Virtualization Enterprise Systems Engineer

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

General program Are you ready for your next challenge? The Marine Readiness Division on behalf of The Leidos Regan Test Site is seeking a Virtualization Enterprise Systems Engineer to support the deployment and sustainment of a virtualized system running VMware on a VxRail cluster. This role is part of the SMDC RTS Modernization contract for the Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, AL, supporting a world-wide mission focused on Space and Missile Overwatch. Position Overview As a Level 3 Virtualization Enterprise Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for implementing, supporting, and maintaining VMware ESX infrastructure in a data center environment. This position requires strong technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a dynamic, mission-critical setting. You will be involved in infrastructure integration, security compliance, and operations management to ensure high availability and performance of the virtual environment. Security Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizenship and an active DoD Secret clearance required. Certification Requirements: DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification (CompTIA Security+ CE or higher) At least one of the following DoDM 8140.03 Computing Environment/Operating System (CE/OS) certifications: VMware Certified Professional (VCP) - Data Center Virtualization Any VMware Certified Advanced Professional Certification MS Azure Suite Key Responsibilities Supporting VMware on a Dell VxRail cluster involves several key responsibilities, focusing on deployment, maintenance, troubleshooting, and security. Here are the primary responsibilities: Deployment & Configuration Install and configure VMware vSphere and vSAN on VxRail. Perform initial VxRail cluster setup, including network, storage, and compute resource configuration. Configure vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) to manage the VxRail cluster. Deploy and manage VM templates, cloning, and snapshots for streamlined provisioning. System Administration & Maintenance Monitor cluster health using VxRail Manager, vCenter, and vSAN Health Check. Apply firmware, BIOS, and driver updates using VxRail Lifecycle Manager (VxRail LCM). Manage ESXi hosts, vMotion, High Availability (HA), and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) settings. Perform datastore and storage capacity planning, including vSAN and external storage integration. Conduct backup and disaster recovery (DR) planning using tools like Veeam, Dell Data Protection, or VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM). Troubleshooting & Performance Optimization Diagnose hardware and software failures using Dell Secure Remote Services (SRS), iDRAC, and vRealize Operations (vROps). Resolve VM performance issues, including CPU, memory, and storage bottlenecks. Investigate vSAN-related errors (e.g., disk group failures, object unavailability, or congestion). Analyze and resolve networking issues in vSphere Standard Switch (vSS) or Distributed Switch (vDS) configurations. Security & Compliance Apply DISA STIGs and DoD SRGs for security hardening. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) and secure authentication methods (e.g., Active Directory integration, MFA). Conduct vulnerability scans and remediation using tools like Tenable Nessus, ACAS, or SCAP Compliance Checker. Ensure compliance with RMF/ATO documentation and security requirements. Automation & Scripting Use PowerCLI, PowerShell, or Ansible for automation of administrative tasks. Implement orchestration workflows for efficient VM provisioning and cluster management. Develop scripts for log analysis, performance tuning, and patch management. Support & Documentation Provide Level 3/4 support for operational issues related to the VxRail cluster. Maintain technical documentation, including SOPs, architecture diagrams, and system inventories. Train junior engineers and operational staff on VMware best practices and troubleshooting. Collaborate with Dell Support (ProSupport or ProDeploy) for complex issue resolution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, MIS, or a related field (or equivalent experience in IT).
8+ years of experience in virtualization and storage infrastructure.
Expertise in VMware vSphere, vCenter, ESXi, vSphere Update Manager, vSphere Lifecycle manager, High Availability and Distributed Resource Scheduler.
Strong knowledge of SANs, Fibre Channel fabric, vSphere Standard/Distributed Switches.
Proficiency in PowerShell, PowerCLI, and Bash scripting.
Hands-on experience with enterprise monitoring tools such as Splunk, SolarWinds Orion, and Trellix/McAfee ESS.
Experience with server rack hardware, firmware, and secure boot technologies.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to work independently and within a team.
Ability to travel up to 25% as needed.
U.S. Citizenship and an active DoD Secret clearance required.
DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification (CompTIA Security+ CE or higher)
At least one of the following DoDM 8140.03 Computing Environment/Operating System (CE/OS) certifications: VMware Certified Professional (VCP) - Data Center Virtualization Any VMware Certified Advanced Professional Certification MS Azure Suite

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a government contracting or defense environment.
Additional VMware or cloud certifications (e.g., VCAP, AWS, Azure).
Experience with security compliance frameworks and RMF processes.

Responsibilities

Install and configure VMware vSphere and vSAN on VxRail.
Perform initial VxRail cluster setup, including network, storage, and compute resource configuration.
Configure vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) to manage the VxRail cluster.
Deploy and manage VM templates, cloning, and snapshots for streamlined provisioning.
Monitor cluster health using VxRail Manager, vCenter, and vSAN Health Check.
Apply firmware, BIOS, and driver updates using VxRail Lifecycle Manager (VxRail LCM).
Manage ESXi hosts, vMotion, High Availability (HA), and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) settings.
Perform datastore and storage capacity planning, including vSAN and external storage integration.
Conduct backup and disaster recovery (DR) planning using tools like Veeam, Dell Data Protection, or VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM).
Diagnose hardware and software failures using Dell Secure Remote Services (SRS), iDRAC, and vRealize Operations (vROps).
Resolve VM performance issues, including CPU, memory, and storage bottlenecks.
Investigate vSAN-related errors (e.g., disk group failures, object unavailability, or congestion).
Analyze and resolve networking issues in vSphere Standard Switch (vSS) or Distributed Switch (vDS) configurations.
Apply DISA STIGs and DoD SRGs for security hardening.
Implement role-based access control (RBAC) and secure authentication methods (e.g., Active Directory integration, MFA).
Conduct vulnerability scans and remediation using tools like Tenable Nessus, ACAS, or SCAP Compliance Checker.
Ensure compliance with RMF/ATO documentation and security requirements.
Use PowerCLI, PowerShell, or Ansible for automation of administrative tasks.
Implement orchestration workflows for efficient VM provisioning and cluster management.
Develop scripts for log analysis, performance tuning, and patch management.
Provide Level 3/4 support for operational issues related to the VxRail cluster.
Maintain technical documentation, including SOPs, architecture diagrams, and system inventories.
Train junior engineers and operational staff on VMware best practices and troubleshooting.
Collaborate with Dell Support (ProSupport or ProDeploy) for complex issue resolution.