Senior Classified Data Storage and Backup Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

7h

About The Position

Are you a storage engineer with deep experience managing enterprise data and backup solutions and, safeguarding mission-critical data? Do you take pride in building secure, scalable storage infrastructure, and ensuring that every byte is protected and recoverable? If so, we’re looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. As a Senior Storage & Backup Engineer, you'll lead the design, implementation, management and daily operations of both the enterprise storage and backup platforms within our classified IT environment. You’ll ensure the availability, integrity, performance and recoverability of critical data across Dell and NetApp systems, while overseeing a comprehensive backup strategy built on best practices and compliance standards. This role is central to our data resilience mission—and your work will directly support national security programs by safeguarding some of APL’s most vital digital assets. In this role, you will: Storage Responsibilities: Design, configure, and manage Dell and NetApp enterprise storage arrays to meet performance, availability, and compliance goals. Conduct daily health checks, performance analysis, and proactive issue resolution for enterprise storage infrastructure. Manage storage provisioning requests, develop capacity plans, and tune performance based on usage trends and project demands. Evaluate emerging storage technologies and recommend enhancements to optimize system scalability, security, and efficiency. Ensure system patching and configuration compliance with DoD STIGs, POA&Ms, and internal vulnerability standards. Backup Responsibilities (Core Function): Own and manage enterprise-wide backup solutions—developing, implementing, and maintaining a robust and secure backup architecture. Administer and monitor backup systems (e.g., Rubrik) to ensure successful backups, adherence to retention policies, and full recoverability of systems and data. Troubleshoot failed backups and proactively resolve issues related to backup software, agents, storage targets, or scheduling conflicts. Establish and enforce backup policies, schedules, and escalation procedures for backup failures or data restoration needs. Perform regular backup validation, test restoration procedures, and document disaster recovery workflows to ensure readiness. Support audits and inspections by generating compliance reports, maintaining backup job records, and validating data protection requirements. Collaborate with systems and network teams to ensure new applications, file systems, and databases are integrated into the enterprise backup solution.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field—or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience configuring, managing, and patching enterprise storage arrays (Dell, NetApp, or equivalent).
• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing and supporting enterprise backup platforms in a production environment.
• 5+ years of experience in VMware vSphere storage administration.
• 5+ years of Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux administration.
• A current Security+ (or equivalent DoD 8570 compliant) certification.
• Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Rubrik or similar enterprise backup solutions (e.g., Commvault, NetBackup, Veeam, Cohesity).
• Developing and testing disaster recovery plans and backup validation workflows.
• Deploying and managing S3-compatible object storage.
• Dell Unity, Unity XT, NetApp Hybrid and All Flash storage systems in classified environments.
• Tuning backup systems for high-throughput environments, including optimization for virtualization and large data volumes.
• Hold an active Top Secret security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and manage Dell and NetApp enterprise storage arrays to meet performance, availability, and compliance goals.
• Conduct daily health checks, performance analysis, and proactive issue resolution for enterprise storage infrastructure.
• Manage storage provisioning requests, develop capacity plans, and tune performance based on usage trends and project demands.
• Evaluate emerging storage technologies and recommend enhancements to optimize system scalability, security, and efficiency.
• Ensure system patching and configuration compliance with DoD STIGs, POA&Ms, and internal vulnerability standards.
• Own and manage enterprise-wide backup solutions—developing, implementing, and maintaining a robust and secure backup architecture.
• Administer and monitor backup systems (e.g., Rubrik) to ensure successful backups, adherence to retention policies, and full recoverability of systems and data.
• Troubleshoot failed backups and proactively resolve issues related to backup software, agents, storage targets, or scheduling conflicts.
• Establish and enforce backup policies, schedules, and escalation procedures for backup failures or data restoration needs.
• Perform regular backup validation, test restoration procedures, and document disaster recovery workflows to ensure readiness.
• Support audits and inspections by generating compliance reports, maintaining backup job records, and validating data protection requirements.
• Collaborate with systems and network teams to ensure new applications, file systems, and databases are integrated into the enterprise backup solution.

Benefits

• We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
• At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas.
• Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees