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Systems Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME)

  • Herndon, VA
  • Computer/Software

 

Location: Herndon, VA
Employment Type: Full-Time
Clearance: TS/SCI Poly

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced, hands-on Systems Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a complex technical environment in Herndon, Virginia.

This position is ideal for a senior technical leader with broad, practical expertise across enterprise infrastructure, cloud platforms, networking, operating systems, containers, databases, applications, security, and DevSecOps.

The Systems Engineering SME will assess current-state environments, develop future-state architectures, and lead complex implementations and modernization efforts from design through production. This individual will serve as a technical authority and escalation point while working closely with infrastructure, platform, software, DevOps, security, and data teams.

Key Responsibilities

  • Perform full-stack systems engineering across network, compute, storage, operating systems, middleware, databases, and application environments.
  • Assess and document existing "as-is" architectures and develop detailed "to-be" architectures.
  • Develop implementation, migration, modernization, and upgrade strategies.
  • Lead complex cloud, hybrid, and on-premises implementations and migrations.
  • Design systems for availability, scalability, performance, security, and compliance.
  • Integrate infrastructure and platforms with DevOps/DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Troubleshoot complex technical issues spanning multiple infrastructure and application domains.
  • Collaborate with infrastructure, platform, software engineering, DevOps, security, and data teams.
  • Develop technical documentation, architecture diagrams, standards, implementation plans, and operational runbooks.
  • Serve as a senior escalation point and technical authority for complex system issues and architectural decisions.
  • Communicate technical concepts, risks, recommendations, and strategies to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders, including executive leadership.

Required Skills & Experience

Candidates should possess extensive hands-on systems engineering experience across several of the following areas:

Infrastructure & Networking

  • Enterprise networking
  • Firewalls, load balancers, and DNS
  • SAN, NAS, and object storage
  • Hybrid and on-premises infrastructure integration

Cloud & Containers

  • AWS, Azure, and/or GCP
  • Cloud networking and security
  • Cloud cost optimization
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • Hybrid cloud architectures

Linux & Systems Administration

  • Linux administration, particularly RHEL/CentOS
  • Operating system hardening
  • System automation
  • PKI and identity management

Databases & Application Infrastructure

  • Relational and NoSQL database technologies, including experience with platforms such as:
    • Oracle
    • PostgreSQL
    • MySQL
    • SQL Server
    • MongoDB
    • Cassandra
    • DynamoDB
    • Redis
  • APIs and web services
  • Middleware technologies
  • Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) fundamentals
  • Event messaging technologies such as SQS, SNS, and RabbitMQ

Infrastructure as Code & Automation

  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • CloudFormation
  • Python
  • Bash
  • PowerShell

DevOps / DevSecOps

  • CI/CD concepts and implementation
  • Jenkins
  • GitLab CI/CD
  • GitHub Actions
  • ArgoCD
  • Integration of systems and platforms into DevOps/DevSecOps workflows

Security & Observability

  • Security best practices and system hardening
  • Monitoring, logging, and observability technologies such as:
    • Prometheus
    • Grafana
    • Splunk
    • ELK
    • CloudWatch

Architecture & Technical Leadership

  • Demonstrated ability to assess complex production environments and create comprehensive as-is and to-be architectures.
  • Experience developing detailed implementation and migration plans.
  • Ability to move between high-level architecture and hands-on technical implementation.
  • Proven ability to design, build, troubleshoot, and take ownership of complex production systems.
  • Strong systems-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to collaborate across technical disciplines and communicate effectively with executive-level stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience designing or supporting Zero Trust architectures.
  • Exposure to AI/ML or data platforms.
  • Experience with big data technologies such as:
    • Hadoop
    • Databricks
    • Snowflake
    • BigQuery
  • Experience supporting mission-critical systems and environments.
  • ITIL and/or Agile delivery experience.
  • Relevant cloud, security, DevOps, or architecture certifications, such as:
    • AWS Solutions Architect
    • AWS DevOps
    • Azure Administrator
    • CKA / CKAD
    • ITIL

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is not solely an architect or administrator, but a hands-on technical SME who can operate across the entire technology stack. They should be equally comfortable developing an enterprise architecture, working through a difficult production issue, planning a cloud migration, automating infrastructure, and communicating technical recommendations to senior leadership.

This position is well suited for an experienced Systems Engineer or Architect who enjoys solving complex, cross-domain technical challenges and taking ownership of systems from architecture and design through implementation and production operations.

Benefits

This position offers a highly competitive, employer-supported benefits package, including:

  • 5 weeks of PTO plus birthday leave

  • 11 floating holidays

  • 401(k) with 10% employer contribution

  • Multiple medical plan options through Anthem, including:

    • Platinum PPO national plan

    • Gold PPO national plan

    • Gold HMO HSA national plan

  • Employer-paid dental coverage through Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier

  • Employer-paid vision coverage through VSP / DeltaVision

  • Employer-paid Life and AD&D coverage at 2x salary, up to $400,000

  • Optional voluntary Life and AD&D coverage from $10,000 to $500,000, not to exceed 5x salary

  • Employer-paid Short-Term Disability, covering 60% of salary up to $2,500

  • Employer-paid Long-Term Disability, covering 60% of salary up to $10,000 per month

  • Health Savings Account availability, depending on selected health plan

  • $1,000 annual Lifestyle Savings Account

  • $5,000 annual professional development reimbursement for degrees, training, and certifications

  • $1,000 annual technology reimbursement

  • Candidate referral bonus program, up to $10,000

  • Discretionary profit sharing

  • Discretionary performance bonus opportunities

  • New contract bonus opportunities, up to $10,000

  • Employer-paid access to online training through Udemy and Paylocity

  • Optional pet insurance through Pets Best

  • Access to Working Advantage employee discounts and rewards programs at no cost

About the Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a Full Stack Software Developer with strong cloud, data analytics, and application development experience to support high-impact mission work. The selected candidate will contribute to modern, scalable, and secure software solutions that improve data processing, analytics, search, automation, and enterprise digital architecture across a mission-critical environment.

https://www.staffed4u.com/