SME Systems Engineer

The Swift Group, LLC; Tysons (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonus

Job summary

The Swift Group is seeking an SME Systems Engineer to join our Infrastructure team in Reston, VA. You will drive cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure initiatives, design future-state solutions, and implement end-to-end enhancements for mission-critical systems.

You will lead efforts across infrastructure, platform, application, DevSecOps, security, and data teams, ensuring reliability, performance, scalability, and security in a fast-paced, Agile environment. U.S.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Cloud/Platform/Systems Engineering experience.
• Experience designing and supporting enterprise infrastructure across networking, storage, compute, and containers.
• Strong Linux administration (Red Hat/CentOS) with automation and hardening.
• Experience with hybrid/cloud environments (AWS/Azure/GCP) including networking, identity, security, and cost optimization.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure in AWS.
• Develop, manage, and maintain IaC using Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, and AWS CDK.
• Support deployment and management of containerized apps via Kubernetes, EKS, Docker Swarm, or similar.
• Assist application teams with Linux-based systems configuration and administration.
• Manage day-to-day operations: monitoring, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Troubleshoot system and data pipeline issues with internal/external teams.
• Collaborate with software/data engineers and government stakeholders on complex data processing capabilities.
• Participate in Agile CD/CI workflows to enable rapid iteration and mission responsiveness.

Skills

Cloud engineering

Platform engineering

Scripting/automation

CI/CD

Linux administration

IaC (Terraform, Ansible)

Kubernetes/EKS

Security best practices

Monitoring/observability

Documentation/leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/IT or related field

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

CloudFormation

AWS CDK

Kubernetes

Docker

EKS

GitHub Actions

ArgoCD

Prometheus/Grafana

CloudWatch

Job description

The Swift Group is a privately held, mission-driven and employee-focused services and solutions company headquartered in Reston, VA. Our capabilities include Software Development, Engineering & IT, Data Science, Cyber Enablement, Logistics, and Training. Founded in 2019, Swift supports Civilian, Defense, and Intelligence Community customers across the country and around the globe.

We are looking for a SME Systems Engineer with cloud and platform engineering experience to join our high-performing Infrastructure team on a dynamic, mission-focused program. This role requires a hands‑on technical expert capable of evaluating existing systems and applications, documenting current‑state architectures, designing future‑state solutions, and executing end‑to‑end enhancements or technology modernization efforts. The ideal candidate is a technical leader who delivers, not just advises—someone who collaborates seamlessly across infrastructure, platform, application, DevSecOps, security, and data teams while maintaining accountability for system reliability, performance, scalability, and security.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure solutions in AWS environments.
• Develop, manage, and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, and AWS CDK.
• Support the deployment, configuration, and management of containerized applications using Kubernetes, EKS, Docker Swarm, or similar technologies.
• Assist application teams with the creation, configuration, integration, and administration of Linux-based systems and platforms.
• Manage day‑to‑day system operations, including monitoring system performance, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Perform initial troubleshooting of system and data pipeline issues and collaborate with internal and external teams to efficiently resolve issues.
• Collaborate with software engineers, data engineers, analysts, and government stakeholders to design, implement, debug, monitor, and support complex data processing capabilities.
• Work within Agile development environments to support continuous delivery, rapid iteration, and mission responsiveness.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, scalability, security, and operational efficiency of mission systems.
• Write and maintain technical documentation, including system documentation, processes, procedures, and training materials.
• Perform hands‑on systems engineering across network, compute, storage, operating systems, middleware, databases, and applications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education, training, or experience.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in Cloud Engineering, Platform Engineering, or Systems Engineering
• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise infrastructure across networking, storage, compute, and container platforms
• Strong experience with Linux systems administration (Red Hat/CentOS), including configuration, hardening, automation, and troubleshooting
• Demonstrated experience designing and deploying hybrid and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), including cloud networking, identity, security, and cost optimization
• Experience with relational and NoSQL database technologies including Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB, and Redis
• Experience developing and integrating web services, APIs, middleware, and event‑driven messaging systems (SQS, SNS, RabbitMQ)
• Proficient in scripting and automation using Python, Bash, and PowerShell, and Infrastructure‑as‑Code tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and CloudFormation
• Experienced in implementing CI/CD pipelines and GitOps workflows using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, and ArgoCD
• Strong background in security best practices, systems hardening, and monitoring/incident response using Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, ELK Stack, and CloudWatch
• Skilled in creating as‑is and to‑be architecture documentation, detailed engineering designs, and implementation/migration plans
• US citizenship with an active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of machine learning platforms (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, SageMaker)
• Familiarity with big data ecosystems (e.g., Hadoop, Databricks, Snowflake, Google BigQuery)
• Strong background in ITIL processes and agile methodologies
• Observability and monitoring tools (e.g., logging, metrics, tracing)
• Zero Trust and modern security architectures
• Data analytics, AI/ML platform exposure
• AWS Certification: Solutions Architect Professional or equivalent

Do you know anyone for this position, or other positions open at The Swift Group? We offer a $5,000 bonus for any referral candidate we hire, paid out at the new hire’s 90-day mark.

#Onsite

The Swift Group and Subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Pay Range: $49,996.80 - $290,004.00

Pay ranges are a general guideline and not intended as a guaranteed and/or implied final compensation or salary for this job opening. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several different factors including, but not limited to: level of position, complexity of job responsibilities, geographic location, work experience, education, certifications, Federal Government contract labor categories, and contract wage rates.

At The Swift Group and Subsidiaries, you will receive comprehensive benefits including but not limited to: healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, education, and time off benefits.