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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # 4418 Principal Systems Engineer - **Company:** Procession Systems - **Location:** Bethesda, MD, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Bash Shell, CentOS, Cloud Storage, Program Optimization, RAID, File Systems, Perl (Programming Language), Storage Area Network (SAN), Python (Programming Language), Network Protocols, Open Source Technology, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Software Deployment, Virtualization Technology, Scripting, Data Storage Management, Storage Technologies, Information Technology, Performance Monitor, Data Management, Cisco, Vmware - **Published:** June 10, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/8965395/4418-principal-systems-engineer ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. * Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in systems engineering with a focus on storage and Red Hat Linux administration, including at least 3-5 years in a technical leadership, team lead, or site lead role. * Demonstrated experience leading technical teams in a customer-facing environment, ideally at a customer site or remote location. * Proven ability to mentor engineers, manage performance, and develop talent. * Strong executive presence and the judgment to act as the senior on-site representative of the company. * Track record of building and sustaining trusted customer relationships at the working and management levels. * Comfort operating with autonomy while maintaining alignment with HQ leadership and corporate direction. * Expertise in Red Hat Linux (RHEL/CentOS; RHCE/RHCSA or equivalent preferred) for server and storage management. * Expertise in Storage Area Networks, RAID, JBOD, hierarchical storage, and advanced file systems. * Strong scripting skills (bash, Python, Perl) for storage automation and system optimization. * Experience with VMware, virtualized environments, and cloud storage concepts. * Knowledge of networking protocols and storage hardware optimization. * Familiarity with secure facility deployments and open-source tools. * Ability to travel between the Bethesda site, Ashburn HQ, and other customer sites as needed. * Dedication to teamwork, innovation, and leading by example in a dynamic environment., * Cisco expertise (e.g., networking or storage integration) is a plus. ## Description We are seeking an experienced Principal Systems Engineer & Site Lead to head our Bethesda, Maryland team, specializing in advanced storage solutions and Red Hat Linux environments. With the headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, this role serves as the on-site technical and operational leader for the Bethesda location. You will lead a team of engineers delivering high-performance storage systems that support critical operations, while serving as the primary point of accountability for site execution, customer engagement, and team development. GENERAL DUTIES: * Serve as the site lead for Bethesda operations, representing the company on-site and acting as the senior technical authority and escalation point for the team and customer. * Lead, mentor, and develop a team of systems engineers, fostering technical growth, accountability, and a culture of excellence. * Own site-level execution: workload planning, task assignment, performance management, and coordination with Ashburn HQ leadership. * Serve as the primary customer-facing leader at the site, building executive-level relationships and translating customer priorities into technical direction for the team. * Drive hiring, onboarding, and retention efforts in partnership with HQ; identify staffing needs and contribute to team growth strategy. * Establish and enforce site operational standards, including documentation practices, change management, and security compliance. * Report site status, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership at HQ. * Architect, configure, and manage enterprise storage systems, including Storage Area * Networks (SANs), RAID, JBOD, and clustered file systems, within Red Hat Linux environments (RHEL/CentOS). * Administer and optimize Red Hat Linux servers, ensuring seamless storage integration and compliance with security standards. * Automate storage and system tasks using scripting (bash, Python, Perl) to improve efficiency, monitor logs, and implement responsive triggers. * Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize storage infrastructure and Red Hat Linux systems for performance, scalability, and reliability. * Lead storage hardware/software installations, patches, and upgrades, ensuring compatibility with Red Hat Linux ecosystems. * Direct capacity planning, performance monitoring, and storage provisioning in secure environments. * Guide storage-focused R&D efforts and maintain a comprehensive site knowledge base (e.g., wiki). * Oversee deployment and support of systems in secure facilities, adhering to strict protocols. ## 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) - [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) - [WebAssembly: The Next Frontier of Cloud Computing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/972-webassembly-the-next-frontier-of-cloud-computing) - [Generating code with Angular schematics](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/129-generating-code-with-angular-schematics) - [Computer Vision from the Edge to the Cloud done easy](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/263-computer-vision-from-the-edge-to-the-cloud-done-easy) - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) ## 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) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [Top-Paying Tech Jobs (with Salaries)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/372-top-paying-tech-jobs-with-salaries) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk)