Senior Data Center Engineer - DoW

Socket.dev; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 149,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

INNOVIM is seeking a Senior Data Center Engineer to support the Missile Defense Agency on the IRES contract, located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs. The role focuses on bridging on-prem infrastructure with cloud scalability, emphasizing Data Center operations and VMware NSX.

You will manage secure, air-gapped environments, handle full hardware-to-hypervisor lifecycle, and implement cyber security measures in line with DoD policies.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of general (full-time) work experience.
• 6+ years of directly related IT experience.
• 6+ months in a management or leadership role.
• 3+ years of experience in a Network Engineering role.
• Active DoD 8570 IAT Level 1 certification (e.g., Security+)
• Active DoW Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, troubleshoot, and sustain Data Center System for the Missile Defense Space Center.
• Manage the full lifecycle of a secure, air-gapped on-premises infrastructure from hardware to hypervisor.
• Administration, lifecycle management, and security hardening of VMware NSX Routing.
• Build and deploy Virtual Private Cloud Networking within the VCF environment.
• Collaborate with system engineers to identify requirements, develop designs, and implement solutions.
• Conduct daily system monitoring, backups, restoral, and application upgrades for continuous operation.
• Ensure system software installations and cyber security mitigations align with policies and SLAs.
• Contribute to high-level design and system architecture activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

VMware NSX

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/IS

DoD 8570 IAT Level 1 certification

Tools

HPE Synergy

HPE Nimble

NetApp ONTAP

Job description

INNOVIM is seeking a Senior Data Center Engineer to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract.

Location: Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO

Relocation Assistance: None available at this time

Remote/Telework: NO - Not available for this position

Clearance Type: DoW Secret

Shift: Day Shift

We are seeking a passionate and skilled Senior Data Center Engineer to directly support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract. This team is on the front lines, shaping the systems that protect us from advanced threats. We are looking for highly motivated, resultoriented professionals who thrive on solving complex technical challenges in a dynamic environment.

The Senior Data Center Engineer serves as a technical expert bridging the gap between traditional on-premises infrastructure and modern cloud scalability, with a primary focus on the Data Center and Access Networking, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 and enterprise hardware stacks like Nexus HPE Synergy and NetApp. Responsibilities include managing the full system lifecycle, conducting daily monitoring and backups, performing cyber security mitigations, and ensuring all architectures align with DoD policies and service level agreements.

The candidate will:

• Design, implement, troubleshoot, and sustain Data Center System for the Missile Defense Space Center.
• Manage the full lifecycle of a secure, air-gapped on-premises infrastructure, with direct ownership from the physical hardware (networking, compute and storage) up to the hypervisor layer.
• Administration, lifecycle management, and security hardening of VMware NSX Routing.
• Build and deploy Virtual Private Cloud Networking within the VCF environment.
• Work with system engineers to identify and define requirements for new systems/system modifications, developing designs, and implementing and testing solutions.
• Conduct daily system monitoring, system backup and restoral, and application upgrades to ensure optimal and continuous system operations.
• Be responsible for ensuring system software installations, maintenance, break/fix activities, and cyber security mitigations are performed in accordance with established policies, procedures and service level agreements.
• Carrying out high-level activities associated with design and system architecture.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a strong innovator in process improvement and system design.
• Be able to quickly learn challenging concepts, decompose difficult service problems and provide resolution.
• Be able to create and follow standard processes and clearly document results.
• Effectively function as self-starter and identify risks, issues, and opportunities to leadership.
• Have excellent presentation, oral and written skills to facilitate effective and efficient interchanges with senior customer management and customers.

Basic Requirements:

• Must have 12, or more, years of general (full-time) work experience. May be reduced with completion of advanced education.
• Must have 6, or more, years of directly related IT experience
• Must have 6, or more, months of experience working in a management or leadership role
• Must have 3, or more, years of experience working in a Network Engineering role
• Must have experience with enterprise hardware stack (HPE Synergy, HPE Nimble, NetApp ONTAP, etc.).
• Must have an active DoD 8570 IAT Level 1 certification (ex: Security+)
• Must have an active DoW Secret Security Clearance

Desired Requirements:

• Have an active DoW Secret Security Clearance or Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility
• Have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field
• Have experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) Data Center Management.
• Have experience developing System Engineering Documents.
• Have experience working in an agile environment.

This position is expected to pay $149,000 – $174,000 annually; depending on experience, education, and any certifications that are directly related to the position.

INNOVIM Defense Services is committed to providing superior work in the fields of science, engineering, data analytics and technology to government agencies. We offer competitive compensation packages, including comprehensive nationwide Medical/Dental/Vision insurance programs, life insurance, matching 401k contribution and Educational/Training support.