Principal Cloud Systems Engineer

GliaCell Technologies; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CareFirst Medical Coverage

Guardian Dental and Vision Coverage

Up to 25 days of Paid Time Off

Work From Home Opportunities

401(k) Company Contribution

Annual Professional Development

Monthly Team and Family Events

Technology Budget

Job summary

GliaCell Technologies is seeking a Principal Cloud Systems Engineer in Columbia, MD. This full-time role involves leading the translation of research objectives into scalable cloud-native architectures and implementing automated deployment pipelines. Applicants must possess an active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance and have extensive experience as a Systems Engineer or Cloud Architect. The salary range is $200,000 to $280,000, with eligible sign-on bonuses. Benefits include comprehensive medical coverage, paid time off, a technology budget, and more.

Qualifications

• Active or reinstatable TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance required.
• U.S. Citizenship is mandatory.
• 12 years of experience or a bachelor’s degree plus 4 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead translation of research objectives into scalable cloud-native architectures.
• Conduct research into CDN technologies, edge computing, and traffic routing.
• Design and implement automated deployment pipelines and Infrastructure as Code.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation on system designs and deployment processes.
• Collaborate with teams to support distributed systems experimentation.

Skills

Systems Engineer experience

Cloud Architect experience

Distributed environments

Cloud-native ecosystems

CDNs knowledge

Terraform expertise

Analytical skills

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

GitLab

Terraform

Job description

An active or reinstatable TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance is REQUIRED.

GliaCell is seeking a Principal Cloud Systems Engineer on one of our subcontracts. This is a full‑time position offering the opportunity to support a U.S. Government customer. The mission is to provide technical expertise that assists in sustaining critical mission‑related software and systems for a large government contract.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical translation of high‑level research objectives into concrete, scalable cloud‑native system architectures.
• Conduct deep‑dive research into next‑generation CDN technologies, edge computing, traffic routing, and caching strategies.
• Design, research, and implement fully automated, resilient deployment pipelines (CI/CD) and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for both testbed environments and production‑grade prototypes.
• Create and maintain comprehensive, high‑quality documentation covering system designs, architectural decisions, deployment processes, and research findings.
• Collaborate closely with researchers, software engineers, and network specialists to build robust environments that support cutting‑edge distributed systems experimentation.

Key Requirements

• Possess an active or reinstatable TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• 12 years of professional/educational experience or a bachelor’s degree plus 4 additional years in lieu.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong communication skills.

Required Skills

• Proven experience as a Systems Engineer, Cloud Architect, or similar role focused on highly distributed environments.
• Deep understanding of cloud‑native ecosystems.
• Knowledge of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), edge caching, load balancing, DNS, and core network protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP/2/3, TLS, BGP).
• Experience with configuration management and Infrastructure as Code, specifically GitLab and Terraform.
• Exceptional analytical and design skills to model systems that balance performance, security, and scalability.
• Excellent written communication skills for producing clear technical documentation.

Desired Skills

• Experience or background in Computer Network Operations (CNO).
• Strong understanding of DevOps principles and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) practices.
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts, particularly in network traffic prediction or automated system remediation.

Location

Columbia, MD (onsite full time)

Salary Range

The salary range for this full‑time position is $200,000 to $280,000. SIGN‑ON BONUS ELIGIBLE.

Benefits

• CareFirst Medical Coverage for Employee and Dependents
• Guardian Dental and Vision Coverage for Employee and Dependents
• Up to 25 days of Paid Time Off
• Up to 40 hours of PTO Carryover
• 11 Federal Government Holidays
• Work From Home Opportunities
• 401(k) Company Contribution, Fully Vested Day 1
• Discretionary, Certification, and Sign‑On Bonus Potential
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Annual Professional Development
• 100% Premium Covered for Life & Disability Insurances
• Additional Voluntary Life Insurance Coverage Available
• Employee Assistance Program
• Travel Protection Program
• Financial Planning Assistance
• Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Monthly Team and Family Events
• Technology Budget
• Global Entry
• Annual Swag Budget

To Apply

Respond to this job posting and attach an updated resume for us to review.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

GliaCell Technologies, LLC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.