NOC Network Administrator
The NOC Network Administrator, Junior supports the daily operation and maintenance of network and server infrastructure within a federal IT environment. This role involves monitoring systems, performing routine administration tasks, troubleshooting common issues, and collaborating with network and security teams to ensure reliable and secure operations. The position requires adherence to standard operating procedures and documentation to maintain compliance and support continuous improvement.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, IT.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
The Confidential Client is hiring a junior NOC Network Administrator to support day-to-day operations in a Network Operations Center (NOC) within a federal IT environment. This hands-on role focuses on monitoring infrastructure, performing first-line troubleshooting, and following documented procedures to maintain system availability.
- Monitor servers, operating systems and core services using monitoring and ticketing tools; review alerts, open and update tickets, and prioritize actions by business impact.
- Perform routine system administration tasks per runbooks: patching, service restarts, backup verification, basic configuration changes, and user/group management.
- Troubleshoot common issues (resource exhaustion, service failures, login/connectivity problems); escalate incidents that exceed runbook guidance.
- Participate in incident response, backup and recovery, and security-related monitoring activities.
- Maintain accurate system documentation: inventories, configuration baselines, change records and incident logs to support auditability and shift handoffs.
- Collaborate with network and security teams to collect diagnostics, implement corrective actions, and validate restoration of services.
- Follow incident, change, and configuration management processes and ensure activities are properly recorded and approved.
What We’re Looking For (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field — or equivalent relevant experience.
- 0–3 years in junior system administration, NOC support, or similar infrastructure operations roles (monitoring and first-line remediation).
- Foundational knowledge of system administration concepts: user/group management, file permissions, basic networking, and health checks for Windows and/or Linux servers.
- Practical experience or training with monitoring tools, ticketing systems, backup solutions, and basic virtualization concepts.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and written communication skills; ability to work under pressure and document work accurately.
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens and possess a current SECRET security clearance (active within the last 24 months).
- Candidates should hold Security+ or another DoD 8180 IAT-II certification.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience administering servers and core services in a NOC or data center environment.
- Entry-level infrastructure certifications (CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, platform-specific junior admin certs).
- Familiarity with ITIL practices, structured operational environments, and formal shift handoffs.
- Experience with common NOC consoles and monitoring stacks.
Compensation & Benefits
- Reported base salary range: $59,000–$79,600 per year (role-specific compensation may vary based on location, experience, certifications, clearance level, and contract requirements).
- Additional benefits may be offered by the Confidential Client depending on employment status and contract terms.
Clearance & Citizenship Requirements
- This role requires U.S. citizenship and a current SECRET clearance that has been active within the last 24 months.
- Required certification: Security+ or equivalent DoD 8180 IAT-II credential.
- Candidates without an active clearance will not meet hiring requirements for this position due to contract and client needs.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Shift-based NOC schedule possible; role is performed in a fast-paced federal IT operations setting with standard operating procedures and shift handoffs.
- Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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