Systems Engineering - Senior Engineer

Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship is required due to federal government contract requirements Security Clearance: Public Trust / Background Investigation required; candidate must be able to obtain and maintain clearance prior to start Work Mode: On-Site Place of Performance: Washington, DC, * We are seeking an experienced Senior IT Systems Engineer to support IT infrastructure and systems engineering for a federal government client. This role is responsible for the administration, maintenance, and security of a hybrid IT environment that includes on-premises systems and cloud platforms.

• The Senior IT Systems Engineer will work independently to manage identity and access, maintain system performance, apply security baselines, and ensure compliance with federal standards. This position requires strong technical expertise across Microsoft, VMware, and Cisco environments, along with the ability to support a lean IT organization with mission-critical operations., * Administer and maintain identity and access management systems, including Active Directory and Azure Entra ID (conditional access, MFA, auditing).
• Manage on-premises servers (Windows Server and Linux) in VMware environments, including provisioning, patching, hardening, and monitoring.
• Apply and maintain STIG configuration baselines across servers and enterprise systems.
• Administer Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and associated security controls.
• Manage Cisco networking equipment including routers, switches, and firewall configurations.
• Implement and maintain patch management processes for servers, endpoints, and network devices.
• Identify compliance gaps and support implementation of security controls aligned with FISMA and NIST standards.
• Support Microsoft Azure environments, including Azure Arc and hybrid cloud integrations.
• Evaluate system architecture and recommend improvements to enhance performance, security, and reliability.
• Develop disaster recovery and backup strategies for critical systems and data.
• Install, configure, test, and maintain IT infrastructure components including servers, storage, and network devices.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and technical documentation., This position offers an opportunity to play a critical role in maintaining and securing federal IT infrastructure, ensuring system reliability, compliance, and operational excellence within a government environment.

Do you have experience in Windows support?, Do you have a Bachelor's degree?, * Minimum 6 years of hands-on experience in IT systems engineering, systems administration, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience managing Active Directory integrated with Azure Entra ID, including MFA and conditional access.
• Proven experience administering VMware environments, including virtual machine lifecycle management and hardening.
• Hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365 services and security configurations.
• Experience applying STIG baselines to Windows Server and Linux systems.
• Proven experience implementing patch management programs across enterprise environments.
• Experience identifying compliance gaps and implementing NIST SP 800-53 security controls.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure and hybrid cloud environments.
• Experience managing Cisco networking infrastructure (routers, switches, firewalls).
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Azure Arc for hybrid cloud management.
• Familiarity with Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) tools.
• Experience supporting PIV card-based authentication and certificate-based access.
• Knowledge of CISA SCuBA baselines for Microsoft 365 environments.
• Prior experience supporting small federal agencies or lean IT environments.
• Familiarity with Apple iOS device management in enterprise environments.
• Understanding of NIST SP 800-53 and FISMA compliance processes.

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant certifications may substitute for a degree with sufficient hands-on experience.

Relevant Certifications (Preferred):

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
• CompTIA Security+
• VMware Certified Professional (VCP) or equivalent
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert (MS-102)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
• CompTIA Linux+
• Cisco CCNA or CCNP
• MCSE: Core Infrastructure, * Are you legally authorized to work in the United States and able to meet federal contractor eligibility requirements for support of a U.S. government agency?
• Are you comfortable working onsite in Washington, DC?
• How many years of hands-on IT systems engineering and infrastructure administration experience do you have in production environments (not including management-only roles)?
• Have you personally administered a Microsoft 365 tenant in a production environment (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and M365 Admin Center)?
• Have you personally configured and managed Azure Entra ID (Azure AD), including Conditional Access policies and MFA enforcement, in a production environment?
• Have you personally administered VMware vSphere/vCenter in a production environment, including VM provisioning, patching, and lifecycle management?
• Have you personally administered Windows Server and Active Directory, including GPOs, DNS, DHCP, and domain administration tasks?
• Have you personally administered Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems in a production environment, including STIG hardening and basic automation scripting?
• Have you personally configured and troubleshot Cisco networking equipment (routers, switches, or firewalls) in a production environment?
• Do you hold a bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a closely related technical field?

Pulled from the full job description

• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance, * 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance