Principal Systems Engineer

General Dynamics Information Technology • McLean, VA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Advance how our customers operate while you advance your career. Join GDIT as a Systems Engineer Principal and build an impactful career in enterprise IT, collaborating with people who are driven and resourceful like you. MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT As a Systems Engineer Principal, the work you’ll do at GDIT will be impactful to the mission of our customer’s classified commercial cloud environment. You will play a crucial role in operating, securing, and optimizing a secure workstation enclave in a unique commercial cloud setting, ensuring secure and reliable access to mission-critical resources. Lead day-to-day engineering and operations of Red Hat and other Linux systems in a classified, air ‑ gapped environment, including configuration, hardening, patching, and maintenance. Configure, patch, and monitor systems and network devices using tools such as Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switches, Panorama, ClearPass, and related platforms, ensuring performance, integrity, connectivity, and backup/recovery capabilities. Collaborate with enclave, network, and security engineers, and vendors to troubleshoot issues, enhance the enclave’s network and security posture, and manage security updates, licenses, and support tickets. Support vulnerability management and continuous monitoring, including reviewing scans, implementing patching and remediation, POA&M mitigation, and other corrective actions. Drive hardening and compliance efforts, including STIG review and implementation, to meet NIST and DoD requirements. Develop and maintain engineering documentation for designs, configurations, and operational procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
• 8+ years of related experience
• Hands-on experience with Red Hat operating system
• Understanding of various Linux operating systems (e.g., Red Hat, Debian)
• Hands-on experience with operations and maintenance (O&M) of Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switches, and applicable software including Panorama and ClearPass
• Current and active Top Secret security clearance
• Must be DoD 8140 / 8570.01-M compliant (e.g., Security+ or equivalent)

Nice To Haves

• Linux Development
• Linux Kernel
• Networking
• Systems Architecture

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day engineering and operations of Red Hat and other Linux systems in a classified, air ‑ gapped environment, including configuration, hardening, patching, and maintenance.
• Configure, patch, and monitor systems and network devices using tools such as Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switches, Panorama, ClearPass, and related platforms, ensuring performance, integrity, connectivity, and backup/recovery capabilities.
• Collaborate with enclave, network, and security engineers, and vendors to troubleshoot issues, enhance the enclave’s network and security posture, and manage security updates, licenses, and support tickets.
• Support vulnerability management and continuous monitoring, including reviewing scans, implementing patching and remediation, POA&M mitigation, and other corrective actions.
• Drive hardening and compliance efforts, including STIG review and implementation, to meet NIST and DoD requirements.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation for designs, configurations, and operational procedures.

Benefits

• AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
• An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
• Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages
• 401K with company match
• Competitive pay and paid time off
• Full flex work weeks where possible
• Variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance

What This Job Offers

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