Junior Systems Engineer

Peraton; Great Falls Crossing (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Systems Engineer to design and maintain its IT infrastructure. The ideal candidate will possess a TS/SCI clearance and have experience with systems administration and engineering. Responsibilities include implementing security protocols, managing network configurations, and ensuring system performance and reliability. Join a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and innovative technology solutions.

Qualifications

• TS/SCI clearance required.
• 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong OS and system admin knowledge required.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable, secure IT infrastructure.
• Collaborate with teams for system upgrades.
• Monitor and troubleshoot system performance issues.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Security protocols

Networking concepts

Operating systems

Education

BA/BS or equivalent experience

Masters degree or related fields

Tools

Ansible

Docker

Terraform

AWS

VMware

Job description

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• TS/SCI with Polygraph level clearance is required.
• BA/BS and 2+ years of experience; Masters and 1+ years; an additional four years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Proven experience as a Systems Engineer or in a similar systems administration/engineering role.
• Strong knowledge of operating systems (Linux, Windows Server, etc.) and system administration tasks.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, KVM).
• Proficiency with networking concepts, protocols, and troubleshooting (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, etc.).
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Hands-on experience with automation and scripting (e.g., Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Strong understanding of security protocols, firewalls, and VPN configurations.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with teams and stakeholders.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications:

• Certifications in relevant technologies (e.g., CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect).
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Experience with monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus).
• Experience in large-scale distributed systems or high-availability environments.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with procedures under the Risk Management Framework to maintain compliance with applicable security regulations such as Committee on National Security Systems Instructions (CNSSI), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NISD), National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), and applicable Intelligence Community Directives.

As a Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of the company's IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, and networks. You will ensure that systems are scalable, reliable, and secure, helping to deliver efficient and effective technology solutions across the organization. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of both hardware and software systems, as well as a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and deploy scalable, secure, and efficient systems and infrastructure to meet the organization’s needs.
• Collaborate with IT teams and stakeholders to plan and implement systems for new projects or system upgrades.
• Install, configure, and maintain operating systems, software applications, and hardware components.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and proactively resolve problems related to hardware, software, or network performance.
• Conduct routine system checks and audits to ensure optimal system health and security.
• Apply patches, updates, and system upgrades to keep infrastructure current and secure.
• Manage network configurations, firewalls, VPNs, and ensure proper network segmentation for security and performance.
• Implement and maintain security protocols, access controls, and monitoring systems to protect the organization's IT infrastructure from threats.
• Respond to and manage security incidents, performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective measures.
• Directly or indirectly implement monitoring/auditing and reporting compliance with security controls.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts to streamline system deployments, configuration management, and monitoring processes.
• Use configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef) to automate system administration tasks.
• Design and implement disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in case of system failures or outages.
• Manage backup systems, performing regular backups, testing recovery procedures, and ensuring that data is protected and recoverable.
• Work closely with development, operations, and support teams to ensure systems meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance for system-related issues, both proactively and as part of incident resolution.
• Document system architecture, configurations, procedures, and processes to ensure knowledge sharing and efficient management.
• Prepare regular reports on system performance, issues, and resolutions to share with stakeholders.

*Position is contingent upon Spring 2025 contract award*