Senior Principal Systems Administrator – VDI, VMware, Virtualization

BAE Systems, Inc.

. Serve as the technical authority for design, architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of enterprise VMware environments .

Posted 11/2/2026full-timeBroomfield • Colorado • United StatesSenior💰 $132,962 - $226,035 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates deep expertise in VMware environments, including vSphere, ESXi, and NSX, while leading complex virtualization programs and ensuring compliance and scalability. Proven ability to mentor engineers and manage classified environments with a focus on integration and lifecycle management.

Highest-signal resume keywords

VMware vSphere ExpertiseESXi Clustering ManagementPowerCLI/PowerShell ProficiencyTechnical Leadership and MentoringTop Secret/SCI Polygraph Security Clearance

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

VMware ESXiVMware vCenterVMware NSXVSANKubernetes ManagementNetworking FundamentalsBackup/DR IntegrationStorage IntegrationAutomation with PowerCLIPython Scripting

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication SkillsAbility to Work IndependentlyTeam Collaboration

Tools & Technologies

VROpsCommvaultVeeamSplunkGrafanaPrometheus

Certifications & Qualifications

VCP-DCVVCAP DesignVCAP DeployVMware Cloud Foundation CredentialsSecurity+CISSPITIL

Industry Keywords

Hybrid Cloud IntegrationClassified Environment ManagementSTIGsRMF/POAMSecure Configuration Baselines

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AnsibleAWSAzureCloudFirewallsGrafanaKubernetesPrometheusPythonSplunkVMware

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the technical authority for design, architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of enterprise VMware environments
Own end-to-end VMware solutions and ensure standardization and continuity
Lead complex virtualization programs spanning compute, storage, networking, security, automation, and hybrid/cloud connectivity
Integrate VMware platforms with storage arrays, SAN/NAS, backup/DR, identity, monitoring, and security controls
Mentor senior engineers and drive standards for highly available, compliant, and scalable environments
Manage a classified VDI environment consisting of hundreds of VDIs and multiple VDI pools
Manage DEM profiles
Manage ESXi hosts in a classified environment and image new hosts as needed
Troubleshoot ESXi issues using system logs
Manage multiple vCenter buildouts in a classified environment
Manage ESXi hosts on multiple networks
Implement new alerts in the vROps environment
Monitor the health of ESXi hardware and services
Manage or build Kubernetes-type environments
Manage NSX networking in the virtual environment
Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule
Establish and maintain effective working relationships across departments, Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units, and the company
Perform other duties as necessary

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field
8 or more years of related experience
A current, active Top Secret/SCI Polygraph security clearance
Deep, current expertise in vSphere, including 8.x, ESXi clustering, vCenter, vSAN, and NSX
Experience designing and integrating VMware with enterprise storage, SAN fabrics, and backup/DR platforms
Excellent networking fundamentals, including VLANs, routing, overlay/underlay, and firewalls, as applied to virtualized and NSX environments
PowerCLI/PowerShell required; Python and/or Ansible expected
Experience leading complex migrations, upgrades, or greenfield cluster builds
Excellent communication skills; ability to brief technical teams and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to work independently as a principal individual contributor and as a technical lead across teams
Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education
Degree must be from an accredited university, college, or school recognized by the US Secretary of Education or US Department of Education
Preferred: 12+ years of IT infrastructure experience and 8+ years hands-on enterprise VMware design and operations
Preferred experience with VMware Cloud Foundation, Aria Suite, Horizon, and SRM
Preferred hybrid or multi-cloud integration experience, including VMware Cloud on AWS or Azure VMware Solution
Preferred experience with NetApp, Dell PowerStore/PowerScale/Isilon, Pure, StorageGRID, or similar storage platforms
Preferred backup/data-protection integration with Commvault, Veeam, or similar, and object storage
Preferred classified, DoW, IC, or other regulated-environment experience; STIGs, RMF/POAM, and secure configuration baselines
Preferred containers/Kubernetes experience adjacent to VMware
Preferred monitoring/observability experience with vROps, Splunk, Grafana/Prometheus, and configuration management
Preferred technical leadership, architecture ownership, or mentoring of senior engineers
Preferred VMware certifications such as VCP-DCV, VCAP Design or Deploy, VCIX, or VMware Cloud Foundation credentials
Additional value: VMware NSX/vSAN specialist certifications, Security+, CISSP, or ITIL
Master's degree preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Health savings accounts
401(k) savings plan
Disability coverage
Life and accident insurance
Employee assistance program
Legal plan
Discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance
Paid time off
Paid holidays
Paid parental leave
Paid military leave
Paid bereavement leave
Applicable federal and state sick leave
Monetary or non-monetary recognition awards
Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics