IT Systems Administrator (NASA Ballon Program)

Peraton provides management and technical support for NASA’s scientific balloon program which supports enabling science missions for NASA and universities across the United States and foreign scientific communities. Scientific balloon missions provide researchers inexpensive, relatively quick, long duration access to near space altitudes and environments. Balloon missions cost orders of magnitude less than satellite missions and provide platforms for heavy experiments (some greater than 5000-lbs) to operate for weeks and even months. Balloon missions have provided significant science theories and discoveries about cosmic rays, gamma ray and x-ray astronomy, optical and UV astronomy, atmospheric sciences, and cosmic microwave background studies.

Our staff are located at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, TX where we design, analyze, build and assembly the support hardware and balloon gondola payloads for the missions. We launch the balloons from locations within the United States (Texas, New Mexico, and Hawaii) and around the world including Antarctica, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia. Our engineers and technician staff support the launches and balloon and payload recoveries in the US and many worldwide locations.

Peraton’s NASA Balloon Operations Contract (NBOC) program is seeking an experienced IT Specialist to join our mission-critical operations team. This role is essential for ensuring continuity, workload balance, and compliance with NASA IT and security requirements. The IT Specialist will support ongoing modernization projects, field operations, and the expanding demands of the NASA Balloon Program.

Our rural campus offers the ability to work in a low-cost of living area, but within an easy drive of Tyler, Dallas and Houston.    

Responsibilities of the position:

• Manage Windows domain environments and oversee computer management across CSBF domains.
• Implement and maintain network architecture, including structured cabling and network rewiring projects.
• Support NASA IT security requirements, including account controls, access permissions, system hardening, and documentation compliance.
• Support web administration, including website redesign and modernization for usability, security, and stakeholder communications.
• Provide 24x7 IT support during international flight campaigns and peak mission periods. 
• Assist with infrastructure projects, including relocation/construction of new buildings and installation/programming of network communications. 
• Participate in preventative maintenance, audits, and system upgrades.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years or more of professional experience in Computer Science, Information Technology or related technology field, In lieu of degree six or more years of experience 
• Ability to support field operations and troubleshoot complex firewall/network issues.
• Strong knowledge of network architecture and structured cabling
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must be able to pass a background check to obtain a NASA Personal Identity Verification card (PIV) background check and drug screen required. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Network+ or Security+ Certification
• Experience in Windows domain management. 
• Web administration skills, including website design and server configuration. 
• Familiarization with Linux 
• Strong organizational skills, capacity to manage concurrent projects, and work within a team 

Position requires travel to New Mexico for approximately two weeks during the summer.