Systems Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Staffed4U•Herndon, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced, hands-on Systems Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a complex technical environment in Herndon, Virginia. This position is ideal for a senior technical leader with broad, practical expertise across enterprise infrastructure, cloud platforms, networking, operating systems, containers, databases, applications, security, and DevSecOps. The Systems Engineering SME will assess current-state environments, develop future-state architectures, and lead complex implementations and modernization efforts from design through production. This individual will serve as a technical authority and escalation point while working closely with infrastructure, platform, software, DevOps, security, and data teams.

Requirements

Extensive hands-on systems engineering experience across several of the following areas:
Infrastructure & Networking: Enterprise networking, Firewalls, load balancers, and DNS, SAN, NAS, and object storage, Hybrid and on-premises infrastructure integration
Cloud & Containers: AWS, Azure, and/or GCP, Cloud networking and security, Cloud cost optimization, Kubernetes, Docker, Hybrid cloud architectures
Linux & Systems Administration: Linux administration, particularly RHEL/CentOS, Operating system hardening, System automation, PKI and identity management
Databases & Application Infrastructure: Relational and NoSQL database technologies, including experience with platforms such as: Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB, Redis, APIs and web services, Middleware technologies, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) fundamentals, Event messaging technologies such as SQS, SNS, and RabbitMQ
Infrastructure as Code & Automation: Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, Python, Bash, PowerShell
DevOps / DevSecOps: CI/CD concepts and implementation, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, Integration of systems and platforms into DevOps/DevSecOps workflows
Security & Observability: Security best practices and system hardening, Monitoring, logging, and observability technologies such as: Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, ELK, CloudWatch
Architecture & Technical Leadership: Demonstrated ability to assess complex production environments and create comprehensive as-is and to-be architectures.
Experience developing detailed implementation and migration plans.
Ability to move between high-level architecture and hands-on technical implementation.
Proven ability to design, build, troubleshoot, and take ownership of complex production systems.
Strong systems-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate across technical disciplines and communicate effectively with executive-level stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing or supporting Zero Trust architectures.
Exposure to AI/ML or data platforms.
Experience with big data technologies such as: Hadoop, Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery
Experience supporting mission-critical systems and environments.
ITIL and/or Agile delivery experience.
Relevant cloud, security, DevOps, or architecture certifications, such as: AWS Solutions Architect, AWS DevOps, Azure Administrator, CKA / CKAD, ITIL

Responsibilities

Perform full-stack systems engineering across network, compute, storage, operating systems, middleware, databases, and application environments.
Assess and document existing "as-is" architectures and develop detailed "to-be" architectures.
Develop implementation, migration, modernization, and upgrade strategies.
Lead complex cloud, hybrid, and on-premises implementations and migrations.
Design systems for availability, scalability, performance, security, and compliance.
Integrate infrastructure and platforms with DevOps/DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues spanning multiple infrastructure and application domains.
Collaborate with infrastructure, platform, software engineering, DevOps, security, and data teams.
Develop technical documentation, architecture diagrams, standards, implementation plans, and operational runbooks.
Serve as a senior escalation point and technical authority for complex system issues and architectural decisions.
Communicate technical concepts, risks, recommendations, and strategies to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders, including executive leadership.

Benefits

5 weeks of PTO plus birthday leave
11 floating holidays
401(k) with 10% employer contribution
Multiple medical plan options through Anthem
Employer-paid dental coverage through Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier
Employer-paid vision coverage through VSP / DeltaVision
Employer-paid Life and AD&D coverage at 2x salary, up to $400,000
Optional voluntary Life and AD&D coverage from $10,000 to $500,000, not to exceed 5x salary
Employer-paid Short-Term Disability, covering 60% of salary up to $2,500
Employer-paid Long-Term Disability, covering 60% of salary up to $10,000 per month
Health Savings Account availability, depending on selected health plan
$1,000 annual Lifestyle Savings Account
$5,000 annual professional development reimbursement for degrees, training, and certifications
$1,000 annual technology reimbursement
Candidate referral bonus program, up to $10,000
Discretionary profit sharing
Discretionary performance bonus opportunities
New contract bonus opportunities, up to $10,000
Employer-paid access to online training through Udemy and Paylocity
Optional pet insurance through Pets Best
Access to Working Advantage employee discounts and rewards programs at no cost