Systems Engineer SME (Cloud)

Second-61 LLC; O'Fallon, Northern (IL, KY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Second-61 LLC is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our Cloud team at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. You will lead and execute cloud architecture initiatives, migrations, and security compliance for DoD-grade environments, with hands-on engineering and strategic guidance.

The role focuses on scalable, secure cloud solutions, virtualization, and DevSecOps practices, requiring strong leadership and advanced AWS/Linux expertise to support DoD networks.

Qualifications

• Candidate must design and deploy cloud solutions for complex programs.
• Proficiency with Linux (RHEL) and CLI administration.
• Experience with AWS services, networking, and security tooling.
• DoD cloud guidance and security requirements familiarity essential.
• Strong collaboration with senior leadership and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and hands-on development of cloud architectures.
• Plan and manage migration, re-platforming, and operations of cloud environments.
• Ensure CSO compliance with DoD guidelines and security controls.
• Evaluate hardware/software and data migration approaches.
• Develop and test cloud and virtualization systems.
• Maintain expertise in modern cloud and virtualization tech.
• Participate in strategic planning with senior leadership.
• Mentor junior team members and support process improvements.
• Troubleshoot end-to-end connectivity across DoD networks.
• Configure enterprise networking devices including Palo Alto, F5, routing platforms.
• Utilize DevSecOps tools like Git, Jenkins, Groovy, YAML for automation.
• Support and enhance managed shared cloud services for DoD environments.

Skills

Cloud architecture design

AWS networking

Linux administration

DoD security compliance

DevSecOps tooling

Git/Jenkins/Groovy/YAML

Palo Alto firewall management

F5 Big-IP

Zero Trust

BGP routing

AWS security services

GovCloud Route53

Education

MA/MS in relevant field

AWS Cloud Engineer Certification

IAT Level III certification

CE certification

Tools

Git

Jenkins

Groovy

YAML

AWS CloudFormation

AWS CloudTrail

AWS Lambda

AWS IAM

VPC

Transit Gateway

Job description

Second-61: Our foundation is built upon the heart of patriotism; grounded in protecting that which matters most as Vigilant Defenders. We look forward to meeting you and sharing our mission to love and honor each other, our community, our country, and our customers, through superb services as their front-line Vigilant Defenders.

Position Description

We’re hiring a Systems Engineer to join our Cloud team at Scott Air Force Base. In this role, you will initiate, supervise, and/or develop requirements from a project’s inception to conclusion for complex to extremely complex programs. You will provide strategic advice, technical guidance and expertise to program and project staff; Provide detailed analysis, evaluation and recommendations for improvements, optimization development, and/or maintenance efforts for client-specific or mission critical challenges/issues; Consult with client to define needs or problems, supervise studies and lead surveys to collect and analyze data to provide advice and recommend solutions.

Location and Hours:

• On-site at Scott Air Force Base, near O'Fallon, IL
• Usual business hours M-F. May be required to provide after-hours and weekend support during planned or emergency events.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and hands-on development and implementation of commercial cloud solution architectures focused on security, scalability, and resiliency.
• Plan, design, and manage migration, re-platforming, integration, implementation, and operations of complex cloud environments, including IL5/IL6 and JWCC-aligned architectures.
• Ensure commercial cloud service offerings (CSO) comply with DoD Cloud Computing guidelines and security requirements.
• Provide detailed analysis for hardware/software selection, cloud provider selection, implementation methods, and data migration approaches.
• Develop and conduct testing of cloud and virtualization systems.
• Maintain technical expertise in modern cloud and virtualization technologies (automation, hypervisors, containers, virtual networking, storage, scaling, etc.).
• Evaluate and report on emerging cloud technologies to enhance capabilities.
• Provide systems engineering functions including requirements definition, system design, interface architecture, validation and verification, integration, lifecycle cost analysis, and performance analysis.
• Participate in strategic planning discussions with senior leadership.
• Provide recommendations and decisions supporting organizational and project objectives.
• Serve as an organizational technical spokesperson and advisor on advanced cloud and systems engineering initiatives.
• Support and enhance managed shared cloud services for complex DoD and enterprise networks.
• Troubleshoot end-to-end connectivity issues across DoD networking infrastructure.
• Administer and configure enterprise networking and security devices, including next-generation firewalls (Palo Alto), F5 devices, and routing platforms.
• Utilize DevSecOps and automation tools including Git, Jenkins, Groovy, YAML, and cloud security capabilities.
• Mentor junior team members and support process improvements across the cloud and infrastructure environment.

Requirements

Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience designing and deploying cloud solutions as a cloud architect/engineer.
• Proficient with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and command-line administration.
• Expert experience with next-generation firewall deployment, configuration, and management (Palo Alto).
• In-depth experience with AWS Cloud, including Networking, VPNs, VPCs, Transit Gateway.
• Knowledge of BGP routing protocols and layer-3 network architectures.
• Experience troubleshooting across DoD network infrastructure.
• Proficiency with tools including Git, Jenkins, Groovy, YAML, and AWS security services (WAF, GuardDuty, IAM, Security Groups).
• General knowledge of AWS EC2, S3, Systems Manager, CloudFormation, CloudTrail, Lambda, IAM.
• Experience with AWS Workspaces or VDI deployment in AWS.
• Experience managing Route 53 in GovCloud environments.
• Experience implementing Zero Trust architectures.
• Administration experience with firewalls, F5, Panorama, Big IQ, or similar networking configuration tools.
• Experience mentoring junior team members.
• Ability to proactively identify and resolve operational inefficiencies.

Security Qualifications

• Position is only open to US Citizens.
• Active Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance.

Education and Certifications

• MA/MS in relevant field of study
• AWS Cloud Engineer Certification with experience as AWS Cloud Engineer.
• IAT Level III certification (CASP+ CE, CCNP Security, CISA, CISSP or Associate, GCED, GCIH)
• Computing Environment (CE) certification or certificate for the technical area of responsibility for Cloud or virtualization (e.g., Azure, AWS, oracle, IBM, etc.) with a preference in Azure.

Desired Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience
• DoD TS/SCI clearance
• AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Professional Certification
• ITIL V4 Foundations Certification
• Experience with F5 Big-IP devices specifically the LTM and ASM modules
• Experience with AWS networking and AWS Transit Gateway
• Experience with Palo Alto FWs specifically managing security policy, NAT policy, and BGP routing.
• Experience with Juniper and Cisco virtual cloud routers
• Experience with BGP routing in a DoD environment.
• Familiarty with AWS Site-to-Site Connections
• Experience with Azure commercial cloud services.
• Knowledge of Route53 DNS

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.