FSF job opportunity: Systems Integration Administrator

The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a Massachusetts 501©(3) charity with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom, seeks a motivated and talented individual to be our new Systems Integration Administrator. This position is ideally full-time and US-based, but exceptions can be made for a qualified candidate.

The Systems Integration Administrator takes a role in planning and managing the Free Software Foundation’s systems deployment, interoperability, sustainability, and security strategies. This role reports to the Executive Director and works under the guidance of the Deputy Director, collaborating closely with the Senior Systems Administrator and GNU/Linux Systems Administrator. The Systems Integration Administrator is responsible for developing, maintaining, and guiding systems architecture, development of custom GNU/Linux operating system images, server setup and disaster recovery, and software deployment practices across FSF operations.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Acting as an important voice Foundation’s software system decision-making team;
• Developing technical and strategic direction for fully free software systems automation, integration, and related initiatives;
• Overseeing server maintenance, installation, large-scale disaster recovery, and operating system lifecycle management;
• Conducting hands-on technical reviews and ensuring complete, well-documented operational decisions;
• Adapting systems to FSF operations to ensure data integrity and minimal manual intervention;
• Coordinating work of volunteer systems administrators
• Performing additional tasks as assigned by the supervisor

Candidate profile

This role is intended for someone with approximately 5 years of relevant professional experience and a strong technical background.

Deep hands-on proficiency in infrastructure automation, software security, disaster recovery, custom GNU/Linux operating system development, and enterprise software deployment is essential. The ideal candidate can work independently, manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, communicate technical ideas clearly, and produce thorough, well-maintained documentation. They understand how complex systems behave in international deployments, including data migration and recovery, and can evaluate whether systems remain secure, reproducible, and under organizational control even when working with incomplete information.

The role requires sound judgment in both urgent and long-term work: the Systems Integration Administrator should be able to participate in an on-call rotation, respond effectively under pressure when systems require attention, and then return to sustained projects that need careful planning, documentation, and follow-through.

Core technical skills

Practical experience with, and understanding of:

• systems interoperability and architecture;
• server migration and disaster recovery at international scale;
• custom GNU/Linux operating system development and enterprise deployment practices;
• free software principles and FSF technical guidance;
• skill in managing a queue of systems integration tasks;
• comfort coordinating across organizational and technical teams; and,
• ability to assess whether operating systems and software are buildable and/or reproducible using only free software tools

Location and working environment

The FSF is a fully remote organization. With our small staff, each person makes a clear contribution. We work hard but offer a humane work environment; existing staff get the first chance at any new job openings.

Candidates in the Boston, Massachusetts area are preferred, given the need for occasional access to FSF datacenter infrastructure.

Salary and benefits

This exempt, union position has a salary fixed at $81,369.60/year. Other benefits include:

• full individual or family health coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts;
• subsidized dental plan;
• four weeks of paid vacation annually;
• seventeen paid holidays annually;
• weekly remote work allowance;
• public transit commuting cost reimbursement;
• 403(b) program through TIAA with employer match;
• yearly cost-of-living pay increases (based on government guidelines)*;
• healthcare expense reimbursement budget;
• ergonomic budget;
• relocation (to Boston area) expense reimbursement;
• conference travel and professional development opportunities; and
• potential for an annual performance bonus.

Application instructions

Applications must be submitted via email to . The email must contain the subject line “Systems Integration Administrator”. A complete application should include:

• cover letter;
• resume; and
• documentation of three (3) significant infrastructure or automation projects developed using free software tools. This may include custom shell scripts and integration software examples, configuration management code, disaster recovery designs, reproducible build processes, etc.

All materials must be in a free format (such as plain text, PDF, or OpenDocument). Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To guarantee consideration, submit your application by September 4, 2026.

The FSF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state, or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made at .

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Union Description

A Systems Integration Administrator is part of the on-call team responsible for the technical infrastructure of the Foundation. They work closely together with the rest of the sysadmin team to plan and manage software deployment, availability, and sustainability. They will develop more efficient ways to maintain the FSF’s systems; design integrations that preserve data integrity and reduce manual intervention; conduct and document technical reviews; coordinate volunteer systems administration work; manage a queue of systems integration and technical support tasks; assist in hardware installation; and help establish the Foundation’s technical and strategic direction for systems automation and interoperability.