VDI End User Lead Systems Engineer III

Leidos LLC; North Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos LLC is seeking a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Lead in Charleston, SC to guide desktop virtualization initiatives and deploy VDI solutions using VMware Horizon, Citrix, and cloud hosting environments. The role requires DoD experience and active security clearance, delivering secure, scalable infrastructure across lab and production environments.

You will oversee the design, testing, and deployment of VDI platforms, create secure images, and provide Tier 3 support while ensuring

Qualifications

• 8+ years in DoD enterprise environments.
• Active DoD Secret clearance required.
• Strong writing and communications skills with technical depth.

Responsibilities

• Lead desktop virtualization team and oversee VDI/Published Desktop implementations.
• Develop secure baseline images and migration plans for VDI deployments.
• Provide Tier 3 engineering support and 24x7 issue resolution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and ensure DoD policy compliance (IAVA/STIG/RMF).

Skills

DoD experience

Cloud architecture

VDI technology

Strong writing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Active DoD Secret clearance

Tools

VMware Horizon

Citrix

Azure GovCloud

AWS GovCloud

Job description

Leidos is anticipating a new contract award with the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in support of all aspects of the Defense Health Enterprise Application and Desktop Virtualization Support Group, supporting the Clinical Information Modernization (CIM) Integrated Product Team (IPT). The primary customer for this work is the Defense Health Agency (DHA) which consists of a world-wide network of military hospitals, and health clinics, supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) TRICARE system for uniformed services members and their families around the world. This new work is focused on the Clinical Infrastructure Modernization Program Lifecycle Environment (CIMPLE) project which will support the Datacenter Operations Program (DCOPS) by providing enterprise infrastructure and professional IT services associated with the DHA Private Cloud (DPC), the Application Virtualization Hosting Environment (AVHE), and the DevSecOps Community Cloud (DSOCC) hosting platforms. Specific knowledge and understanding of these core systems is a requirement. This position is located 100% in Charleston, SC. **The Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic job postings are in anticipation of future work.**

Position Description

The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Lead is responsible for leading the team in support of desktop virtualization, the development and technical implementation of VDI and/or Published Desktop solutions from the catalog. VDI/Published Desktop technologies include VMWare View/Horizon, Citrix Provisioning Server, Citrix Storefront, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop), Azure Virtual Desktop, and Amazon Workspaces. Support and develop sustainment strategies, provide whitepaper and design plans detailing migration plans for existing physical desktop environments to VDI/Published Desktop. The candidate must have experience in cloud computing technologies and be able to provide subject matter expertise for Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud, and Microsoft Azure GovCloud. Develop briefing materials and demonstration environments to enable leadership and stakeholders to make sound decisions on the best utilization of desktop virtualization system(s). Perform installation and configuration of hardware and software supporting virtual desktop system(s) using industry standard best practices for the server virtualization environment where applicable. Develop secure “gold” and “platinum” baseline images for current operating systems and as new operating systems are released. Perform testing of new versions of VDI technologies software in the pre-production lab environment(s) including regression testing on standard configurations. Recommend upgrade processes as well as execute system wide upgrades to both pre-production lab environment(s) and production environment(s) following program change management processes and procedures. Implement standard configuration and maintain patch and platform versions across both pre-production lab environment(s) and production environment(s). Provide technical support for instantiations of these containerization technologies on a 24x7 basis to ensure rapid problem resolution and maximum uptime. Assist the government in the architectural design and engineering of cloud technologies identifying areas to gain efficiencies and reduce costs. Provide associated documentation for the architectural designs, deployment and implementation supporting cloud technologies installation and configuration. Support IAVA/STIG/other DoD policy implementations and documentation for cloud technologies platforms to include RA and RMF. Support the development of accreditation packages using DoD Risk Management Framework for any designed solution and work toward achievement of an ATO. Writing and maintaining Architecture Diagrams, Architecture Network Boundary Diagrams, and Installation Configurations Guides. Support direct communication and collaboration with ALL members of the Team, including issue management support, clarification and prioritization of production onsite tasks, reports and site summaries. May communicate with parties external to the organization (e.g., sub-contractors, vendors, government, etc.). Works to influence project/team leaders regarding solution design, process and/or approaches. Provide Engineering Tier 3 assistance in the management of Help Desk related issues in production. Works to achieve key project/program objectives and deliverables. Responsible for entire projects or processes spanning multiple technical areas. Regularly employs ingenuity and creativity to develop new technical solutions and systems to achieve functional objectives.

Required Skills

Bachelors degree with 8+ years’ experience in DoD enterprise environments or masters degree with 6+ years' experience in DoD enterprise environments. Currently hold an active DoD Secret Security Clearance Requires strong writing skills and excellent communications skills Technical Cloud Architecture Background and Experience with VDI technologies and/or Published Desktop solutions from the catalog.

Preferred Skills

VDI computing technologies experience for Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud, and Microsoft Azure GovCloud Cloud Architecture Background and Experience with VDI technologies for VMWare View/Horizon, Citrix Provisioning Server, Citrix Storefront, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop), Azure Virtual Desktop, and Amazon Workspaces. If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling.

At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: July 8, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above. Pay Range: Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.