L1 Enterprise Operations Engineer

Koniag Technology Solutions, Inc a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking an experienced, motivated, and customer-oriented L1 Operations Engineer to join our team supporting a critical enterprise server environment for the Department of State. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong technical troubleshooting skills, a commitment to operational excellence, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance/suitability determination to support KDS and our government customer. This position is located onsite in Washington, DC, Denver, CO, or Beltsville, MD.

The L1 Operations Engineer will provide frontline monitoring, troubleshooting, and operational support for an enterprise server environment supporting the Department of State. This role serves as a critical first line of defense in identifying, escalating, and resolving system issues to ensure continuous operations and stakeholder satisfaction.

Principal responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Monitor the enterprise server environment continuously, identifying anomalies and potential service disruptions.
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding system status, incidents, and resolutions.
• Work closely with Systems Administrators to troubleshoot server problems and document all changes, issues, and resolutions in accordance with change management procedures.
• Perform reboots on physical servers and utilize VMware vSphere Client to reboot virtual servers as needed.
• Manually ping, test, and open problem tickets/outages for servers and websites that are unresponsive or degraded.
• Escalate unresolved or complex issues to Level 2 LAN Administrators in a timely manner, providing clear and thorough documentation.
• Apply knowledge of standard and non-standard operating procedures and diagnostic techniques to resolve difficult operational issues.
• Escort and monitor uncleared workers on-site in accordance with facility security requirements.
• Maintain accurate logs, incident tickets, and shift-turnover documentation to ensure continuity of operations across shifts.
• Participate in a rotating shift schedule to support 24/7 operational monitoring requirements, as applicable.

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; equivalent work experience may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 3-5+ years of experience in IT or computer information systems, preferably in an enterprise server monitoring or operations environment.
• Experience troubleshooting IT hardware, including physical and virtual server components.
• Experience using IT Service Management (ITSM) tools such as BMC Remedy or ServiceNow for incident, problem, and change management.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Server Operating Systems and VMware vSphere administration and troubleshooting.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance, * Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders, systems administrators, and escalation teams.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced, mission-critical operations environment.
• Hands-on experience rebooting and troubleshooting physical and virtual servers using VMware vSphere Client.
• Ability to manually test, ping, and diagnose server and website connectivity issues.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply standard and non-standard diagnostic techniques to resolve operational issues.
• Ability to accurately document changes, incidents, and problem resolutions in ITSM tools.
• Ability to escalate issues appropriately and coordinate with Level 2 support teams.
• Ability to escort and monitor uncleared personnel in accordance with site security protocols.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance/suitability determination.
• Flexibility to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, or holidays, as required by operational needs.
• Desired Skills and Competencies:
• Experience supporting federal government IT environments, particularly Department of State systems.
• Familiarity with enterprise monitoring tools and dashboards.
• Basic scripting or automation experience (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) to support troubleshooting and diagnostics.
• Relevant industry certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, or VMware Certified Technical Associate (VCTA).
• Prior experience working in a Network Operations Center (NOC) or similar 24/7 operational environment.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.

Koniag Government Services (KGS) is an Alaska Native Owned corporation supporting the values and traditions of our native communities through an agile employee and corporate culture that delivers Enterprise Solutions, Professional Services and Operational Management to Federal Government Agencies. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Koniag, we apply our proven commercial solutions to a deep knowledge of Defense and Civilian missions to provide forward leaning technical, professional, and operational solutions. KGS enables successful mission outcomes for our customers through solution-oriented business partnerships and a commitment to exceptional service delivery. We ensure long-term success with a continuous improvement approach while balancing the collective interests of our customers, employees, and native communities. For more information, please visit www.koniag-gs.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. Shareholder Preference in accordance with Public Law 88-352