Senior Cloud Engineer

DRS Global; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Space & Defense seeks a Senior Cloud Engineer to design, build, and deploy cloud-native solutions for government programs. You will work across AWS environments, applying infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and containerization while mentoring peers and shaping architecture.

Role spans hybrid, on-premise, and cloud-native deployments, with a focus on secure, scalable, and resilient systems and collaboration across engineering and program management to meet mission needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline and 5+ years of experience.
• Extensive AWS cloud development experience using Go, Python, or .NET Core.
• Strong background in database architectures and modern software practices.
• Hands-on experience with Terraform, Ansible, CI/CD, and security best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, analyze, document, and support testing of cloud-based products and systems.
• Mentor peers and drive technical excellence across teams.
• Collaborate with program management, engineering, and customers on requirements.
• Define solution architectures for hybrid, on-premise, and cloud-native apps.
• Build Terraform scripts to deploy services and infrastructure updates.
• Maintain CI/CD pipelines and automated testing in GitLab.
• Document deployment standards for AWS, hybrid, and on-premise environments.

Skills

AWS cloud development

Golang

Python

.NET Core

CI/CD automation

Terraform

Ansible

Docker

Kubernetes

Security best practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

GitLab

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Who We Are:

At SES Space & Defense, we are a trusted partner ensuring mission success for customers operating in the most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled connectivity, we deliver multi-orbit, end-to-end satellite and technology solutions that provide secure, reliable, and high-bandwidth communications across the globe.

Our differentiated multi-orbit architecture combines GEO and MEO satellite systems with integrated terrestrial and network infrastructure to deliver resilient, low-latency, high-throughput connectivity at a global scale. With more than 120 satellites covering nearly the entire world, a global ground network, and thousands of deployed terminals supporting over 5,000 government missions annually, SES Space and Defense is a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, and agencies including NASA for mission-critical communications.

We strive to be the only solution when success is critical and recognize our people as our competitive advantage. At SES Space & Defense, you'll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, honor, and accountability, delivering real-world impact across today's most critical missions.

What You'll Do:

The Senior Cloud Engineer will play a critical role in designing, developing, and deploying cloud-native solutions supporting mission-critical government programs, including the PTS-G initiative. Working across Amazon Government Cloud environments, this role combines software engineering, infrastructure automation, and systems integration to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient capabilities. The successful candidate will collaborate across engineering disciplines to translate customer requirements into modern cloud architectures spanning hybrid, on-premise, and cloud-hosted environments. This position requires deep experience with automation, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and containerized applications while supporting the evolution of next-generation operational platforms. The ideal engineer brings both strong technical execution and the ability to mentor peers, influence architectural decisions, and help drive engineering excellence across the organization.

• Design, develop, analyze, document, and support testing of products, systems, and subsystems
• Complete technical projects independently while mentoring and coaching other engineers
• Communicate effectively with program management, engineering teams, and customers as required
• Develop and maintain component specifications, subsystem documentation, and material requirements
• Coordinate technical activities and progress with engineering leadership, technical staff, and support personnel
• Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to define solution architectures supporting hybrid, on-premise, and cloud-native applications
• Build Terraform scripts to automate deployment of services, applications, and infrastructure updates across cloud and on-premise environments
• Maintain and enhance CI/CD pipelines utilizing GitLab
• Define and document deployment standards and operational procedures for AWS, hybrid, and on-premise environments

Who You Are:

You are a cloud engineer who thrives at the intersection of software development, infrastructure automation, and systems architecture. You enjoy building secure, scalable solutions that support mission-critical environments while leveraging modern cloud technologies and engineering practices. Your background spans hybrid-cloud deployments, infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD automation, and cloud-native application development, allowing you to solve complex technical challenges across diverse environments. You bring both hands-on technical expertise and a collaborative mindset, enabling you to mentor teammates and contribute to broader architectural decisions. Most importantly, you understand that successful cloud engineering is about delivering reliable, repeatable, and secure capabilities that directly enable customer missions and operational outcomes.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline with a minimum of 5 years of experience
• Five or more years of experience with AWS cloud development using Golang, Python, .NET Core, or similar technologies
• Five or more years of experience designing relational and/or time-series database architectures
• Strong understanding of modern technologies, software design principles, and software development lifecycle methodologies
• Hands-on experience with AWS and hybrid-cloud environments
• Experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks
• Extensive infrastructure-as-code experience utilizing Terraform and Ansible, including development of custom modules and support of large-scale codebases
• Strong understanding of containers and container orchestration technologies
• Knowledge of security standards, controls, and secure development practices
• Active Secret clearance or the ability and willingness to obtain one preferred
• Exposure to Network Management Systems such as ScienceLogic SL1 preferred
• Experience with streaming data architectures or message queuing technologies preferred
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and containerized application environments preferred
• Experience within the SATCOM industry preferred
• Experience supporting Federal Government and DoD programs preferred
• Ability to design and deliver solutions across cloud, hybrid, and on-premise infrastructures based on program requirements

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. #LI-Hybrid