Senior IT Systems and Infrastructure Engineer

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PTO 20 days

Parental leave 7 weeks

Tuition reimbursement $9k

401(k) match up to 4%

Job summary

Forterra seeks a Staff IT Infrastructure Engineer to manage and secure hybrid/multi-cloud environments with hands-on Windows and Linux administration. You will own on-prem Proxmox virtualization, NetApp storage, and identity management with Entra ID and Intune, while aligning with cybersecurity and network teams for scalable, compliant operations.

You’ll design enterprise solutions across multiple sites, automate with Ansible, and participate in after-hours on-call support to protect

Qualifications

• Hands-on Windows Server administration (patching, hardening, compliance).
• Hands-on Linux administration (Ubuntu, Debian).
• Strong Azure Entra ID experience; GCC-high/Azure Government required.
• Experience architecting enterprise-scale infra across multiple sites.
• Owning on-prem virtualization and infra (Proxmox).
• Experience identity/endpoint management (AD, Entra ID, Intune).
• Willingness to participate in after-hours on-call duties.

Responsibilities

• Be a key member of Forterra's Infrastructure team, owning Windows and Linux admin across hybrid/multi-cloud.
• Architect and design enterprise infra solutions, deploying across multiple Forterra sites.
• Administer Entra ID and Azure (including Azure Government) with Proxmox, AWS, Palo Alto, Juniper.
• Administer and harden Windows Server and Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Proxmox VE).
• Own on-prem infrastructure end-to-end: Proxmox, NetApp, identity management (AD/Entra/Intune).
• Automate provisioning/configuration using Ansible to reduce manual work.
• Own disaster recovery and business continuity for cloud and on-prem, using Veeam/Proxmox Backup.

Skills

Windows Server administration

Linux administration

Proxmox virtualization

Azure Entra ID

GCC-high/Azure Government

Security compliance

Automation with Ansible

On-premises infrastructure

Tools

Proxmox VE

NetApp storage

Veeam

Intune

Active Directory

Azure Government

Ansible

Job description

About Forterra

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk. Our systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

About the role

The Forterra Enterprise Services team seeks a Staff IT Infrastructure Engineer with strong, hands‑on experience across both Windows and Linux systems administration, deep expertise with Microsoft Entra ID and Azure within a GCC-High tenant, and ownership of our on‑prem infrastructure, including Proxmox virtualization, NetApp storage, and backup/DR. This role also carries responsibility for architecting new infrastructure solutions at an enterprise level and managing deployments across Forterra's multiple sites, partnering closely with Cybersecurity, Network Engineering, and Development to keep the environment scalable, secure, and performant.

Forterra operates in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment where infrastructure engineers are expected to cover significant ground rather than stay narrowly specialized. This role requires sound judgment navigating a complex, compliance-driven environment (GCC‑High, CUI, CMMC/NIST 800-171/ISO 27001), a solid foundation across both Windows and Linux, real ownership of on‑prem systems, the ability to design solutions that hold up at enterprise scale across multiple locations, and willingness to respond after‑hours when infrastructure emergencies arise.

What you'll do

• Be a key member of Forterra's Infrastructure team, owning both Windows and Linux systems administration across a hybrid, multi‑cloud environment.
• Architect and design new infrastructure solutions at an enterprise level, and manage deployment and rollout across multiple Forterra sites.
• Administer Microsoft Entra ID and Azure, including Azure Government, within our GCC‑High tenant, alongside Proxmox, AWS, Palo Alto, and Juniper infrastructure.
• Administer and harden both Windows Server and Linux environments (Ubuntu, Debian, Proxmox VE), covering patching, security baselines, and compliance.
• Own on‑prem infrastructure end to end: Proxmox virtualization, NetApp storage, and identity/endpoint management via Active Directory, Entra ID, and Intune.
• Automate provisioning and configuration using Configuration as Code tooling such as Ansible, reducing manual overhead across the environment.
• Own disaster recovery and business continuity strategy for cloud and on‑prem services, leveraging Veeam and Proxmox Backup Server.
• Participate in after‑hours, on‑call response for infrastructure emergencies, and mentor junior team members as the team grows.

What We're Looking For

Mission-First Mindset - We put the needs of the mission and our customers first and understand that the US and its allies have no preordained right to victory in any future conflict.

Ownership Mentality - We're looking for owners; those who have a natural bias to assume responsibility, a healthy dose of skepticism, and contribute to a culture of performance.

Technical Aptitude and Intellectual Curiosity - We are first and foremost a technology company, and this role requires genuine curiosity to operate across a broad, evolving infrastructure stack rather than staying within a narrow specialty.

Structured Thinker and Problem Solver - Supporting critical infrastructure requires clear communication, sound triage judgment, and the ability to distill complex problems into their essential, actionable components, especially under after‑hours pressure.

360 Degree Leader - We are a non‑hierarchical organization with a matrix structure that is dynamic and evolving. We expect you to be self‑aware enough to recognize your position of unstated leadership within the company, and to lead and influence through both formal and informal channels.

What We Need

• Hands‑on Windows Server administration experience (patching, hardening, compliance).
• Solid, hands‑on Linux administration experience (Ubuntu, Debian), particularly in a Proxmox virtualization context.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Entra ID; GCC‑High/Azure Government experience required.
• Experience architecting and deploying enterprise‑level infrastructure solutions, ideally across multiple sites or locations.
• Hands‑on ownership of on‑premises virtualization and infrastructure (Proxmox or similar).
• Experience administering identity and endpoint management (Active Directory, Entra ID, Intune).
• Willingness to participate in after‑hours, on‑call support for infrastructure emergencies.

What We Love to See

• Experience administering NetApp storage systems.
• Exposure to enterprise networking (Palo Alto, Juniper, SD‑WAN concepts).
• Prior experience in a defense/government contractor or other regulated industry.
• Experience with Configuration as Code tooling (Ansible) in a production environment.
• Experience mentoring or training junior engineers.

US Salary Range
$150,000—$175,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full‑time, high‑demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full‑time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA‑eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long‑term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after‑tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.

Forterra is an equal‑opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

To see Forterra’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit Forterra Legal | Job Applicant Privacy Notice.