Systems Engineer

General Dynamics Information Technology; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology in Tampa, FL is seeking an early‑career Systems Engineer to support the USCENTCOM enterprise lab infrastructure, focusing on testing, patching, and integration.

You will assemble hardware, deploy operating systems, execute structured test plans, apply security baselines, and maintain laboratory readiness in a fast‑paced defense environment, with on‑site duties at MacDill AFB.

Qualifications

• Active SECRET clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI.
• DoD 8140 / DoD 8570 IAT Level II baseline certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CCNA‑Security, CySA+).
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in systems engineering, hardware staging, or lab environments.

Responsibilities

• Perform physical installation, racking, stacking, cabling, and baseline configuration of servers and lab devices.
• Execute standardized software/hardware test plans and validation scripts.
• Identify defects and report findings to senior engineers.
• Apply security patches and OS updates across Windows and Linux.
• Maintain lab documentation, asset inventories, and SOPs.
• Provide Tier I/II troubleshooting in the test environment.

Skills

Hardware Installations

Patch Management

Security Patch Management

Software Test Planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

VMware ESXi

vCenter

Hyper-V

ACAS (Tenable Nessus)

Job description

Recruitment Details

Type of Requisition: Regular Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret/SCI Public Trust/Other Required: None

Job Family: IT Infrastructure and Operations

Job Qualifications: Skills: Hardware Installations, Patch Management, Security Patch Management, Software Test Planning Certifications: None Experience: 3 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required: Yes

Job Description

GDIT has an immediate opening for an early-career Systems Engineer supporting the CITS contract for USCENTCOM. This position is based on-site in Tampa, Florida, with direct focus on enterprise lab infrastructure, integration, patching, and testing.

Position Overview The Systems Engineer serves as a core technical contributor responsible for executing software and hardware testing, baseline integration, systematic vulnerability patching, and functional validation within the USCENTCOM enterprise laboratory. Working under the guidance of senior engineering staff, this role provides technical support across physical and virtual environments to ensure lab systems remain secure, properly baselined, and fully validated prior to operational or exercise deployment. The engineer will assemble hardware, deploy operating systems, execute structured test plans, apply security baselines, and assist in maintaining laboratory readiness in a fast‑paced defense environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Perform physical installation, racking, stacking, cabling, and baseline configuration of servers, workstations, storage devices, and lab network appliances.

Execute standardized software and hardware test plans, procedures, and validation scripts to verify system functionality and interoperability.

Identify, document, and track hardware defects, software bugs, and performance bottlenecks, reporting findings to senior engineering leads.

Apply scheduled security patches, operating system updates, application hotfixes, and hardware firmware upgrades across Windows and Linux environments.

Validate post-patching system stability, performance, and application dependencies to ensure zero degradation of lab baselines.

Support virtualization environments, including creating, configuring, and maintaining virtual machines in VMware vSphere/ESXi and Hyper‑V.

Assist in the implementation of DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and support vulnerability remediation efforts.

Maintain laboratory configuration documentation, hardware/software asset inventories, test execution records, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Provide Tier I/II troubleshooting support for hardware faults, operating system anomalies, and network connectivity issues within the test environment.

Required Education, Clearance & Certifications

Security Clearance: Active SECRET clearance required with the ability to upgrade to TS/SCI.

Certifications: Current DoD 8140 / DoD 8570 IAT Level II baseline certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE, CCNA‑Security, CySA+, or equivalent).

Education: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent operational experience/military training).

Experience: 3+ years of related experience in systems engineering, hardware staging, systems administration, or laboratory test environments.

Required and Desired Qualifications

Required qualifications include foundational technical knowledge of Windows Server (2019/2022), Windows 10/11, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and virtualization environments using VMware ESXi or vCenter.

Candidates must have practical experience with physical server racking, stacking, cabling, and hardware component replacement, alongside a clear understanding of patch management lifecycles and basic networking concepts including TCP/IP, VLANs, and routing.

Desired qualifications include hands‑on exposure to vulnerability scanning tools such as ACAS (Tenable Nessus) and automated configuration management frameworks.

Experience with basic automation and scripting using PowerShell or Bash, along with prior experience operating within DoD test labs, military command environments, or USCENTCOM networks, is highly advantageous.

Travel and Shift Requirements

Position may require up to 10% travel in support of USCENTCOM mission requirements.

Work hours and shift schedules are determined by lab operational requirements and support needs.

Company Overview

GDIT is a leading technology integrator solving our nation's most complex modernization and readiness challenges. We provide innovative technology solutions and services across Defense, Intelligence, Homeland Security, Federal Civilian, and Health markets. Join GDIT and be part of the team of men and women who solve some of the world’s most complex technical challenges.

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

Growth: AI‑powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities

Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals

Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, competitive pay and paid time off

Community: Award‑winning culture of innovation and a military‑friendly workplace

Salary Range

The likely salary range for this position is $93,500 - $126,500. 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

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Travel Required

Travel Required: Less than 10%

Telecommuting Options

Telecommuting Options: Onsite

Work Location

Onsite Work Location: USA FL MacDill AFB

Additional Work Locations

Additional Work Locations: 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 offering are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Identity Verification Process

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 five plus countries worldwide, offering leading mission‑ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.

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