of cloud-hosted applications and services

8. Azure managed SQL services administration

9. F5 Load Balancer and DNS configuration and maintenance

10. Hardware inventory and lifecycle tracking

11. System and application monitoring tools

12. Email infrastructure such as Exchange or M365

13. Support for tools like Teams and SharePoint

14. Support for cross-domain solutions (CDS, data guards)

15. Certification management / certificate renewal and revocation

16. Time server synchronization and integrity

17. **Security & Compliance**

18. Implement and manage security controls using Azure Security Center

19. Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards (e.g., HIPAA, ISO 27001)

20. Patch management for desktops, laptops, and workstations

21. Vulnerability scanning and patch remediation

22. Management of public key infrastructure certificates

23. Authentication services and single sign-on integration

24. Support for segregated classified and unclassified networks

25. Compliance and accreditation reporting (e.g., ATO)

26. Maintain data integrity and availability across environments

27. Controlled patching for classified environments via WSUS

28. Secure backup media rotation for classified systems

29. Support for secure token and smart card access

30. Support for audits using STIGs, RMF, etc.

31. Monitoring and enforcing secure network segmentation

32. Enforcement of policies for USB and removable media

33. Sanitization and incident response for classified data leaks

34. Service level agreements for critical classified systems

35. Command Cyber Readiness Inspection preparation

36. Support for SCIF access and badge systems

37. Endpoint Detection & Response platform operations

38. Log forwarding and alerting architecture (e.g., Splunk)

39. Enforcing role-based access control policies

40. Automated auditing of secure config baselines (STIG/CIS)

41. Hardening and auditing of jump box/bastion systems

42. Privileged Access Workstation operations and restrictions

43. Command-line logging (bash history, PowerShell logs)

44. Password/credential rotation and hygiene enforcement

45. Configuration of Sentinel, ForeScout, and Trellix

46. CORA inspection / auditing support

47. Conduct regular audits and vulnerability assessments

48. **Backup & Disaster Recovery**

49. Backup and disaster recovery testing and validation

50. Maintenance of application servers

51. Configure and manage Azure Backup and Site Recovery solutions

52. Develop and test disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity

53. Monitoring & Troubleshooting

54. Tier-1 and Tier-2 technical support and ticket resolution

55. Provide Tier 3 support for escalated technical issues

56. Use tools like Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights to track system health

57. Diagnose and resolve performance issues, outages, and configuration errors

Non-Essential Duties:

1. **General IT Support**

2. Assisting help desk teams with non-cloud-related technical issues

3. Troubleshooting local hardware or software problems outside Azure scope

4. Supporting desktop or on-premises systems during outages or transitions

5. **Procurement & Vendor Coordination**

6. Participating in vendor selection or procurement discussions

7. Reviewing third-party tools or services not directly tied to Azure infrastructure

8. Coordinating with external consultants for non-Azure projects

9. **Mentorship & Training**

10. Informally mentoring junior IT staff or interns

11. Conducting workshops or presentations on general IT topics

12. Supporting cross-training initiatives across departments

13. Documentation & Reporting

14. Creating internal newsletters or non-technical reports

15. Documenting legacy systems or historical configurations

16. Assisting with administrative tasks like scheduling or meeting coordination

Responsibilities:

+ Perform Windows servers system administration duties in a mixed environment (Azure Gov & on-Prem VMware)

+ Administer Microsoft AD including defining and managing Server’s GPO and security policies

+ Migrate systems from on-Prem VMware to Azure Gov cloud

+ Continuous reviewing existing Azure services and architecture and look for changes to improve performance and cost of operations

+ Proactively manage, monitor, and maintain Azure infrastructure to ensure high availability, security, and performance

Required Skills/Qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field

+ At least eight (8) years of proven experience as a system administrator in the U.S. federal government

+ Five (5) + years’ experience managing Azure services (including windows VMs) in an Azure Government cloud

+ Experience Managing Windows Servers 2019/2022

+ Expert on DoD patch Management and Vulnerability Remediation (Process and Tools)

+ Experience going through a migration of systems from on-prem to Azure Cloud

+ Understanding of Azure services and solutions, including Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, and Azure Networking

+ Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or higher Azure certification

+ Candidate will be required to have or obtain a Secret level Clearance

+ IAT II Certifications IAW DoD (For DoD IAT Level 2, the two required certs are as follows:?CompTIA Security+?or?SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner)?Other security-related certs that are accepted (in addition to the above two certs) as well for the DoD IAT Level 2 include the following as well: CCNA Security; CySA+; GICSP; GSEC).

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

+ Experience with Azure Apps, Azure Functions and Azure Kubernetes Service

+ Experience with Azure DevOps

+ Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

+ Bachelor’s degree or higher in an IT related field such as MIS, Computer Science

Working Conditions:

+ Standard office environment

+ May require extended hours during project deadlines or system implementations

Physical Requirements:

+ Prolonged periods in stationary position at a desk and working on a computer.

+ Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

+ Needs to occasionally move throughout the office, including across longer distances such as from the building entrance to the workspace

_As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Visit https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community._

What happens next:

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.

\#government

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly ® Government Solutions?

Looking to connect with premier government agencies or the top 25 federal government contractors? Kelly Government Solutions partners with these organizations to create expert talent solutions that solve the world’s most critical challenges. We offer a variety of full-time, project (SOW), seasonal, and surge support opportunities in science, engineering, technology, professional, and administrative support roles. Our experts will connect you to the opportunity that fits your schedule and interests and handle the details of transferring and processing all levels of security clearances. It’s just another way we make the job search work for you.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.