Senior Systems Engineer

IBM; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to own end-to-end identity, infrastructure, automation, and zero-trust systems. You will manage IdP infrastructure (Okta/Entra), multi-cloud IAM (AWS/Azure/GCP), and SaaS platforms, driving security and audit readiness across complex environments.

Responsibilities include governance, access reviews, and automation to replace manual work. Collaboration with security, infra, and compliance teams is essential to keep the company productive and compliant.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of systems, identity, or cloud engineering experience.
• Hands-on with Okta and/or Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD).
• Knowledge of SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0 / OIDC, PKCE and SCIM provisioning.
• Experience with SailPoint or similar IGA tools.
• Experience across AWS, Azure, and GCP IAM/RBAC and network controls.
• Experience with Palo Alto Networks VPN and SASE (GlobalProtect, Prisma Access).
• Experience administering Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 at an organizational level.
• Experience with FedRAMP, SOC 2, or ISO 27001 audits.
• Automation with Python, shell, GitOps/IaC.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end systems design, hardening, and operation.
• Administer IdP infrastructure and governance processes.
• Manage multi-cloud IAM, RBAC, and network controls across environments.
• Architect and maintain security platforms for zero trust architecture.
• Lead technical evidence collection and remediation for audits and access reviews.
• Build automation scripts and integrations to reduce manual work.
• Document runbooks and architecture to prevent knowledge silos.
• Collaborate with security, infra, and compliance teams to stay audit-ready.

Skills

Identity Management

Cloud Engineering

Zero Trust

Automation

Security Governance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Okta

Microsoft Entra ID

SailPoint

Palo Alto Networks

GlobalProtect

Prisma Access

Google Workspace

GitHub Enterprise

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Introduction

We're not just building better tech. We're rewriting how data moves and what the world can do with it. With Confluent, an IBM Company, data doesn't sit still. Our platform puts information in motion, streaming in near real-time so companies can react faster, build smarter, and deliver experiences as dynamic as the world around them. It takes a unique mix of drive and curiosity to join this team. We’re here to tackle complex problems, get stuff done, and enjoy the ride while we do it. No egos, no solo acts—just sharp, collaborative humans working hard, celebrating the wins, and building the future together.

Your Role And Responsibilities

We're looking for a Senior Systems Engineer who can own systems end-to-end: designing, hardening, and running the identity, infrastructure, automations, and zero trust systems that every employee depends on. You're as comfortable untangling an OAuth scope issue in Okta as you are architecting a Global Protect rollout or leading a FedRAMP access review. You default to automation and documentation over one-off fixes, and you know how to partner with security, infrastructure, and compliance teams to keep a fast-moving company both productive and audit-ready.

• Identity & Access Management: administer and evolve enterprise IdP infrastructure across Okta (SAML/OIDC, SCIM, group rules, Auth Policies)
• Identity Governance: own identity governance processes in SailPoint (account aggregation, flatfile integrations, manual account correlation) and lead quarterly User Access Reviews (UARs)
• Multi-Cloud Administration: administer and govern AWS, Microsoft Azure, and GCP environments, including RBAC roles, subscription provisioning, VPC Service Controls, service accounts, and IAM policy resets
• Zero Trust & Network Security: Architect and administer Palo Alto Networks security platforms (GlobalProtect/Prisma Access), including Host Information Profile (HIP) check rules, connector configuration, split-tunneling/resource routing, URL/IP allowlisting, and egress IP management across standard and FedRAMP environments.
• SaaS, AI & Developer Platforms: administer Google Workspace (Domain-Wide Delegation, service accounts, API controls), GitHub Enterprise IAM, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Glean AI agent connectors, and Workato integrations
• Security Audits & Compliance: lead technical evidence collection and remediation for UARs and other access reviews, enforcing least-privilege and Just-in-Time (JIT) access patterns
• Automation: identify recurring manual work across identity, cloud, and access processes and build scripts or integrations (Okta Workflows, Python/shell, Workato) to eliminate it
• Escalate and partner with security, infrastructure, and network engineering on complex or cross-system issues, with clear, well-documented context
• Author and maintain runbooks and architecture documentation so the systems you own don't depend on tribal knowledge

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• 5+ years of experience in systems, identity, or cloud engineering, ideally at a fast-moving tech or SaaS company
• Enterprise IdP administration: hands-on, at-scale experience with Okta and/or Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
• Authentication protocols: solid working knowledge of SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0 / OIDC (including Authorization Code with PKCE and Client Credentials / 2-legged flows), and SCIM provisioning
• Identity governance: experience with SailPoint (IdentityIQ/IdentityNow), Saviynt or a comparable IGA tool, including account correlation and access reviews
• Multi-cloud: working experience across AWS, Azure, and GCP — IAM/RBAC, service accounts, subscription/project provisioning, and network security controls (e.g., VPC Service Controls)
• Zero Trust & Network Security: Experience administering Palo Alto Networks enterprise VPN and SASE solutions (GlobalProtect, Panorama, and Prisma Access)—including HIP policy management, gateway troubleshooting, egress NAT management, and network-level access controls.
• SaaS administration: experience administering Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 at an organizational level, including domain-wide delegation and API security controls
• Compliance exposure: experience supporting audits or controls for frameworks such as FedRAMP, SOC 2, or ISO 27001
• Automation mindset: comfort with GitOps/IaC workflows and scripting (Python, shell, or similar) to replace manual, repetitive work
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to explain technical tradeoffs clearly to engineers, auditors, and non-technical stakeholders alike
• Strong troubleshooting instincts and comfort owning ambiguous, cross-system problems through to root cause

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Experience with GitHub Enterprise administration (SSO mapping, team synchronization, repo access governance, audit logging)
• Experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) or other VDI environments
• Familiarity with Jamf or Intune for device lifecycle and endpoint management
• Experience integrating enterprise AI tools or agents (e.g., Glean) with existing identity and SaaS systems
• Relevant certifications (AWS/Azure/GCP, Okta Certified Professional, CISSP, or similar)
• Exposure to additional compliance frameworks such as IRAP