diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd.rb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd.rb
index 99b3af1cf..4227dfba1 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class Factory
       # @option config [Object] :ssh_hosts (nil) The list of permissable hosts, defaults to :submit_host
       # @option config [Object] :strict_host_checking (true) Set to false to disable strict host checking and updating the known_hosts file
       # @option config [Object] :submit_host The SSH target to connect to, may be the head of a round-robin
+      # @option config [Object] :ssh_keyfile The SSH Key file to use as identity.
       def self.build_systemd(config)
         c = config.to_h.symbolize_keys
         debug = c.fetch(:debug, false)
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ def self.build_systemd(config)
         ssh_hosts = c.fetch(:ssh_hosts, [c[:submit_host]])
         strict_host_checking = c.fetch(:strict_host_checking, true)
         submit_host = c[:submit_host]
+        ssh_keyfile = c.fetch(:ssh_keyfile, "")
 
         Adapters::LinuxSystemd.new(
           ssh_hosts: ssh_hosts,
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ def self.build_systemd(config)
             ssh_hosts: ssh_hosts,
             strict_host_checking: strict_host_checking,
             submit_host: submit_host,
+            ssh_keyfile: ssh_keyfile,
           )
         )
       end
diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd/launcher.rb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd/launcher.rb
index fb9d5e19a..71757a5bb 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd/launcher.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/systemd/launcher.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 # @api private
 class OodCore::Job::Adapters::LinuxSystemd::Launcher
   attr_reader :debug, :site_timeout, :session_name_label, :ssh_hosts,
-    :strict_host_checking, :username
+    :strict_host_checking, :username, :ssh_keyfile
   # The root exception class that all LinuxSystemd adapter-specific exceptions inherit
   # from
   class Error < StandardError; end
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def initialize(
     ssh_hosts:,
     strict_host_checking: false,
     submit_host:,
+    ssh_keyfile: "",
     **_
   )
     @debug = !! debug
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ def initialize(
     @strict_host_checking = strict_host_checking
     @submit_host = submit_host
     @username = Etc.getlogin
+    @ssh_keyfile = ssh_keyfile
   end
 
   # @param hostname [#to_s] The hostname to submit the work to
@@ -97,27 +99,36 @@ def call(cmd, *args, env: {}, stdin: "")
   # if ! strict_host_checking
   # -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null (do not update the user's known hosts file)
   # -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no (do no check the user's known hosts file)
+  # if ssh_keyfile
+  # -i ssh_keyfile (Use this keyfile location)
   #
   # @param destination_host [#to_s] the destination host you wish to ssh into
   # @param cmd [Array<#to_s>] the command to be executed on the destination host
   def ssh_cmd(destination_host, cmd)
-    if strict_host_checking
-      [
-        'ssh', '-t',
-        '-p', OodCore::Job::Adapters::Helper.ssh_port,
-        '-o', 'BatchMode=yes',
-        "#{username}@#{destination_host}"
-      ].concat(cmd)
-    else
-      [
-        'ssh', '-t',
-        '-p', OodCore::Job::Adapters::Helper.ssh_port,
-        '-o', 'BatchMode=yes',
-        '-o', 'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null',
-        '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no',
-        "#{username}@#{destination_host}"
-      ].concat(cmd)
+
+    sshcmd=[
+      'ssh', '-t',
+      '-p', OodCore::Job::Adapters::Helper.ssh_port,
+      '-o', 'Batchmode=yes',
+    ]
+
+    if !strict_host_checking
+      sshcmd.concat([
+        '-o','StrictHostKeyChecking=no',
+        '-o','UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null',
+      ])
     end
+
+    if (!ssh_keyfile.to_s.empty?)
+      sshcmd.concat([
+        '-i',ssh_keyfile.to_s,
+      ])
+    end
+
+    sshcmd.concat([
+      "#{username}@#{destination_host}"
+    ]).concat(cmd)
+
   end
 
   def shell