Senior Systems Engineer (NSGS)

Socket.dev; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

GovCIO is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support mission-critical IT programs for the U.S. Coast Guard. The role is located in Alexandria, VA as a hybrid position with occasional travel to remote sites for engineering support.

Responsibilities include maintaining infrastructure, troubleshooting, and coordinating upgrades, while preparing documentation and SOPs. Active Secret clearance is required, with travel to remote locations expected as part of the role.

Qualifications

• DoD 8570 IAT Level II or higher required.
• Active Secret clearance preferred or ability to obtain.
• Experience as a Senior Systems Engineer on federal IT infrastructure or military networks.
• Willingness to travel to remote sites for hardware integration and testing.
• Strong communication skills and ability to draft technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Maintain operational readiness and optimize NSGS infrastructure.
• Travel to remote locations for assessments, installations and troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve system/network performance bottlenecks.
• Coordinate with engineering teams and stakeholders for upgrades.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and system configuration records.
• Ensure changes meet security and performance standards.
• Support technical acquisition with equipment evaluations.
• Mentor junior team members on engineering best practices.

Skills

DoD 8570 IAT II+

Clearance awareness

Technical documentation

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Project

System monitoring tools

Deployment tracking apps

Job description

GovCIO is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support mission-critical IT programs for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). This position will serve as a key technical resource, working directly with the NSGS team to assist with daily operations and infrastructure management. This position will be located in Alexandria, VA as a hybrid position, with the requirement to travel to remote locations to provide engineering support.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the operational readiness, maintenance, and optimization of complex systems within the NSGS team. You will coordinate closely with cross-functional engineering groups and deliver hands‑on technical solutions both locally and at remote sites. Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborate directly with the NSGS team to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize infrastructure to support smooth daily operations.
• Travel to remote operational locations to conduct system engineering assessments, install hardware upgrades, and perform hands‑on troubleshooting.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve technical system and network performance bottlenecks to ensure maximum operational availability.
• Collaborate with technical leads, field technicians, and stakeholders to coordinate infrastructure upgrades and system modifications.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and system configuration records.
• Quality‑check system modifications and change requests to ensure alignment with rigorous security and performance standards.
• Provide engineering support for technical acquisition packages, evaluating equipment capabilities and deployment requirements.
• Mentor mid‑level and junior team members, sharing engineering best practices to enhance overall team operational performance.

Qualifications

High School with 9+ years (or commensurate experience)

Required Skills and Experience

• Certifications: DoD 8570 IAT Level II or higher (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+).
• Proven experience serving as a Senior Systems Engineer on large-scale federal IT infrastructure, enterprise systems, or military network programs.
• Direct systems engineering experience deploying, configuring, and maintaining complex enterprise or tactical hardware environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote operational sites to perform hardware integration, system troubleshooting, and field testing.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with experience drafting technical documentation and presenting status briefings to team leadership.
• Proficiency in systems monitoring tools, Microsoft Project, and integrated deployment tracking applications.

Clearance Level: Must have an active Secret clearance

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Direct experience supporting U.S. Coast Guard missions, specifically working with NSGS, C5I, or similar technical directorates.
• Technical certifications (e.g., CCNA, MCSA, or ITIL) are a strong plus.
• Familiarity with secure network infrastructure, virtualization technologies, or storage area networks (SAN).
• Experience coordinating field logistics, equipment shipping, and site readiness preparations for remote hardware deployments.
• Understanding of federal cybersecurity compliance standards and configuration management best practices.

Posted Salary Range

USD $120,000.00 - USD $145,000.00 /Yr.