DevOps Engineer / Systems Engineer

Location: Annapolis Junction, MD
Clearance: TS/SCI with Polygraph required
Work Type: On-site

Salary: $180,000 - $200,000

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced DevOps Engineer / Systems Engineer to support mission-critical systems in a secure, compliance-driven environment. This role requires deep Kubernetes expertise, strong systems engineering fundamentals, and the ability to operate independently while collaborating closely with technical teams and mission stakeholders.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience supporting complex programs, excels in secure system sustainment, and thrives in environments with evolving mission and security requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Design, deploy, and sustain Kubernetes-based platforms across secure environments
Support compliance-driven operations and sustainment activities with high accuracy and attention to detail
Collaborate with software engineers, infrastructure teams, and mission partners to support operational objectives
Maintain detailed documentation, tracking, and configuration records using enterprise tools
Adapt systems and workflows to evolving mission needs and security requirements
Troubleshoot and resolve platform and deployment issues across development and operational environments
Support system reliability, availability, and performance for mission-critical services

Required Qualifications

Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph
Fourteen (14) years of experience as a Systems Engineer on programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity
Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related discipline
- Five (5) additional years of Systems Engineering experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree
Strong understanding of Kubernetes networking, configuration, and deployment in secure environments
Demonstrated ability to support compliance-driven sustainment activities
Excellent collaboration and communication skills with both technical teams and mission stakeholders
Strong documentation, tracking, and configuration management skills
Ability to adapt quickly in fast-changing mission and security environments

Desired Qualifications

Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Salt, and Ansible
Familiarity with Rancher, Helm, and advanced Kubernetes capabilities
Working knowledge of observability and monitoring tools including Elasticsearch, Kibana, and Grafana
Security+ (CWIP) or equivalent certification preferred

Benefits

Our client offers a comprehensive, flexible benefits package supporting financial security, health, and work-life balance.

Retirement

15% automatic company 401(k) contribution (3% safe harbor + 12% discretionary profit sharing)
No vesting – 100% immediately vested
Pre-tax and Roth options; contributions deposited every payroll

Paid Time Off & Flexibility

PTO accrued at 13% of hours worked (≈ 6 weeks / 30 days annually for full-time employees)
Up to 240 hours carryover
Flexible option to adjust PTO and/or 401(k) contributions in exchange for salary adjustments

Health & Wellness

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with significant company contribution
CareFirst medical plans:
- Platinum POS – $0 deductible
- High Deductible POS – $1,600 / $3,200 deductible
  - Company contributes 25% of deductible to HSA quarterly
HSA and FSA options available

Insurance (Company-Paid)

$50,000 Life Insurance
$50,000 AD&D
Short-Term Disability: 60% pay (up to $1,000/week)
Long-Term Disability: 60% pay (up to $6,000/month)

Flexible Schedule

Hourly pay with flexible/alternate schedules (customer approval required)

Education & Training

Up to $5,000 annually for certifications, courses, conferences, books, and related expenses

Additional Perks

$100 annually toward company-branded apparel

Why This Role

This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact, technically challenging systems in a secure environment while leveraging modern DevOps tooling and cloud-native technologies. The role is well-suited for a senior-level engineer who enjoys ownership, problem-solving, and driving automation at scale.

We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Apply to DevOps Engineer/Systems Engineer - TS/SCI POLY