Lead a team to design, deploy, and maintain physical and virtual servers and network devices, enforce DISA STIG/RMF security compliance, automate tasks with scripting/configuration tools, troubleshoot complex networks, manage patching in air-gapped environments, and produce technical documentation while acting as liaison with stakeholders.
About The Role:
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a Senior IT Systems Engineer to be part of our Advanced Capabilities team and based out of our Arlington, VA or San Diego, CA locations.
The Senior IT Systems Engineer will be responsible for leading a team of engineers to build out, integrate, and secure various IT systems. This engineer will oversee the maintenance, engineering lifecycle, and strict security compliance on systems both in the Arlington IDT Office as well as at various customer sites. A successful candidate should also drive automation strategies, mentor junior team members, establish engineering best practices, and act as a primary technical liaison with stakeholders.
Clearance & Location Requirements
- All applicants must currently possess an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
- This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 5 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA or San Diego, CA locations.
Key Responsibilities
What You Will Do:
- Lead, mentor, and task a team of systems and network engineers, establishing high engineering standards and directing engineering workflows.
- Architect, design, and oversee the installation of various server/networking devices within standard server racks as well as pelican-based enclosures.
- Perform regular server updates, patch management, and software installations across the enterprise.
- Operate and Maintain servers both virtual and physical in nature running a variety of Operating Systems to include Red Hat, Windows, and VMWare products.
- Install and provision newly purchased pieces of hardware equipment and evaluate future hardware needs.
- Implement, maintain, and review security processes to maintain compliance and ensure user permissions are set accordingly, leading the team in updating DISA STIG checklists and preparing systems for RMF assessments.
- Help develop and maintain various golden images in support of business area activities to include operating system images and virtual machines.
- Creating, reviewing, and maintaining detailed documentation of systems and networks for usage by both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Who You Are (Required):
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or equivalent full-time professional experience
- 7+ years' relevant experience required
- 2+ years of experience leading technical teams or directing engineering workflows.
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time as needed
- Extensive experience working in a VMWare Environment or similar virtualization platform.
- Experience Troubleshooting complex network issues of various degrees of complexity.
- Experience with Bash, C, and/or Python scripting to automate tasks.
- Understanding of common TCP/IP concepts to include TCP, UDP, VLANs, DHCP, and routing at a minimum.
- Experience Provisioning and Installing both Physical devices as well as Virtual Machines.
- Security+, CCNA, or equivalent IAT Level II certification (IAT Level III is a plus).
- Experience with hardening devices and updating DISA STIG Checklists.
- Experience with patching and remediating vulnerabilities in a closed/air-gapped network.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Strong Understanding of Red Hat or similar Linux distributions.
- Experience working with networking within a tactical system.
- Experience with Cisco Switching to include Virtual Port Channeling, VLANs, VRFs, etc.
- Experience with configuring multiple forms of authentication to include PKI concepts.
- Experience with having to identify hardware and/or software for purchase to meet various use-cases.
- Experience with Ruckus-based Network Devices a plus.
- Experience with VMWare NSX-T is a plus.
- Experience with Ansible, PowerShell, Chef, Salt, Puppet, or any other configuration automation software.
If you see yourself reflected in this role and are excited about the impact you could make, we encourage you to apply! If you know someone who may be a great fit, please feel free to share this opportunity with your network.
Pay Range*: $135,000 - $231,000 or $164,000 - $273,000
*Pursuant to California Senate Bill 1162, IDT is required to disclose the “pay scale” or “pay range” associated with a job posting. Notably, however, this amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. Click here for additional information about Senate Bill 1162. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.
Job Benefits
Why Work at Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT):
IDT is a growing company with a vibrant, entrepreneurial culture. We are headquartered in Arlington, VA with additional offices in Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA. At each location, our employees work together in a modern, snack-filled, and social office space, designing innovative solutions for our defense industry customers. We offer employees competitive pay and benefits including:
- Generous benefits package
- Competitive PTO
- Paid holidays
- 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching
- 9/80 optional schedule (2nd and 4th Friday off every month)
- Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program
- Professional Development Resources
- Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
- Organization-Wide Monthly Tech Connect Events
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards
- Regular Social Events and Catered Lunches
EEO Statement:
IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.
About
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is a leading defense technology company focused on rapidly delivering mission-critical software and systems solutions to the U.S. government. The company specializes in automation, digital engineering, and enabling the rapid integration of advanced capabilities into complex weapon and combat systems. These essential solutions empower the warfighter to field, operate, and sustain decisive capability at speed and scale. At IDT, our employees are developing advanced mission-critical outcomes by consistently delivering high-quality results, fostering innovation, applying rigorous problem-solving, and effectively collaborating across multifaceted teams and stakeholders. Grounded in these competencies, IDT translates complex customer priorities into robust software solutions.
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