AQ Operational Systems Engineer
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Summary
Onsite Operational Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA (active TS/SCI with polygraph required) who designs, develops, and maintains a government client's cross-platform software test automation system (DART) — spanning Python/C++ application layers, IaC (Ansible/Terraform), hypervisor automation (VMware/KVM), Docker/Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
PLEASE NOTE: This position requires an ACTIVE Top Secret/SCI Clearance with Polygraph. To be considered for this position, you MUST have an ACTIVE Clearance Level of Top Secret/SCI with Polygraph
Position Code: 06-SE0924-3
The Opportunity:
Seeking a talented Operational Systems Engineer to join our team in Chantilly, VA to help lead the implementation, software development of the application layer, and O&M for client’s scalable cross-platform software test automation system. Your work will focus on designing, engineering and extending an existing system (DART) and re-implementation of an application layer for test automation that enables open-source infrastructure as code (IAC) technologies (e.g. Ansible, Terraform), and DevOps tools (e.g. Bamboo, Bitbucket, Confluence, Jira) as well as supporting legacy python bindings and modern REST endpoints with swagger documentation. The successful candidate will provide a professional evaluation, use-case alignment, and assessment of the potential technology stack, including support for physical hardware, KVM, Proxmox, and VMWare-based and other hypervisor platforms and tradeoffs before initial implementation with management approval. The goal includes ability scale our software test automation to support AI-integrated rapid software projects, including using LLMs for agile automation development in addition to legacy workloads.
Responsibilities:
- Design, engineer/develop, and implement IT systems used by the client’s mission network to support end users
- Apply knowledge of operational tradecraft at OSI model layers 1-4
- Identify opportunities to integrate efficiencies into innovative IT systems that enhance the cyber mission
- Work effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous setting, distilling complex technical concepts into actionable insights for leadership
- Ability to run a project independently from inception to completion, including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and final documentation with minimal supervision
- Brief colleagues and mission partners on operational methodology, tool development, equipment functionality, and technical/operational deconfliction
Mandatory Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical discipline (i.e., Computer Science, Computer Engineering), with a minimum of 5+ years’ experience in a relevant technical field to the position
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance, with polygraph
- 5+ years programming efficiency in Python and strong knowledge of C++ for developing robust applications
- 5+ years demonstrating an ability to lead the design, architecture and development of enterprise-scale applications
- 5+ years developing agnostic operating system-based platforms, to include applications across both Linux and Windows ecosystems to support diverse testing targets
- Experience automating and managing multiple hypervisor platforms (both VMWare and KVM) to host complex, scalable, and highly customized environments
- Familiarity with DevOps principles, experience with Docker for containerization, and working experience with CI/CD pipelines for automation of testing and deployment
- Experience developing end-to-end automation solutions implementing logic for automated resource scaling
- Understanding authentication protocols such as OAuth, JWT and OpenID Connect
- Strong understanding of SQL Server and ability to manage and optimize database performance and/or MongoDB for NoSQL data storage needs
- Sound judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with an ability to adapt to emerging issues and changing priorities under short deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and stay abreast of leading-edge technologies
Desired Requirements:
- Programming efficiency in additional languages such as C++, Go, or Rust to optimize low level hypervisor interactions
- 5+ years programming efficiency in C# and .NET Core for developing robust applications
- Experience automating and managing multiple hypervisor platforms (Harvester) to host complex, scalable, and highly customized environments
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) experience working with tools such as Ansible or Terraform and/or Helm to manage and version-control the underlying virtualized testing hardware and configurations
- Experience with Kubernetes for container orchestration
- Experience with both on-premise and cloud deployment technologies and automation
- Kernel and driver knowledge across Linux and Windows kernel drivers to assist in deep-level application compatibility testing
- Experience in managing large-scale remote workstation clusters, focusing on high-availability and minimal latency for highly scalable resource capabilities
- Experience with AI-assisted tools for enhancing development productivity and automation
- Ability to integrate Machine Learning models into applications
- Understanding of Event-Driven architecture principles for designing scalable systems
- Knowledge of ElasticSearch for log management and search functionalities, or general knowledge integrating open-source ELK stack tools
- Detail oriented, organized, able to multitask, and adaptable to shifting requirements
- Flexibility – Works well both independently and as a team player; must be eager to learn
- Candidate should be a self-starter and possess a willingness to dive into new technologies when appropriate
- Experience implementing and documenting standard operating procedures of systems or networks
Skills
- Agile
- AI
- Ansible
- Authentication
- Automation
- Bitbucket
- CI/CD
- Cloud
- Confluence
- Containerization
- C++
- C#
- Dart
- DevOps
- Docker
- .NET
- Elasticsearch
- ELK
- Event Driven Architecture
- Helm
- Infrastructure as Code
- Jira
- JWT
- Kubernetes
- Linux
- LLM
- Machine Learning
- MongoDB
- NoSQL
- OAuth
- OpenID
- Python
- Requirements Gathering
- Rust
- SQL
- SQL Server
- Swagger
- Terraform
- Test Automation
- TypeScript
- Version Control
- VMware