Cloud Infrastructure Engineer (Zero Trust Focus)

Nakupuna Companies • Arlington, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Nakupuna Companies is seeking an experienced and hands-on Cloud Infrastructure Engineer to help design, build, and operate our customer's enterprise cloud environments with a focus on Zero Trust principles. This engineer will be a key technical contributor, responsible for implementing and managing cloud infrastructure, strengthening security, and driving automation within DoD-authorized cloud environments. This position is ideal for a proactive engineer who excels at building and securing cloud solutions, can independently troubleshoot complex issues, and can contribute to the strategic direction of the cloud platform.

Requirements

• Strong hands-on experience deploying, administering, and troubleshooting solutions within a major commercial cloud platform (AWS or Microsoft Azure).
• Proficient in core cloud infrastructure concepts, including compute, storage, networking, IAM, and security.
• Demonstrated experience implementing cloud security and Zero Trust principles, including IAM/RBAC, least-privilege access, secrets management, and segmentation.
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and scripting using technologies such as Terraform, Python, or PowerShell.
• Experience deploying or managing containerized applications using Kubernetes, Docker, or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and integrating security into engineering workflows.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex issues across cloud infrastructure, networking, and security layers.
• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional IT experience, including at least four (4) years of hands-on experience supporting cloud infrastructure, cloud engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Must currently have at least a Secret level security clearance (if located in HI) or Top Secret (if located in Virginia).
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or supporting DoD environments is highly preferred.
• Experience supporting DoD or other Federal IT environments is preferred.
• Active certification satisfying DoD Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II requirements, such as CompTIA Security+.
• An associate or professional-level cloud certification from a major cloud service provider (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain secure and scalable cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, AWS CDK, or Bicep.
• Apply Zero Trust principles by implementing robust identity and access controls, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring across the cloud environment.
• Implement and manage advanced cloud networking services, including VPCs, transit gateways, private endpoints, and hybrid connectivity.
• Build and operate containerized workloads using services like Amazon EKS or Azure Kubernetes Service, including the implementation of container security best practices.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts (e.g., using Python or PowerShell) to improve operational efficiency, security compliance, and infrastructure management.
• Contribute to the cloud governance framework by implementing and monitoring security policies, compliance controls, and cost management guardrails.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex infrastructure, networking, and security issues, providing expert-level troubleshooting and resolution.
• Integrate security and compliance controls into CI/CD pipelines, supporting DevSecOps practices and enabling automated, secure deployments.
• Evaluate and recommend new cloud services and technologies to improve security posture, operational effectiveness, and performance.
• Collaborate with architects and stakeholders to contribute to the cloud technology roadmap and translate architectural designs into functional implementations.

Benefits

• The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior