Systems Administrator Intern

Description

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Systems Administrator Intern to join our team in Suffolk, Virginia. This internship offers a hands-on opportunity for students or early-career professionals with a foundation in Computer Science to gain real-world experience in IT infrastructure management. You will work alongside experienced engineers to support Linux-based systems, networking services, cloud environments, and virtualization platforms while building the technical skills needed to launch a career in systems administration and DevOps. 

What You’ll Do 

• Assist in the day-to-day administration and maintenance of Linux-based servers and infrastructure. 
• Support the configuration and troubleshooting of networking services, including TCP/IP, DNS, and DHCP. 
• Help manage and maintain Azure cloud environments, including Azure Virtual Desktop deployments. 
• Contribute to virtualization projects using Proxmox, including provisioning and monitoring virtual machines. 
• Assist with the deployment and configuration of web servers such as Nginx and Apache. 
• Participate in version control workflows using Git and secure remote access via SSH. 
• Support the development and integration of APIs and front-end web interfaces. 
• Document processes, configurations, and troubleshooting steps for internal knowledge bases. 

Requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates must demonstrate foundational knowledge in the following areas: 

• Linux Foundations – Basic understanding of Linux operating systems, including file system navigation, user management, permissions, and command-line operations. 
• TCP/IP Networking – Familiarity with core networking concepts, including IP addressing, subnetting, the OSI model, and the functional differences between Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols. 
• DNS & DHCP – Working knowledge of Domain Name System and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol services, including how they are configured and maintained in a networked environment. 
• Azure Fundamentals – Basic understanding of Microsoft Azure cloud services, including resource groups, virtual machines, and cloud-based infrastructure concepts. 
• Azure Virtual Desktop Concepts – Familiarity with Azure Virtual Desktop components, including Host Pools, Workspaces, and Application Groups. 
• Virtualization (Proxmox) – Basic experience with or knowledge of Proxmox Virtual Environment for creating and managing virtual machines and containers. 
• APIs – Understanding of what APIs are, how they work, and how they facilitate communication between software applications. 
• Web Servers (Nginx/Apache) – Basic familiarity with web server software, including how to install, configure, and serve web content using Nginx or Apache. 
• Git & SSH – Comfort with Git version control workflows (clone, commit, push, pull) and secure remote server access using SSH. 
• HTML, JavaScript, React – Foundational knowledge of front-end web technologies, including the ability to read and understand HTML structure, JavaScript logic, and React component architecture. 

Nice to Have 

The following skills are not required but would strengthen your candidacy: 

• Microsoft EntraID – Familiarity with Microsoft’s identity and access management platform for managing user authentication and permissions. 
• API Calls – Experience making and testing API calls using tools such as Postman, cURL, or similar utilities. 
• Azure Services – Broader exposure to Azure services beyond the fundamentals, such as Azure Storage, Azure Networking, or Azure Active Directory. 
• Node.js / .NET API – Experience building or consuming APIs using Node.js or the .NET framework. 
• Azure Serverless Functions – Familiarity with event-driven, serverless computing in Azure for running lightweight backend processes. 
• Visio or Other Drawing Application – Ability to create network diagrams, system architecture visuals, or workflow documentation using Microsoft Visio or comparable tools such as draw.io or Lucidchart. 
• Bash/Shell Scripting – Ability to write basic scripts to automate routine system administration tasks. 
• Ansible or Configuration Management Tools – Exposure to tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef for automating server provisioning and configuration. 
• Docker & Containerization – Basic understanding of container concepts and experience running applications in Docker containers. 
• Firewall Management – Familiarity with firewall tools such as iptables, UFW, or pfSense for managing network security rules. 
• Monitoring Tools – Experience with infrastructure monitoring platforms such as Grafana, Prometheus, Nagios, or Zabbix. 
• Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning – Awareness of data backup strategies and disaster recovery best practices. 
• Active Directory / LDAP – Basic understanding of directory services for managing users, groups, and organizational resources. 
• SSL/TLS Certificate Management – Familiarity with how SSL/TLS certificates work and experience requesting, installing, or renewing them. 
• Log Management and Analysis – Exposure to centralized logging tools such as the ELK Stack or Syslog for troubleshooting and monitoring system health. 
• PowerShell – Basic scripting ability in PowerShell for task automation in Windows and hybrid environments. 
• CI/CD Pipelines – Basic understanding of continuous integration and continuous deployment concepts and tools. 
• Markdown Documentation – Experience writing clear technical documentation using Markdown syntax. 
• REST APIs and JSON – Understanding of RESTful API design principles and comfort working with JSON data structures. 
• Azure Portal Navigation – Familiarity with navigating the Azure Portal to manage and monitor cloud resources. 

About us: We are Command Post Technologies, Inc. (CPT). CPT is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), providing engineering services in the areas of Cyber Security, Software Development, Test & Evaluation, and Strategic Planning. CPT employees appreciate working in a caring environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance. As individuals, we come together as a team, supporting a culture rooted in our core principles of integrity, determination, and innovation. In all of CPT’s collaboration efforts, our team prioritizes communication, accountability, and being resourceful in order to maximize efficiency and results.

What’s In It for You

• Leadership training
• Career professional development
• Work/Life balance
• Rewards and recognition

Command Post Technologies, Inc. (CPT) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded in 2008 and headquartered in Suffolk, VA with personnel in various states including Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and Texas. With 2/3 of our staff being former military, CPT firmly believes in employing veterans. Command Post Technologies, Inc. is a unique provider of innovative solutions that enhance our corporate clients’ productivity and empower our government clients with the ability to protect against all enemies: foreign and domestic. CPT adapts its successful military experiential approach to the needs of leaders in a global business environment and provides an elite leadership curriculum that results in a world-class, leadership-altering event.

Command Post Technologies Inc. (CPT) is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law. We take Affirmative Action to ensure equal opportunities for employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

We abide by the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision and will refrain from discharging or otherwise discriminating against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants. An exception exists where the employee or applicant makes the disclosure based on information obtained while performing his or her essential job functions.