Principal Cloud Systems Engineer

GliaCell Technologies•Columbia, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

GliaCell is seeking a Principal Cloud Systems Engineer on one of our subcontracts. This is a full-time position offering the opportunity to support a U.S. Government customer. The mission is to provide technical expertise that assists in sustaining critical mission-related software and systems to a large government contract. We are seeking an innovative and analytical Systems Engineer to join our research and development team focused on the future of cloud-native architectures, specifically Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). In this role, you will be at the forefront of distributed systems research, exploring new methodologies to optimize, secure, and scale edge networks. You will bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation, transforming complex technical requirements into robust, automated, and well-documented cloud-native architectures. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of CDN technology, designing zero-touch deployment systems, and solving complex infrastructure challenges, we want you on our team.

Requirements

Possess an active or rein-statable TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance.
U.S. Citizenship.
12 years of Professional/Education experience & Bachelors of Science Degree, or 4 additional years in place of a BS Degree.
Works well independently as well as on a team.
Strong communication skills.
Proven track record working as a Systems Engineer, Cloud Architect, or similar role with a focus on highly distributed environments.
Deep understanding of cloud-native ecosystems.
Knowledge of Content Delivery Networks, edge caching, load balancing, DNS, and core network protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP/2/3, TLS, BGP).
Experience with configuration management and Infrastructure as Code, specifically Gitlab and Terraform, to drive automated deployments.
Exceptional ability to gather complex requirements, model systems, and architect solutions that balance performance, security, and scalability.
Excellent written communication skills with a proven ability to produce clear, technical documentation for complex systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience or background in Computer Network Operations (CNO).
A strong philosophical and practical understanding of DevOps principles and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) practices.
Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts, particularly how AI can be applied to network traffic prediction, dynamic routing, or automated system remediation.

Responsibilities

Lead the technical translation of high-level research objectives into concrete, scalable cloud-native system architectures.
Conduct deep-dive research into next-generation CDN technologies, edge computing, traffic routing, and caching strategies.
Design, research, and implement fully automated, resilient deployment pipelines (CI/CD) and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for both testbed environments and production-grade prototypes.
Create and maintain comprehensive, high-quality documentation covering system designs, architectural decisions, deployment processes, and research findings.
Work closely with researchers, software engineers, and network specialists to build robust environments that support cutting-edge distributed systems experimentation.