Systems Engineer 4 - Linux / Cloud

United Launch Alliance; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 121,307 - 202,178; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous paid time off

Flexible work environments

9/80 schedule

Job summary

United Launch Alliance is seeking a Systems Engineer 4 in Denver to lead Linux and cloud initiatives across on‑prem and cloud environments. You will optimize performance, implement automation, and guide complex initiatives with senior technical leadership.

The role emphasizes reliability, security, and collaboration with infrastructure, cloud, security, DevOps, and application teams to ensure mission-critical systems meet demanding requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field; four years of related exempt work may satisfy degree requirement
• Advanced hands-on Linux administration in production environments
• Hybrid infrastructure experience across on-premises and cloud (AWS/Azure)
• Ability to resolve complex Linux OS, networking, and cloud issues independently
• Experience automating workflows (patching, monitoring) using IaC tools
• Proficiency with infrastructure automation tools (Ansible, Terraform, Python) in production
• Knowledge of cloud identity, networking, storage, and security principles
• Ability to lead technical execution for multi-phase system changes
• Strong analytical skills and senior-level judgment for risk assessment
• Mentor peers and contribute to team capability development
• Reliability mindset for mission-critical operations

Responsibilities

• Support mission-critical Linux and cloud environments with senior-level expertise
• Lead implementation, optimization, and lifecycle maintenance of Linux systems in on‑prem and cloud
• Design performance, availability, reliability, and security improvements; drive remediation
• Serve as senior escalation point for complex Linux and cloud incidents
• Engineer automation for configuration management, monitoring, and workflows
• Implement and refine cloud infrastructure components in AWS or Azure
• Troubleshoot OS, virtualization, cloud services, containers, storage, and identity
• Lead system patching, update strategies, and compliance-driven hardening
• Manage backup/recovery, DR readiness, replication, and failover workflows
• Contribute to engineering design reviews and platform standards
• Author and maintain documentation for architecture and configurations
• Participate in on-call rotations and incident response
• Mentor junior admins and share best practices
• Collaborate with networking, security, DevOps, and apps teams

Skills

Linux engineering

Cloud engineering

Automation scripting

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Security & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Ansible

Terraform

Python

AWS

Azure

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Requisition ID: 1954

Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00

Location: ULA - Denver

Relocation: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!

Job Overview & Responsibilities

At ULA, the Systems Engineer 4 - Linux / Cloud serves as a senior technical contributor responsible for the engineering, advanced administration, reliability, and lifecycle management of Linux and cloud-based systems across missioncritical environments. This role goes beyond routine operations, focusing on designing improvements, optimizing platform performance, implementing automation, and leading technical execution for complex initiatives. The Systems Engineer 4 provides deep Linux expertise, strong cloud engineering capability, and acts as a senior escalation point for complex issues impacting production systems.

This position influences platform strategy, enhances operational maturity, and partners closely with infrastructure, cloud, security, DevOps, and application teams to ensure ULA's computer environments remain secure, resilient, scalable, and aligned with mission requirements. The ideal candidate brings advanced Linux engineering experience, strong cloud operational capability, and the technical leadership to guide improvements in reliability, automation, and standardization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support ULA's mission-critical compute environments with senior-level Linux and cloud engineering expertise.
• Lead the implementation, optimization, and lifecycle maintenance of Linux systems across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Design improvements to system performance, availability, reliability, and security; drive remediation for recurring issues.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex Linux and cloud incidents, performance problems, service failures, and production-impacting issues.
• Engineer automation for configuration management, monitoring, patching, and operational workflows using tools such as Ansible, Python, or Terraform.
• Implement and refine cloud infrastructure components (compute, storage, identity, networking, security policies) in AWS or Azure.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting across OS, virtualization, cloud services, containers, storage, and identity integrations.
• Lead system patching, update strategies, and compliance-driven hardening for mission-critical Linux platforms.
• Manage and optimize backup/recovery systems, disaster recovery readiness, replication, and failover workflows.
• Contribute to engineering design reviews, system lifecycle planning, and platform standards development.
• Author and maintain high-quality documentation for architecture, procedures, and system configurations.
• Participate in on-call rotations, major incidents, problem management, and operational readiness activities.
• Mentor junior administrators and provide guidance on troubleshooting, scripting, and operational best practices.
• Partner with multi-disciplinary teams to integrate Linux and cloud systems with networking, security, DevOps, and application layers.

Required Education

Bachelor

Required Years of Experience

Minimum of 6 years of related work experience

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university
  • Four years of directly related exempt work experience may be used to satisfy the bachelor's degree requirement
• Advanced hands-on experience administering and engineering Linux systems in production environments
• Strong capability supporting hybrid infrastructure across on-premises and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or both)
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex Linux OS, performance, networking, and cloud service issues independently
• Experience engineering or improving operational workflows such as patching automation, compliance enforcement, or monitoring optimization
• Proficiency with infrastructure automation tools (Ansible, Terraform, Python, or similar) in production settings
• Solid understanding of cloud identity, networking, storage, and security principles
• Experience implementing configuration management, version control, or infrastructure-as-code workflows
• Ability to lead technical execution for medium- to large-scale system changes and multi-phase implementation work
• Strong analytical skills and senior-level judgment for troubleshooting, risk assessment, and prioritization
• Ability to mentor peers and contribute to team capability development
• High reliability mindset suitable for mission-critical operations and launch-support environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or improving Linux and cloud platform standards, hardening, or automation frameworks
• Hands-on experience integrating Linux systems with container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, or similar)
• Familiarity with DevOps workflows including CI/CD pipelines, Git-based automation, or infrastructure versioning
• Experience with cloud-native services such as identity federation, private networking, service endpoints, autoscaling, or logging/monitoring pipelines
• Advanced knowledge of enterprise systems such as virtualization clusters, distributed storage, or high-availability configurations
• Experience conducting root-cause analysis for complex incidents and leading problem-management initiatives
• Relevant certifications such as RHCE, AWS SysOps, AWS Solutions Architect Associate/Professional, Azure Administrator/Engineer
• Strong ability to influence operational maturity, documentation quality, and engineering best practices across the team

Summary Salary Range (forULA - Denver only): $121,307.00 - $202,178.00

Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a candidate's experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity, market and business considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to base pay.

What makes ULA different?

Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.

We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including:

• 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
• Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
• Generous paid time off
• Flexible work environments

Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information.

ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program. Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster (English / Spanish) and Right to Work Poster (English / Spanish).

Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted