Linux Patch Management Administrator

Dragonfli Group is a cybersecurity and IT consulting firm providing services to federal agencies and Fortune 100 enterprises. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Dragonfli supports clients in securing mission-critical systems across on-site, hybrid, and fully remote environments.

We are seeking a detail-oriented Patch Management Administrator to own the Linux-focused patch coordination for real-time devices across development, test, and production environments. This is an intermediate-level role requiring approximately 2 to 3 years of total experience, with a specific focus on Linux systems administration and patch management lifecycles.

In this role, you will plan and execute monthly discovery and evaluation cycles, coordinate quarterly deployments, and drive the creation of critical compliance artifacts. You will utilize tools such as Ansible and RedHat Satellite to manage kernel and security updates while partnering with platform owners to minimize deployment defects.

This is a multi-year contract position involving a large US federal agency. Candidates with previous federal contracting experience are preferred. U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency required. If hired, all work related to this role must be performed within the continental U.S.

Responsibilities:

• Patch Coordination: Own the full lifecycle of Linux-focused patch coordination for real-time devices across development, test, and production environments.
• Cycle Planning: Plan and execute monthly Linux patch discovery and evaluation cycles, covering kernels, packages, agents, and repository hygiene.
• Deployment Management: Coordinate quarterly Linux patch deployments, including scheduling maintenance windows, planning rollbacks, and executing validation steps.
• Documentation & Compliance: Drive artifact creation for compliance audits, including patch evidence, change records, test results, deployment logs, and exception documentation.

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• Strategic Planning: Build comprehensive Linux patch test plans and production deployment plans that align with strict client change discipline.
• Troubleshooting: Partner with platform owners to troubleshoot patch failures, investigate root causes, and reduce recurring deployment defects.
• Process Execution: Create and execute patch runbooks, test plans, and verification checklists to ensure system integrity.

Requirements:

Must-Have Qualifications

• Linux Administration: 2+ years of hands-on Linux systems administration experience in enterprise environments; RHEL/CentOS is strongly preferred, though Ubuntu is acceptable.
• Patch Management: 1 to 2 years of specific experience managing patching for Linux endpoints or servers.
• Project Coordination: 1 to 2 years of experience in project coordination or project management.
• Technical Documentation: 1 to 2 years of experience creating technical documentation in operational environments.

Desired/Preferred Qualifications

• Tools Experience: Experience with Ansible (Preferred), RedHat Satellite, Spacewalk, or Ivanti.
• Additional Tools: Familiarity with Tripwire, Jira, HPE OneView, or VMware.
• OS Familiarity: Working familiarity with Windows patching (though the role is Linux-first).

Skill(s):

• Technical Fluency: Strong command line fluency including systemd, journald, log review, and package management (yum/dnf/apt).
• Security & Access: Working knowledge of SSH access patterns, permissions, sudo policy, and basic hardening concepts.
• Patching Strategy: Experience patching Linux at scale, including kernel and security updates, with strict validation and rollback planning.
• Reporting: Proficiency in Excel, specifically using Pivot Tables for patch reporting and audit evidence tracking.
• Communication: Clear, concise communication style with strong written documentation habits.
• Operational Discipline: Ability to run timelines tightly, escalate risks early, and close loops fast.
• Crisis Management: Ability to remain calm under pressure during maintenance windows and critical requests.