Lead Automation Engineer

UIC Government Services and the Bowhead Family of Companies; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowhead seeks a high-performing Lead Automation Engineer to join our team in Rosslyn, VA. This role focuses on automating, securing, and implementing IaC to transition a legacy on-prem environment to a cloud-enabled one. You will mentor sub-teams on DevSecOps and security controls while optimizing resource usage.

You will design CI/CD pipelines (GitLab), manage AWS infrastructure via Terraform, and drive secure, scalable cloud solutions with DoD compliance. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Ten (10+) years of technical experience, with at least four (4+) years focused on cloud automation and DevSecOps, and at least six (6+) years focused on DoD aligned problem sets.
• Expertise in developing and implementing robust automation solutions within a major public cloud platform, specifically AWS.
• Strong proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform.
• Extensive experience with CI/CD implementation and management using tools like GitLab.
• Deep understanding of DoD security standards, hardening baselines, and compliance frameworks (e.g., STIGs, RMF).
• Ability to design scalable, secure, and highly available enterprise-level cloud solutions.
• Experience with container orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes), virtualization technologies (VMWare).
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with proven experience mentoring and leading technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and securing of various IaC and scripting technologies across the full system lifecycle.
• Pro-actively identify manual, repetitive, or cross-functional tasks and develop automation solutions to improve team efficiency and operational quality.
• Define and enforce technical standards, architecture patterns, and design principles for all automation and IaC solutions.
• Lead the development and implementation of the new target cloud solution, ensuring alignment with engineering and security best practices.

Skills

Terraform automation

AWS cloud

GitLab

CI/CD

Kubernetes

VMware

DoD STIGs

DevSecOps

Security governance

Leadership

Education

BA/BS in a technical field

Tools

GitLab

Terraform

Kubernetes

VMware

Job description

Overview

LEAD AUTOMATION ENGINEER (NAUT):

Bowhead seeks a high-performing Lead Automation Engineer to join our team in Rosslyn, VA. The Lead Automation Engineer will act as the technical specialist responsible for developing, securing, and implementing robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and scripting solutions to drive the transition of a legacy on-premises infrastructure to a modern, cloud-enabled environment. This role will focus on maximizing efficiency through automation, optimizing resource utilization, and mentoring sub-teams on DevSecOps practices.

This position is located near a metro station and a travel stipend may be provided if necessary.

Responsibilities

Automation Engineering & Leadership

• Serve as the lead technical engineer for the design, development, and securing of various IaC and scripting technologies across the full system lifecycle.
• Pro-actively identify manual, repetitive, or cross-functional tasks and develop automation solutions to improve team efficiency and operational quality.
• Define and enforce technical standards, architecture patterns, and design principles for all automation and IaC solutions.
• Lead the development and implementation of the new target cloud solution, ensuring alignment with engineering and security best practices.

Cloud & DevSecOps Implementation

• Design, implement, and maintain robust Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines utilizing tools like GitLab for source control and automation.
• Manage and provision cloud infrastructure on AWS using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, primarily Terraform.
• Implement containerization and orchestration strategies for cloud-native workloads.
• Responsible for monitoring and optimizing cloud spend by implementing cost-aware designs and automated governance tools.
• Ensure all cloud deployments and operational practices adhere to security baselines, including DoD security requirements and Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).

Mentorship & Governance

• Coach and train sub-teams on new automation technologies, cloud best practices, DevSecOps methodologies, and security compliance.
• Collaborate with security and governance teams to ensure the environment meets all required federal and DoD standards.
• Assist with documentation related to automation architecture, security controls, and operational procedures.

Qualifications

• BA/S in a relevant technical field preferred. Years of experience may substitute the education requirement.
• Ten (10+) years of relevant technical experience, with at least four (4+) years focused on cloud automation and DevSecOps, and at least six (6+) years focused on DoD aligned problem sets.
• Expertise in developing and implementing robust automation solutions within a major public cloud platform, specifically AWS.
• Strong proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform.
• Extensive experience with CI/CD implementation and management using tools like GitLab.
• Deep understanding of DoD security standards, hardening baselines, and compliance frameworks (e.g., STIGs, RMF).
• Ability to design scalable, secure, and highly available enterprise-level cloud solutions.
• Experience with container orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes), virtualization technologies (VMWare)
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with proven experience mentoring and leading technical teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience with advanced IaC tooling like Flux, Packer and Terragrunt.
• Familiarity with secrets management platforms such as HashiCorp Vault.
• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional or AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty certification.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time
• Must be able to twist, bend and squat periodically

This position is an 'in office' position, based out of Rosslyn, VA, with occasional travel to Herndon, VA, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, and the Pentagon.

The pay scale for this position is between $140,000 - $160,000.

Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Bowhead considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and business considerations when extending an offer.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to maintain a security clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI eligibility and maintain SAP eligibility. Due to work requirements, this position will not entertain work from home capabilities. US Citizenship is a requirement for this contract.

Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug & alcohol screening and/or random drug screen, and must follow UIC's Non-DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Program requirements. If the position requires, an applicant must pass a pre-employment criminal background history check. All post-secondary education listed on the applicant's resume/application may be subject to verification.

Where driving may be required or where a rental car must be obtained for business travel purposes, applicants must have a valid driver license for this position and will be subject to verification. In addition, the applicant must pass an in-house, online, driving course to be authorized to drive for company purposes.

UIC is an equal opportunity employer. Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, military/veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status EOE/D/V. Pursuant to The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq., and subject to other state and federal requirements, UIC and its subsidiaries may legally grant certain preference in employment opportunities to UIC Shareholders and their Descendants. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity posters here .

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

UIC Government Services (UICGS / Bowhead) provides innovative business solutions to federal and commercial customers in the areas of engineering, maintenance services, information technology, program support, logistics/base support, and procurement. Collectively, the fast-growing Bowhead Family of Companies offers a breadth of services which are performed with a focus on quality results. Headquartered in Springfield, VA, we are a fast-growing, multi-million-dollar company recognized as a top Alaska Native Corporation providing services across the Department of Defense and many federal agencies.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• accidental death and dismemberment
• short/long-term disability
• 401(k) retirement plans
• paid time off programs for eligible full-time employees
• eligible part-time employees are able to participate in the 401(k) retirement plans
• state or contract required paid time off programs