Senior Systems Engineer

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced, cleared Senior Systems Engineer to join our infrastructure team. 

This role is for someone who likes building, fixing, improving, and owning systems. You should be comfortable at the Linux command line, understand how networks actually work, and be able to move across operating systems, virtualization, cloud, security, automation, and documentation without needing everything perfectly defined up front. 

The right person has strong technical curiosity, a bias for action, and enough hands-on experience to know when to move fast and when to slow down and do it right. 

The work is hands-on, technical, and important. You will help engineer, deploy, secure, and maintain mission-focused infrastructure in a collaborative environment with other mid-to-senior engineers. 

Why You Want to Work Here 

You will be working with other like-minded technical people who enjoy infrastructure, Linux, networking, automation, security, and solving hard problems. 

You will not be on an island. You will be supported by a highly technical 24x7 Network and Security Operations Center that keeps eyes on the environment around the clock. That means you can focus on engineering, improvement, and problem solving without living under constant on-call pressure or rolling out updates at 0-dark-30. 

You will also get your choice of laptop: MacBook, Windows, or Linux. Windows is technically an option, but seriously, why? Mac or Linux is obviously the correct answer. 

We also try to make the environment human. We have an active board game group, Xbox gamers, and people who genuinely enjoy hanging out with other geeks. 

If you want to work with serious technical people, solve real problems, and still have a life outside of work, this is a good place to do that.

What You Will Do 

• You will help configure, deploy, maintain, and improve: 
• Linux systems, primarily Debian and Ubuntu, with a small number of Windows systems 
• VMware ESXi, vSphere, vCenter, and vSAN 
• Cloud infrastructure and services in environments such as AWS and GCP 
• Network infrastructure including switches, routers, and firewalls 
• Secure connectivity using IPSec, WireGuard, OpenVPN, MACsec, and TLS 
• Useful operational documentation, including diagrams, build notes, troubleshooting steps, and system summaries 

You will work closely with DevOps, Network Engineering, Security Operations, and other infrastructure engineers to harden systems, automate repetitive work, improve visibility, and reduce operational friction. 

What You Should Be Good At 

You should be the kind of engineer who can look at a problem holistically and start breaking it down. 

Maybe it is DNS. Maybe it is routing. Maybe it is Linux permissions. Maybe it is a firewall rule. Maybe it is VMware. Maybe it is AWS. Maybe it is something weird that only shows up once every few weeks. 

You do not need to know everything, but you do need to know how to troubleshoot, learn, ask good questions, and keep moving. 

We care about people who can: 

• Build reliable systems 
• Understand how packets move 
• Troubleshoot across layers 
• Automate the boring stuff 
• Write things down clearly 
• Improve the environment, not just maintain it 
• Work independently without going dark 
• Collaborate well with other technical engineers 
• Communicate clearly when something is broken, blocked, or at risk 

What You Will Accomplish in the First Six Months 

• Within your first six months, you should be able to: 
• Deploy hardened Linux systems and bring them into production 
• Take ownership of assigned systems and understand how they fit into the larger environment 
• Support infrastructure across on-prem, virtualized, and cloud environments 
• Identify areas where infrastructure can be improved, simplified, or better secured 
• Partner with DevOps to automate manual or repetitive tasks 
• Improve monitoring, alerting, and operational visibility 
• Produce documentation that helps the next engineer troubleshoot faster

Technologies in Our Stack 

You do not need to be an expert in every one of these, but you should be comfortable working across a real infrastructure stack. 

• Debian and Ubuntu Linux 
• Windows Server in limited areas 
• VMware ESXi, vSphere, vCenter, and vSAN 
• AWS, GCP, and related cloud services 
• Docker and related container technologies 
• Ansible and Jenkins 
• Cisco IOS, Cisco NX-OS, Juniper, and Fortinet/FortiGate 
• IPSec, WireGuard, OpenVPN, MACsec, and TLS 
• OSPF, VRF, and MPLS 
• Monitoring, logging, and operational visibility tools 

Qualifications

Must Haves 

• Active Top Secret clearance 
• 8+ years of relevant hands-on systems, infrastructure, cloud, or network engineering experience 
• Strong Linux experience, including real command-line troubleshooting and administration 
• Solid understanding of TCP/IP, the OSI model, and networking fundamentals 
• Experience troubleshooting across systems, networks, virtualization, cloud, and security boundaries 
• Familiarity with secure tunneling and encryption technologies such as IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, TLS, or MACsec 
• Ability to work with other mid-to-senior engineers in a technical, collaborative environment 
• Strong technical aptitude and curiosity 
• Bias for action 
• Ability to work independently and follow through 
• Clear written and verbal communication skills 

Nice to Haves 

• Experience with AWS, GCP, or hybrid cloud environments 
• Experience with Ansible, Jenkins, or similar automation tools 
• Experience with Docker or Kubernetes 
• Experience with VMware vSAN and larger vSphere environments 
• Experience with Cisco NX-OS, Juniper, or FortiGate platforms 
• Understanding of OSPF, VRF, MPLS, MACsec, and related network/security concepts 
• Experience working in secure, classified, or mission-focused environments 
• Ability to create diagrams and documentation that engineers want to use 

Who This Role Is For 

This role is for someone who enjoys infrastructure. 

You like Linux. You like understanding how systems fit together. You like solving problems that are not clean or obvious. You probably have opinions about good documentation, bad firewall rules, broken monitoring, cloud sprawl, and why “just reboot it” is not a strategy. 

We are looking for someone who wants ownership, not just tasks. 

If you want to help build and operate reliable infrastructure in a serious environment, this is the kind of role where you can make an immediate impact. 

Additional Information

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Innovative Environment: Work in a setting where your ideas and expertise are valued.
• Collaborative Culture: Be part of a team that supports each other and works toward shared goals.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

Here are some Perks!

• Flexible PTO + holidays
• Generous 401k match benefit up to 10%, with an automatic 3% safe harbor contribution and additional matching based on employee contributions.
• Medical (HSA & PPO Plans Available), dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Employer Contribution to Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Learning & Development opportunities
• Professional coaching services
• Get the technology you want to do your job
• We have free daily snacks & drinks

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office 
• Constantly work with computers and other information technology equipment
• The ability to communicate information and ideas in a classroom style format, may stand at a podium for long periods of time

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position with Veilant through its online applicant system, please contact Veilant's Talent Management Department at (703) 544-2424 or contact us through e-mail at contact_us@veilant.com