Systems Engineer / Architect

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly technical and security-minded Systems Engineer / Architect to design, implement, and secure robust IT infrastructure and systems architectures. This role bridges complex systems engineering with rigorous security engineering, ensuring our public and private sector clients operate on highly scalable, resilient, and compliant enterprise platforms.

This position scales in complexity, responsibility, and architectural design authority based on experience. Mid-level engineers focus on systems administration, deployment automation, and baseline security controls. The Senior / Lead Architect tier requires a strategic visionary with advanced cybersecurity credentials (CISSP) to architect large-scale enterprise solutions, establish security baselines, and advise high-level commercial and Government leaders (Division/Branch Heads and FM&C leadership) on complex infrastructure modernization.

Key Responsibilities

• Architecture & Infrastructure Design: Architect, build, and optimize enterprise systems, server environments, and cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) while ensuring high availability and scalability.
• Cybersecurity & Compliance Engineering: Design and enforce robust security perimeters, identity access management (IAM), and encryption frameworks. Also ensure strict adherence to federal standards (NIST, FISMA, FedRAMP).
• Security Assessments & Hardening: Conduct vulnerability scans, security audits, and risk assessments; implement system hardening, zero-trust architectures, and incident response frameworks.
• Automation & DevOps: Develop and maintain infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Terraform or Ansible. Manage containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Systems Integration & SDLC: Support the full Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) by mapping business requirements to technical architectures and reviewing engineering code for security flaws.
• Technical Leadership & Advisory: Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on enterprise security and engineering best practices, providing technical mentorship to engineering teams.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaison with executive leadership and senior government officials to articulate system architectures, cybersecurity risks, and infrastructure roadmaps.

Education & Certification Requirements

• Required: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Mandatory Senior Certification: Active CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) credential required for Senior/Architect level placement.
• Preferred Certifications: CompTIA Security+, CEH, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, or CCNA/CCNP.

Required Experience & Qualifications
Experience requirements for this role scale progressively based on the hiring tier:

• Mid-Level: Minimum of three to five (3–5) years of progressive systems engineering experience, with practical implementation of security controls.
• Senior-Level: Minimum of six to nine (6–9+) years of progressive systems engineering and architecture experience, including at least four (4) years leading infrastructure or cybersecurity design initiatives.
• Enterprise Environment: Experience supporting Federal/State Government agencies, large organizations (1,000+ employees), or Secret-cleared environments.
• Engineering Foundation: Deep technical understanding of operating systems (Linux/Windows Server), directory services (Active Directory), and enterprise networking (TCP/IP, DNS, Firewalls).

Preferred Technical Qualifications

• Cloud & Container Stack: Advanced expertise in AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Docker, Kubernetes, and virtualization (VMware).
• Automation Tools: Practical knowledge of Python, Bash, PowerShell, Terraform, Ansible, and modern CI/CD orchestration.
• Security & Monitoring Stack: Experience with SIEM tools (Splunk, ELK), vulnerability scanners (Nessus), and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
• Frameworks: Working knowledge of Agile/Scrum, DevOps practices, and federal financial or identity management systems.