Senior Systems Engineer

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support our client in San Diego, CA. The Senior Systems Engineer will design, harden, and sustain mission systems operating within IL6 classified cloud environments. This role provides technical and operational leadership while serving as the primary interface between engineering teams and government stakeholders

Responsibilities of the Senior Systems Engineer include:

· Design, engineer, and sustain Windows Server environments within IL6 cloud architectures

· Support and optimize infrastructure in Azure Government Secret, AWS GovCloud Secret, or equivalent secure platforms

· Implement automation - first infrastructure using scripting and Infrastructure - as - Code

· Harden systems in alignment with DISA STIGs, RMF controls, and DoD cybersecurity policies

· Support containerized workloads and platform services within secure DevSecOps pipelines

· Integrate Windows systems into CI/CD workflows, GitOps processes, and secure build pipelines

· Lead vulnerability management, patch automation, and security validation efforts

· Ensure high availability, backup integrity, and continuity of mission - critical systems

· Troubleshoot issues across compute, storage, identity, network, and cloud layers

· Provide day - to - day technical leadership and act as the primary technical interface with the government customer

· Coordinate team activities, track task delivery, and maintain clear communication

· Identify risks, escalate issues proactively, and support operational alignment

Qualifications for the Senior Systems Engineer include:

· 10+ years of relevant engineering experience in complex, mission - critical environments

· Experience operating within DoD cybersecurity frameworks (RMF, STIG compliance)

· Experience with Windows infrastructure supporting DevOps/DevSecOps pipelines

· Strong scripting skills (PowerShell required; Python or Bash a plus)

· Demonstrated experience leading technical teams in customer - facing environments

· Must have an active Secret security clearance

· IAT II certification (one of the following): CySA+, Security+, CCNA Security, GICSP, GSEC, SSCP

Preferred Experience

· Kubernetes or OpenShift exposure

· Experience in restricted classified environments

· Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, ARM, Ansible)

· Container security and image hardening experience

· Microsoft cloud certifications (Azure Government focus)

· Cloud security or advanced cybersecurity certifications

Compensation for the Senior Systems Engineer includes:

· Salary Range: $190,000-$200,000 depending on experience

· Full Benefits Package: PTO, Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, and more

Keywords

Windows Server, IL6, Azure Government Secret, AWS GovCloud Secret, DoD, DISA STIG, RMF, IAT II, Security+, CySA+, CCNA Security, GSEC, GICSP, SSCP, PowerShell, Terraform, ARM Templates, Ansible, Infrastructure as Code, DevSecOps, CI/CD, GitOps, Kubernetes, OpenShift, container security, image hardening, patch management, vulnerability management, secure cloud, mission systems, high availability, backup integrity, Windows hardening, Active Directory, Group Policy, secure automation, classified environments, TS/SCI, secure pipelines, cloud security, Windows engineering, system troubleshooting, identity management, compute infrastructure, storage infrastructure, network troubleshooting, IL6 cloud, secure build pipelines, STIG compliance, RMF controls, DoD cybersecurity, secret cloud, Windows integration, scripting, Bash, Python, team leadership, secure DevOps, mission infrastructure, government customer support, operational leadership

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