Lead Engineer - Cloud & DevSecOps (Top Secret Cleared) - MASS

Applied Research Solutions; Kentucky; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SCIF onsite 50%

Top-Secret environment

Job summary

Applied Research Solutions seeks a Lead Engineer to direct a multi-disciplinary team delivering secure cloud software for a government program. You will architect and maintain systems in Azure, oversee DevSecOps pipelines with GitLab CI/CD and Artifactory, and mentor junior engineers in a fast-paced, classified environment with on-site SCIF involvement.

You will apply secure coding practices aligned with NIST/DoD frameworks, collaborate with aircraft and mission systems teams, and drive roadmaps

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, CS or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• Proven experience leading software or DevSecOps teams on government or defense programs.
• Proficiency with GitLab and Artifactory.
• Cloud experience with Microsoft Azure and secure development practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team delivering cloud-native software capabilities.
• Architect, develop, and maintain systems in secure Azure environments.
• Oversee DevSecOps pipelines using GitLab CI/CD and Artifactory.
• Collaborate with aircraft platform groups and mission systems teams for seamless integration.
• Define and enforce secure development practices aligned with government cybersecurity standards.
• Drive technical roadmaps, backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and cross-team coordination.
• Provide hands-on engineering mentorship to junior and mid-level developers.
• Ensure compliance with security controls, accreditation, and CM policies.
• Communicate status, risks and recommendations to program leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Secure development practices

NIST/DoD frameworks

Government/defense program experience

Education

Bachelor's degree (engineering/CS)

Tools

GitLab CI/CD

Artifactory

Microsoft Azure

Terraform

Bicep

Job description

Description

Applied Research Solutions seeks a highly skilled Lead Engineer to support a mission-critical U.S. Government program focused on secure cloud software development, aircraft platform integration, and enterprise DevSecOps modernization. The ideal candidate brings technical depth, leadership experience, and a strong understanding of secure development practices within classified environments. If you're ready to make a lasting impact through technical excellence and leadership in a fast-paced, classified environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Work with us?

Applied Research Solutions (ARS) is respected as a world-class provider of technically integrated solutions as we deliver premier talent and technology across our focused markets for unparalleled, continuous mission support. Awarded a Best Places to Work nominee since 2020, ARS recognizes that without our career- driven, loyal professionals, we would not be able to deliver state-of-the-art results for our mission partners. We firmly believe that prioritizing our employees is of the upmost importance. We provide a culture where our employees are challenged to meet their career goals and aspirations, while still obtaining a work/life balance. ARS employees are motivated through our industry competitive benefits package, our awards and recognition program, and personalized attention from ARS Senior Managers.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team delivering cloud-native software capabilities.
• Architect, develop, and maintain systems in secure cloud environments, primarily Azure.
• Oversee implementation of DevSecOps pipelines using GitLab CI/CD and Artifactory.
• Collaborate closely with aircraft platform groups, mission systems teams, and networking specialists to ensure seamless system integration.
• Define and enforce secure development practices aligned with government cybersecurity standards and program requirements.
• Comfortable in SCIF for 50% of time onsite
• Drive technical roadmaps, backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and cross-team coordination.
• Provide hands-on engineering support and mentorship to junior and mid-level developers.
• Ensure compliance with security controls, accreditation processes, and configuration management policies.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to program leadership and stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/ Technical Experience Requirements:

• US Citizenship required.
• Active Top-Secret clearance required.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Computer Science, or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• Proven experience leading software or DevSecOps teams on government or defense programs.
• Proficiency with GitLab (source control, CI/CD pipelines) and Artifactory (artifact management).
• Experience with cloud platforms, specifically Microsoft Azure.
• Strong understanding of secure coding practices and NIST/DoD cybersecurity frameworks.
• Familiarity working with aircraft platforms, avionics environments, or related mission systems.
• Certification: Security+ CE (required), Azure AZ-204 or AZ-900 (required).
• Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-paced, classified environments with multi-organizational stakeholders.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, Bicep).
• Knowledge of Zero Trust, container security, or K8s in secure enclaves.
• Understanding of military airworthiness, flight test, or embedded systems environments.
• Prior experience supporting multi-domain operations or cross-service integration.

All positions at Applied Research Solutions are subject to background investigations. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history and identity check.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.