Lead Windows Systems Administrator at Praxis Engineering
Praxis Engineering · McLean, United States Of America · Onsite
- Senior
- Office in McLean
Lead Windows Systems Administrator (SME)
We are seeking an accomplished Lead Windows Systems Administrator to oversee the design, operations, and maintenance of a mission-critical Windows infrastructure that supports analysts and scientists. This senior leadership role will shape the stability, security, and scalability of our Windows environment—spanning desktops, servers, and integrated applications—while guiding a high-performing team of system administrators. If you are a hands-on technical leader with a deep Windows expertise and a passion for solving complex challenges, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.
What you will be doing:
- Leading and managing the Windows Systems Administration team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and prioritization of tasks.
- Designing, operating, and maintaining Windows infrastructure, including servers, virtual desktops, and enterprise applications.
- Configuring and managing domains, Active Directory, Group Policies, and access controls.
- Driving automation efforts through scripting to deliver consistent provisioning, configuration management, and compliance.
- Overseeing patch management, testing, and deployment to maintain a secure, stable environment with minimal disruption.
- Managing incident resolution: analyzing issues, identifying root causes, implementing fixes, and documenting closures.
- Tracking and managing incident queues, ensuring timely responses and identifying recurring trends requiring deeper engineering solutions.
- Integrating and supporting COTS and GOTS applications on the Windows platform to meet evolving user needs.
- Collaborating with network engineers, security teams, and application owners to deliver robust and accredited environments.
What you need:
- Leadership Experience: Proven ability to lead and manage a team of 5+ administrators for 10+ years.
- Technical Expertise:
- Advanced knowledge of Windows Workstation and Server administration.
- Expert experience with Citrix StoreFront, Active Directory, and Group Policy management.
- Hands-on experience with server roles (file, web, application, and domain controllers).
- Skilled in virtualized environments (VMWare, Nutanix, etc.).
- Strong understanding of networking fundamentals and collaboration with network teams.
- Proficiency in deploying, monitoring, patching, and supporting enterprise applications.
- Experience with data storage and management solutions.
- Security & Compliance: History of working closely with security teams to accredit systems for operational readiness.
- Additional Skills (Preferred):
- Linux OS knowledge.
- Experience with Tanium.
- Education & Experience:
- M.S. degree with 9+ years of professional experience, OR
- B.S. degree with 12+ years of professional experience, OR
- Relevant certification with 9+ years of professional experience, OR
- No degree with 15+ years of professional experience.
- Mindset: Adaptable to fast-paced environments, proactive problem-solver, and strong communicator.
Clearance:
Active TS/SCI with an appropriate polygraph is required to be considered for this role
Salary range:
$169,707.00 - $235,726.00 (Annually)*
REQ#: PRX-25-822