Defense Lab Systems Engineer – Patch, Test & Virtualization

General Dynamics Information Technology; United States; On-site; USD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology in Tampa, FL, is seeking an early-career Systems Engineer to support USCENTCOM lab infrastructure and enterprise testing. The role involves hardware assembly, OS deployment, patching, and validating baselines in a fast-paced defense environment.

You will work under senior engineers to ensure secure, baselined lab systems, with responsibilities spanning physical installation, test execution, vulnerability remediation, and SOP maintenance across Windows and

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of Windows Server 2019/2022, Windows 10/11, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and virtualization (VMware ESXi/vCenter).
• Experience with physical server racking, stacking, cabling, and hardware component replacement.
• Understanding patch management lifecycles and basic networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, routing).

Responsibilities

• Perform physical installation, racking, stacking, cabling, and baseline configuration of servers, workstations, storage, and lab appliances.
• Execute standardized hardware and software test plans and validation scripts.
• Identify, document, and track hardware defects and software bugs for escalation.
• Apply scheduled security patches, OS updates, and firmware across Windows and Linux.
• Validate post-patching system stability and dependencies to preserve baselines.
• Support virtualization environments, including VM creation and maintenance (VMware/Hyper‑V).
• Assist in implementing STIGs and vulnerability remediation efforts.
• Maintain lab configuration docs, asset inventories, and SOPs.
• Provide Tier I/II troubleshooting for hardware, OS, and network issues.

Skills

Hardware Installations

Patch Management

Security Patch Management

Software Test Planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field

Job description

General Dynamics Information Technology in Tampa, FL, is seeking an early-career Systems Engineer to support USCENTCOM lab infrastructure and enterprise testing. The role involves hardware assembly, OS deployment, patching, and validating baselines in a fast-paced defense environment.

You will work under senior engineers to ensure secure, baselined lab systems, with responsibilities spanning physical installation, test execution, vulnerability remediation, and SOP maintenance across Windows and