Senior Systems Engineer - DoD Ground Systems

Footbridge Federal; Centreville (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Footbridge Federal seeks a senior systems administrator to design and manage automated deployment pipelines, patching workflows, and cloud infrastructure across large environments using Ansible. The role includes implementing OS hardening for RHEL 9+ and Windows, integrating PKI/IDAM, and resolving complex PKI or networking challenges.

The ideal candidate will have TS clearance, DoD 8140 Advanced, and extensive Linux/Windows administration experience with automation tooling, Red Hat ecosystems,

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance required.
• DoD 8140 System Developer foundational qualification (Advanced).
• 8+ years with a Bachelor's, 6+ with a Master's, 10+ with an Associate's, or 12+ years without a degree.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain automated deployment pipelines, cloud instances, and system patching workflows across large environments using Ansible.
• Execute bare-metal builds, security hardening, and OS configuration for RHEL 9+ and Windows systems.
• Integrate hosts and software applications into Identity and Access Management (IDAM) platforms and resolve complex PKI or networking issues.
• Conduct automated vulnerability remediation, manage SELinux policies, and troubleshoot system-level performance impacted by hardening controls.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

DoD 8140 Advanced

Linux admin

Windows admin

Automation scripting

Git version control

OpenShift

OpenStack

Red Hat Satellite

PKI/IDAM integration

Kubernetes

MFA/SSO concepts

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Associate's degree

No degree

Tools

Helm

YAML manifests

GitOps CD

Job description

• Create and maintain automated deployment pipelines, cloud instances, and system patching workflows across large environments using Ansible.
• Execute bare-metal builds, security hardening, and OS configuration for RHEL 9+ and Windows systems.
• Integrate hosts and software applications into Identity and Access Management (IDAM) platforms and resolve complex PKI or networking issues.
• Conduct automated vulnerability remediation, manage SELinux policies, and troubleshoot system-level performance impacted by hardening controls.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.
• DoD 8140 System Developer foundational qualification (Advanced level).
• Relevant professional experience (8+ years with a Bachelor's, 6+ with a Master's, 10+ with an Associate's, or 12+ years without a degree).
• Strong system administration background in Linux (RHEL 9.x) and Windows OS functionality, security configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Advanced proficiency in automation and scripting using Ansible, Bash, or Python, alongside Git version control.
• Expertise with Red Hat ecosystem tools such as OpenShift (RHOCP), OpenStack (RHOSP), or Red Hat Satellite.
• Hands-on experience integrating systems with PKI and IDAM solutions (e.g., Active Directory, FreeIPA).

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience managing Kubernetes containerized workloads using Helm, YAML manifests, or GitOps CD workflows.
• Experience setting up and maintaining high-availability database solutions (PostgreSQL, MySQL).
• Exposure to MFA and single sign-on protocols including Keycloak, Okta, ADFS, SAML, or OIDC.
• Background with infrastructure telemetry, logging, and monitoring stacks (Splunk, Elasticsearch, Prometheus, Grafana, Kibana, Sensu).
• Knowledge of out-of-band remote administration technologies (iDRAC, iLO, IPMI).

Required Skills

• Active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.
• DoD 8140 System Developer foundational qualification (Advanced level).
• Relevant professional experience (8+ years with a Bachelor's, 6+ with a Master's, 10+ with an Associate's, or 12+ years without a degree).
• Strong system administration background in Linux (RHEL 9.x) and Windows OS functionality, security configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Advanced proficiency in automation and scripting using Ansible, Bash, or Python, alongside Git version control.
• Expertise with Red Hat ecosystem tools such as OpenShift (RHOCP), OpenStack (RHOSP), or Red Hat Satellite.
• Hands-on experience integrating systems with PKI and IDAM solutions (e.g., Active Directory, FreeIPA).

Preferred Skills

• Hands-on experience managing Kubernetes containerized workloads using Helm, YAML manifests, or GitOps CD workflows.
• Experience setting up and maintaining high-availability database solutions (PostgreSQL, MySQL).
• Exposure to MFA and single sign-on protocols including Keycloak, Okta, ADFS, SAML, or OIDC.
• Background with infrastructure telemetry, logging, and monitoring stacks (Splunk, Elasticsearch, Prometheus, Grafana, Kibana, Sensu).
• Knowledge of out-of-band remote administration technologies (iDRAC, iLO, IPMI).

Security Clearance

• Level: Top Secret
• Health and Financial Foundation — Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits — PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development — The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.

Hiring process

• 1

  Apply

• 2

  Recruiter Review

  Recruiting reviews your resume for role alignment, technical background, clearance status where relevant, and program fit.

• 3

  Interview

  Qualified candidates may meet program, technical, or delivery leaders to discuss experience and expectations for the role.

• 4

  Offer

  When there is a match, the team coordinates offer, onboarding, clearance transfer or sponsorship details where contractually authorized.

Mission

Footbridge Federal delivers engineering, cyber, mission IT, analytics, and cleared program support for defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland security, and research missions.

Culture

Mission Context Matters

Candidates should expect work tied to defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland, and research missions rather than generic commercial delivery.

Small-Team Accountability

The culture copy emphasizes ownership, communication, and practical execution across teams that work close to customers and program outcomes.

Growth With Technical Credibility

Career content supports hands-on technical growth, certifications, internal mobility, and program leadership without forcing one career track.

Benefits & why work here

• Health and Financial Foundation: Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits: PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development: The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.