Staff Systems Development Engineer (GovOps)
About this role
The Cleared Engineering team builds and maintains the data and AI infrastructure platform across GovCloud, FedRAMP High, and air-gapped environments. This role exists to serve as the ultimate technical authority for platform resilience and operational integrity as public sector modernization and Generative AI applications become mission-critical.
Working as a Staff Systems Development Engineer, you will operate as a technical force multiplier by designing long-term system stability, driving fleet-wide supportability features, and eliminating operational bottlenecks across compute, networking, storage, IAM, and OS internals. You will also bridge the gap between uncleared core engineering teams and secure facilities by providing high-side technical leadership and precise cross-boundary communication. A strong candidate is a seasoned systems authority who thrives under pressure, excels at designing tooling for constrained environments, and brings deep expertise in Linux internals and cloud infrastructure.
What you will do
- Serve as the subject matter expert across multiple platform domains to design operational workarounds and resolve complex escalations within air-gapped and GovCloud enclaves.
- Act as the lead technical interface and escort between uncleared core engineering teams and secure facilities to relay system states and compliance constraints accurately.
- Identify systemic issue patterns across federal environments and author custom diagnostic tools, notebooks, and automated workflows using Python, Bash, or Go.
- Collaborate directly with product and core engineering leaders to root-cause platform defects, influence product roadmaps, and integrate supportability features.
- Anchor high-consequence platform incidents under intense pressure by establishing triage structures and making authoritative technical calls with incomplete data.
- Navigate and refine operational frameworks inside secure facilities to ensure deployment pipelines align with FedRAMP High, ITAR/IL5, and federal security benchmarks.
What you need
- Active TS/SCI security clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, or equivalent practical experience.
- 7+ years of experience in Systems Engineering, Cloud Infrastructure, Senior Support Engineering, DevSecOps, or a related technical operations role.
- Deep expertise in Linux/Unix operating-system internals, networking, process/resource debugging, and distributed systems.
- Hands-on proficiency in Python, Bash, Go, or Java with the ability to read source code, debug software defects, and write custom diagnostic scripts.
- Proven experience managing, debugging, and operating cloud infrastructure across public or federal cloud boundaries such as AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or GCP.
- Solid working knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code tools like Terraform or CloudFormation, alongside container orchestration mechanics such as Docker and Kubernetes.
- 3+ years of experience writing clear technical communications, including technical status reports, incident summaries, or cross-team escalations.
Nice to have
- Active Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope Polygraph (FSP)
- Prior experience supporting AWS Worldwide Public Sector (WWPS), isolated defense integration networks, or FedRAMP High / ITAR environments
- Hands-on experience operating inside low-egress or fully air-gapped networks where standard external diagnostics are restricted
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
Where is this role located?
This position is located in McLean, Virginia. You must be able to work on-site out of the secure facility (SCIF) in McLean, VA, which includes participation in an on-call rotation for critical incidents.
What is the salary range for this position?
The expected salary range for this role is $153,400 to $210,825 USD. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors unique to each candidate, including job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications, and specific work location.
What security clearance is required?
Candidates must have an active TS/SCI security clearance to qualify for this role. An active Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope Polygraph (FSP) is listed as a preferred qualification.