Systems Engineer

Chenega Corporation • UNAVAILABLE, Virginia

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Systems Engineer provides on-site, 24/7/365 Tier 1 operations for Google Public Sector’s USG1 sovereign and classified cloud environments. The role initially supports Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) Air-Gapped and may expand to additional sovereign infrastructure, appliances, and air-gapped products. Responsibilities include monitoring platform health, troubleshooting Linux and Kubernetes systems, executing approved runbooks, verifying network and circuit connectivity, and preparing diagnostic evidence for engineering consultation. The engineer coordinates customer case management and communications with Customer Support Specialists, and works with the Senior Operations Lead on escalation review, shift continuity, and service improvements. Overnight duties include frontline case response to meet service commitments.

The position is based on-site in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and supports operations across overnight, weekend, holiday, and severe-weather shifts. The salary range is USD $162,000 to $165,000 per year.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of hands-on experience in Linux systems administration, cloud operations, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or Kubernetes administration.
• Strong command-line proficiency with Linux and Kubernetes (kubectl), including troubleshooting pods, nodes, networking, certificates, and role-based access control (RBAC) permissions.
• Experience with monitoring and logging tools such as Grafana and Prometheus, and ticketing systems such as ServiceNow.
• Practical scripting ability in Bash or Python, and proficiency updating technical documentation and Markdown runbooks.
• Successfully complete Google’s extended workforce onboarding and badging process and maintain applicable government-contract compliance, including mandatory security and cyber training.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph.
• Successfully pass background and drug screening.
• Knowledge of Linux, Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, networking, and air-gapped operations.
• Ability to interpret monitoring data and logs, diagnose platform issues, and verify system and network health.
• Ability to execute approved runbooks safely, recognize authorization limits, and escalate issues with clear diagnostic evidence.
• Practical scripting and technical documentation skills to support repeatable operations and maintain accurate runbooks.
• Strong organization and time management to prioritize incidents, meet service commitments, and provide complete shift handoffs.
• Clear technical and customer communication, and ability to collaborate with Customer Support Specialists, Senior Operations Leads, and Google teams.
• Ability to protect sensitive and classified information and follow security, access, and data-handling requirements.
• Ability to identify recurring issues and noisy alerts and contribute practical improvements and accurate operational reporting.
• Ability to support 24/7/365 operations, including overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts, COOP activities, and new product requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent military or industry experience.
• Prior experience operating in classified SCIF environments or handling sensitive or classified data.
• Prior experience supporting Google Cloud or Google Distributed Cloud (GDC).
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), or Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer certification.

Responsibilities

• Analyze GDC Air-Gapped infrastructure, platform performance, and system conditions across Linux, Kubernetes, and supporting cloud environments; conduct root cause analysis and develop, recommend, and implement technical solutions.
• Evaluate system configurations, platform capabilities, and proposed changes; develop and test technical improvements and recommend implementation approaches based on performance, operational needs, and technical risk.
• Perform start-of-shift system health checks and execute approved mitigation runbooks to maintain platform availability.
• Investigate and reproduce complex customer issues, analyze diagnostic evidence, assess remediation options, and develop recommended solutions for coordination through established review and escalation procedures.
• Verify network and circuit connectivity between customer environments, colocation providers, and Google platforms.
• Provide on-site technical support, system checks, and operational data to Google engineering, PMO, and TAM teams.
• Maintain continuous console coverage and frontline case response, including overnight, and meet applicable FMR response targets: 15 minutes for critical P0/P1, 2 hours for P2 (24/7), and 4 hours for P3/P4 (business hours).
• Coordinate customer follow-ups and retain case ownership during consults unless Google management approves transfer.
• Provide clear shift handoffs, promptly accept incoming active cases, and maintain continuity of technical support.
• Support assigned shifts, including weekends, holidays, and severe weather; remain reachable by phone and shift channel and respond to urgent Google operational inquiries within 15 minutes.
• When designated Queue Manager, manage case timers to prevent missed service targets.
• Maintain technical documentation and contribute to runbook, alert-quality, and operational reporting improvements.
• Support accreditation and COOP activities and adapt operations to new sovereign or classified products.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The company describes offering a broad range of benefits but does not specify individual benefits in the posting.
• Professional development opportunities, including on-the-job learning experiences and formal development programs.
• Well-being programs and flexibility in daily choices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed