System Engineer Sr Principal

General Dynamics Corporation; Fort Meade, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) seeks a Systems Engineer Sr Principal with a strong cyber and vulnerability management background to support a mission-critical environment. You will lead end-to-end vulnerability management, including patching, STIG implementation, and sustainment of VMs, network devices, and containers in highly secure environments.

You will apply deep expertise in security baselines, vulnerability assessment tooling, and remediation strategies to reduce risk and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related systems engineering experience in secure or mission-critical environments.
• Active DoD Security Clearance of SECRET, or higher.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure Cloud services such as virtual machines, storage, resource manager, etc.
• Experience with implementing PKI and PIV standards, Active Directory or LDAP.
• Experience with Group Policy Objects and management.
• Hands‑on experience implementing STIGs and security baselines for Windows Server, RHEL Linux, Ubuntu, Cisco, Juniper, and firewalls.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of vulnerability management and patching strategies for virtualized infrastructures, network devices, and containerized workloads.
• Interpret and implement DoD/DISA STIGs, CIS benchmarks, and other security baselines across operating systems, applications, networks, and container platforms.
• Own the lifecycle of patch management from assessment to verification to ensure timely remediation of vulnerabilities.
• Maintain and harden virtual machine environments, including cloud-native VMs, for availability, performance, and security.
• Configure and maintain network devices in line with security policies, STIGs, and best practices.
• Deploy and maintain container platforms with secure configuration, image scanning, and remediation.

Skills

Cloud Based Services

DISA STIG

Microsoft Windows

Vulnerability Mitigation

Windows Azure Cloud

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related field

Tools

Azure Cloud services

Job description

Responsibilities for this Position

Location: USA MD Fort Meade

Full Part/Time: Full time

Job Req: RQ227278

Type of Requisition: Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret

Public Trust/Other Required: None

Job Family: IT Infrastructure and Operations

Skills: Cloud Based Services, DISA STIG, Microsoft Windows, Vulnerability Mitigation, Windows Azure Cloud

Certifications: None

Experience: 8 + years of related experience

US Citizenship Required: Yes

Job Description:

SYSTEMS ENGINEER PRINCIPAL

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) is seeking a Systems Engineer Sr Principal with a strong cyber and vulnerability management background to support a mission-critical environment. This role will focus on end-to-end vulnerability management, including patching, STIG implementation, and sustainment of virtual machines, network devices, and containers in highly secure environments.

As a senior principal systems engineer, you will apply deep expertise in security configuration baselines, vulnerability assessment tooling, and remediation strategies to reduce risk and improve the security posture of enterprise systems.

This is hybrid position and requires regular on-site support and remote work.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of vulnerability management and patching strategies for virtualized infrastructures, network devices, and containerized workloads.
• Interpret and implement DoD/DISA STIGs, CIS benchmarks, and other security baselines across operating systems, applications, networks, and container platforms.
• Own the lifecycle of patch management (assessment, planning, testing, deployment, and verification) to ensure timely and compliant remediation of vulnerabilities.
• Maintain and harden virtual machine environments (e.g., cloud-native VMs), ensuring availability, performance, and security.
• Configure and maintain network devices (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls) in accordance with security policies, STIGs, and best practices.
• Deploy and maintain container platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift) with a focus on secure configuration, image scanning, and vulnerability remediation.
• Integrate and leverage vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., Tenable, Qualys, Rapid7, ACAS) and configuration/compliance tools to identify, track, and remediate findings.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (cybersecurity, network engineering, systems administration, DevSecOps) to ensure cohesive and secure designs and operations.
• Participate in incident response and root cause analysis related to vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and system security issues, driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure solutions meet applicable contractual, regulatory, and compliance requirements (e.g., DoD directives, RMF/ATO, NIST SP 800-53).

Required Qualifications

• Active DoD Security Clearance of SECRET, or higher
• 8+ years of relevant systems engineering experience, including work in secure or mission-critical environments.
• Compliance with DoD 8570/8140 requirements (e.g., CCSP, Security+ CE, CISSP, Security X/CASP+, or equivalent baseline certification).
• Demonstrated experience leading vulnerability management and patching activities across complex, multi-platform environments.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure Cloud services such as virtual machines, storage, resource manager, etc.
• Experience with implementing PKI and PIV standards, Active Directory or LDAP
• Experience with Group Policy Objects and management
• Hands‑on experience implementing STIGs and security baselines for:
  • Operating systems (e.g., Windows Server, RHEL Linux, Ubuntu)
  • Network devices (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, firewalls)
  • Virtualization platforms and/or container platforms
• Experience maintaining and securing virtual machine infrastructures (e.g. cloud-based VMs).
• Experience supporting network infrastructure including configuration, hardening, and troubleshooting of routers, switches, and firewalls.
• Experience deploying and maintaining container‑based environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) with an emphasis on secure configuration and image management.
• Expertise with vulnerability scanning and compliance tools (e.g., Tenable.sc/Nessus ACAS or similar), including interpreting results and driving remediation.
• Proficiency with automation and scripting (e.g., Ansible, PowerShell, Python, Bash) for patching, configuration management, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, witching, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPNs) and how they intersect with security best practices.
• Solid understanding of cybersecurity principles, controls, and frameworks, such as NIST, RMF, and defense‑in‑depth strategies
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical risk and remediation plans into language stakeholders understand.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across engineering, cybersecurity, operations, and customer teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related field;

• Experience in Microsoft Azure Cloud security implementations

• Familiarity with NIST 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture

• Familiarity with NIST 800-144 Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing

The likely salary range for this position is $133,450 - $180,550. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Travel Required: 25-50%

Telecommuting Options: Hybrid

Work Location: USA MD Fort Meade

Total Rewards at GDIT:

Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post‑tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long‑term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Our Identity Verification Process:

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About Our Work:

We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.

Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on our career opportunities and events at gdit.com/tc .

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

GDIT supports and secures some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country.