System Administrator

Laurel, MD

System Administrator

👋🏼 Hey!

Bitwise is a leading provider of mission-focused intelligence solutions that advance national security for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. We're a small and growing company, so you can expect to hop in on the ground floor with us and be a consequential member of the team. You'll be more than a contract performer for us — you'll also be asked for ideas to improve our company and improve your career, and you'll contribute to our team culture. We value growth and community above almost all else, so we gather regularly for game nights, happy hours, tech talks, and plenty more. We think you'll like it here!

Remember, Bitwise is not a cult. 🖖🏼

🎯 What We Look For

Bitwise hires talented engineers who are driven by purpose and who value a culture of technical excellence, growth, and overall wellness. We deliver new and innovative intelligence solutions to our customers at the very forefront of our country's national security missions. And we do it every single day. Our work matters, and so will you.

We ask that every new hire be able to:

Contribute meaningful thought leadership — if not right away, over time
Interact with our customers and earn their confidence in your abilities
Be detailed, even if that means taking a little more time to get it right
Contribute their ideas and ideals to improve all aspects of our company
Allow us to invest in their education so we both grow together
Know and live our core values every single day

💡 About this Role

You'll step into a senior System Administrator role where you own the sustainability and evolution of a high-performance operational IT environment supporting critical national security capabilities. This isn't a ticket-only position — we're looking for someone who takes true ownership of systems, documents with precision, builds strong relationships, and actively works to improve how engineers do their jobs every day.

You'll partner directly with engineering teams to optimize system performance and user workflows. You'll install, configure, and maintain cutting-edge high-performance compute hardware, including NVIDIA H100, H200, and B300 class accelerator platforms. You'll lead the uninstallation and relocation of existing equipment to a government data warehouse while maintaining configuration integrity and proper asset tracking.

Your technical documentation will become the foundation for repeatability and scale — clear enough that another engineer can step in seamlessly. You'll develop strong working relationships with onsite System Administrators to streamline troubleshooting and coordinate priorities when mission timelines demand it. You'll identify gaps in support coverage and recommend improvements to reduce downtime and response time.

As the mission evolves, you'll adapt with it. We're building toward AWS integration, cloud modernization, and Large Language Model infrastructure support, and we want someone who's energized by that growth trajectory and willing to expand their expertise over time.

📋 Requirements

9+ years of experience in systems administration (degree not required)
Strong Linux systems administration experience in operational environments
Hands-on experience installing and maintaining GPU-accelerated or high-performance compute systems, particularly NVIDIA enterprise-class hardware
Demonstrated ability to document technical processes clearly and professionally
Experience working within structured data center or warehouse environments
Familiarity with virtualization technologies and hypervisors
Ability to troubleshoot hardware and software issues across networked systems
Strong communication skills and experience interacting directly with mission users
Proven ability to operate independently while coordinating effectively with distributed support teams
Current or ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance

🌟 Preferred Skills

Forward-leaning mindset with genuine enthusiasm for improving user experience
Comfort working hands-on with hardware in a warehouse environment
Track record as a relationship builder who understands that mission success depends on strong coordination with onsite support teams
Flexible and growth-oriented, with interest in expanding into cloud, AWS, and LLM infrastructure support
Commitment to building documentation and processes that make tomorrow's installs faster than today's

🏝️ Benefits at Bitwise

Top salaries because we're top performers
Pick your PTO — Everyone values time and money differently, so we give you the flexibility to choose between 3 and 5 weeks of PTO with a corresponding adjustment to your pay. Your choice, your balance.
All 11 federal holidays, paid!
Up to 2 snow days, paid!
We'll quadruple (4x!) the first 6% you contribute to your 401(k), giving you up to a 24% company match. Contributing less than 6%? Unclaimed matches come right back to you as extra income, giving you a guaranteed 24% that goes to your retirement, to your paycheck, or both. C'mon now! 🚀
100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. That's a lot. Already covered on health insurance? No problem — we'll trade you this benefit for a boost to your salary instead.
$5,250 annual education assistance for training, certifications, tuition, and even student loan repayments.
Spot bonuses for obtained certifications, customer recognition, and just about anything else that makes us go "Hot damn!". We hope to say that many times about you. 🔥

💰 Salary Range

$232,500 – $273,500

This range includes our flex income and depends upon your annual work hours.

Salary is determined on an individual basis following the interview process and considering various factors such as years of experience, skills, education, and certifications.

🛎️ What to Expect After Applying

You'll get an email from us right away to acknowledge your application. After that, we'll:

Send over additional company materials for you to review
Schedule a video call to talk about you, our company, and your place in it
Craft a delightful offer package for you and record a video walkthrough
Work closely with you through onboarding. We'll keep it joyful and easy.

ℹ️ Disclaimers

Bitwise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Compensation for this position, including all compensation options, will be determined on an individual basis following the interview process.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please reach out to us.