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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Systems Engineer, Principal - **Company:** Rippe & Kingston Systems, Inc. - **Location:** Cincinnati, OH, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Active Directory, Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Systems Engineering, Data Centers, Distributed File Systems, Domain Name System (DNS), VMware ESX Servers, Internet Small Computer System Interface (ISCSI), Java Database Connectivity, Microsoft Servers, Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Servers, Routing, Open Database Connectivity, Paessler Router Traffic Grapher, Windows PowerShell, Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), Simple Network Management Protocols, Single Sign-On, TCP/IP, Information Technology, Cisco, Vmware - **Published:** September 13, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=301cf1270f4ad396 ## About the Role * Minimum 10 years of progressive IT infrastructure engineering experience supporting complex enterprise environments. * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field. Candidates with related Military or specialized training and extensive experience will also be considered. * Expert knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server, Active Directory, Trusts, Group Policy, DNS, PowerShell, DFS, and Microsoft SQL Server. * Expert knowledge of VMware vCenter, ESXi, vMotion, and Omnissa Horizon. * Experience with PingOne (or an equivalent IdP), SSO, SAML, and Active Directory integration of these technologies. * Strong networking expertise including Cisco and Meraki switching, Cisco routing, TCP/IP, ODBC, and JDBC. * Experience with PRTG or equivalent monitoring platforms and SNMP. * Experience with IBM Storwize, SAN technologies, Fibre Channel, and iSCSI. * Excellent verbal, written, and technical documentation skills. Additional Qualifications That Are Nice to Have * Knowledge of AI as it pertains to IT Infrastructure design and administration. * Microsoft Server certifications. * VMware or Omnissa certifications. * Cisco certifications. * AWS or other cloud certifications. * Additional industry-recognized infrastructure, networking, security, or architecture certifications ## Description The Principal Systems Engineer serves as the senior technical leader responsible for the design, engineering, reliability, security, and modernization of enterprise infrastructure platforms spanning colocation data centers and cloud environments. This role provides strategic direction across infrastructure architecture, operational excellence, and technology modernization initiatives. The Principal Engineer establishes enterprise standards, evaluates emerging technologies, and serves as a trusted advisor to engineering leadership. Success is measured through the delivery of secure, scalable, highly available infrastructure solutions that support business growth and operational excellence., * Define and maintain enterprise infrastructure roadmaps, modernization strategies, and long-term technology plans. * Lead the design, implementation, and support of complex infrastructure solutions spanning colocation, AWS cloud, networking, storage, virtualization, and identity services. * Establish enterprise architecture standards, technical guidelines, and operational best practices. * Evaluate and implement emerging technologies that improve scalability, reliability, security, and operational efficiency. * Lead large-scale cloud, networking, security, and platform initiatives. * Ensure alignment between technical solutions and business objectives. * Provide technical leadership and mentorship to infrastructure engineers and serve as the highest-level escalation point for complex technical issues. * Maintain platform availability, reliability, security, scalability, and long-term sustainability. * Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, standards, and procedures. * Drive continuous improvement through automation, monitoring, and resiliency initiatives. * Occasional travel to the Cincinnati data center to support infrastructure operations, including hardware deployment and outage response. ## Related Videos - [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team) - [What makes Cybersecurity different for critical infrastructure?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/571-what-makes-cybersecurity-different-for-critical-infrastructure) - [An Applied Introduction to eBPF with Go](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1075-an-applied-introduction-to-ebpf-with-go) - [WebAssembly: The Next Frontier of Cloud Computing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/972-webassembly-the-next-frontier-of-cloud-computing) - [Remote Driving on Plant Grounds with State-of-the-Art Cloud Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/251-remote-driving-on-plant-grounds-with-state-of-the-art-cloud-technologies) - [Turning Container security up to 11 with Capabilities](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/718-turning-container-security-up-to-11-with-capabilities) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Best Paying Jobs in Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/256-best-paying-jobs-in-technology) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [Top-Paying Tech Jobs (with Salaries)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/372-top-paying-tech-jobs-with-salaries)