System Engineer

Socket.dev; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a System Engineer to perform hands-on systems engineering and administration for MEDXS/MEDEX infrastructure, with emphasis on deploying and sustaining forward-deployed nodes. Primary duty station is Defense Health Headquarters (DHHQ), Falls Church, VA; on-site presence is required.

Responsibilities include installing, imaging, configuring, and troubleshooting servers, workstations, and network devices; managing SPOT/LOA processes for CENTCOM and EUCOM theaters; and

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Information Technology or related field.
• Minimum four (4) years of systems administration experience.
• IAT Level II certification per DoD 8570.01-M (e.g., Security+ CE or CCNA Security).
• Experience with SPOT and LOA processes and OCONUS theater mobilization.
• Medically and administratively deployable to CENTCOM and EUCOM theater locations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance and IT-II designation.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and sustain server, workstation, virtualization, and network infrastructure at DHHQ and deployed locations.
• Execute OCONUS mobilization requirements end to end (SPOT, LOA, clearance actions, readiness).
• Deploy to theater locations for node installation, upgrade, and sustainment activities.
• Apply DISA STIGs and baselines; run SCAP and ACAS scans and remediate findings.
• Perform IAT Level II duties and manage privileged access and endpoint security.
• Diagnose incidents and support to government staff and contractors.

Skills

Windows Server administration

Active Directory

Linux administration

Virtualization (VMware vSphere, Hyper‑

Education

Associate's Degree in Information Technology or related field

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology (preferred)

Tools

MDT

SCCM/MECM

PXE

Kickstart

PowerShell

Bash

SCAP/ACAS

Job description

Position Summary

The System Engineer performs hands-on systems engineering and administration for MEDXS/MEDEX infrastructure, with specific emphasis on the deployment and sustainment of forward-deployed OCONUS nodes. This position is the contract's principal deployable engineering resource: it builds, images, installs, configures, and troubleshoots servers, workstations, and network equipment, and executes the SPOT and Letter of Authorization processes required to mobilize into CENTCOM and EUCOM theaters. The System Engineer works under the technical direction of senior engineering staff while independently executing assigned installation, configuration, and sustainment tasks at both CONUS and theater locations. Primary duty station is the Defense Health Headquarters (DHHQ), Falls Church, Virginia. On-site presence is required; telework is by Government approval only and is not guaranteed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and sustain server, workstation, virtualization, and network-attached infrastructure supporting MEDXS/MEDEX at DHHQ and at deployed OCONUS locations.
• Execute OCONUS mobilization requirements end to end: complete SPOT registration and maintain SPOT records, obtain and maintain Letters of Authorization, complete theater business and country clearance actions, satisfy medical and dental readiness, complete CRC or theater-specific processing, and comply with all theater entry and reporting requirements.
• Deploy to theater locations for node installation, upgrade, migration, and sustainment activity; conduct site preparation assessment, rack and stack, cabling, power validation, and system integration.
• Pre-stage, image, harden, and functionally test equipment in CONUS prior to shipment; maintain accurate hand receipts and accountability for government furnished equipment and contractor-acquired property.
• Apply DISA STIGs and approved hardening baselines to Windows and Linux hosts and network devices; run SCAP and ACAS scans, document findings, and perform assigned remediation.
• Perform IAT Level II duties in support of privileged access, including account administration, audit log review, endpoint security agent management, and support to incident handling.
• Diagnose and resolve incidents and service requests across operating systems, applications, endpoints, peripherals, and local network connectivity; elevate to senior engineering with complete diagnostic detail when required.
• Support base and installation integration at OCONUS sites, including coordination for base badging, physical access, escort requirements, local network connection approvals, and interaction with host-installation communications squadrons or network enterprise centers.
• Execute backup and restore operations, validate backup integrity, and support disaster recovery exercises at assigned nodes.
• Configure and verify system monitoring agents and ensure deployed nodes report correctly into enterprise monitoring and logging platforms.
• Maintain accurate asset, configuration, and license records in the designated configuration management database and property system.
• Produce trip reports, installation and test records, as-built documentation, and updates to standard operating procedures following each deployment or major task.
• Provide direct user-facing technical assistance and informal training to Government staff and clinical users on supported capabilities.
• Participate in on-call rotation and scheduled maintenance windows, including after-hours coverage for theater time zones.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in an Information Technology field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum four (4) years of systems administration experience.
• IAT Level II certification in accordance with DoD 8570.01-M (for example, CompTIA Security+ CE or Cisco CCNA Security), current and in good standing.
• Experience with SPOT and Letter of Authorization processes and OCONUS theater mobilization.
• Must be medically and administratively deployable to CENTCOM and EUCOM theater locations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance and IT-II designation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior OCONUS deployment as a contractor or uniformed service member in an IT or communications role.
• Bachelor's Degree in an Information Technology field.
• Additional platform certifications (Microsoft, Red Hat, VMware, Cisco).
• Experience with Military Health System or Defense Health Agency systems.
• Experience with satellite, tactical, or bandwidth-constrained transport.

Required Technical Skills and Competencies

• Windows Server and Windows client administration; Active Directory account and Group Policy operations; Red Hat Enterprise Linux command-line administration.
• Virtualization administration (VMware vSphere or Hyper-V); server hardware, firmware, RAID, and out-of-band management (iDRAC/iLO).
• Networking fundamentals: IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs, switch and router basic configuration, structured cabling, VPN clients, and connectivity troubleshooting.
• Imaging and deployment tooling (MDT, SCCM/MECM, PXE, Kickstart) and scripting in PowerShell and Bash.
• Security baseline tooling: STIG Viewer, SCAP Compliance Checker, ACAS, and endpoint security agents.
• IT service management discipline: accurate ticket documentation, change record compliance, and asset accountability.

Performance Standards

• Deployment readiness maintained continuously; SPOT and LOA records current with zero lapses preventing theater travel.
• Node installations completed within the approved schedule and accepted by the Government on first inspection.
• Assigned incidents and service requests closed within Service Level Agreement targets with accurate documentation.
• Full accountability of all assigned government furnished equipment with zero unreconciled property.

Work Environment and Conditions

• Primary duty station is the Defense Health Headquarters (DHHQ), Falls Church, Virginia. On-site presence is required per the contract; telework is by Government approval only and is not guaranteed.
• Standard core hours align to Government business hours in the Eastern time zone, with on-call and after-hours support required for scheduled maintenance windows, system outages, and OCONUS time-zone coverage.
• Work is performed in a Government office and data center/NOSC environment. Occasional lifting of equipment up to 40 pounds, work in raised-floor data center spaces, and extended periods at a workstation are expected.
• Position requires a favorably adjudicated background investigation and the ability to obtain and maintain the contract-required security clearance and IT-level designation (ADP/IT-I or IT-II as assigned).
• All personnel must satisfy DoD 8570.01-M / DoD 8140 baseline certification requirements prior to being granted privileged access and must maintain continuing education to keep certifications current.