Principal Systems Engineer

Public Trust: None

Requisition Type: Regular

Your Impact

Own your opportunity to support our nation's defense. Make an impact by connecting and securing critical operations across the globe, keeping our country safe and secure.

Job Description

SYSTEMS ENGINEER PRINCIPAL

Advance how our customers operate while you advance your career. Join GDIT as a Systems Engineer Principal and build an impactful career in enterprise IT, collaborating with people who are driven and resourceful like you.

MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT

As a Systems Engineer Principal, the work you’ll do at GDIT will be impactful to the mission of our customer’s classified commercial cloud environment. You will play a crucial role in operating, securing, and optimizing a secure workstation enclave in a unique commercial cloud setting, ensuring secure and reliable access to mission-critical resources.

• Lead day-to-day engineering and operations of Red Hat and other Linux systems in a classified, air‑gapped environment, including configuration, hardening, patching, and maintenance.
• Configure, patch, and monitor systems and network devices using tools such as Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switches, Panorama, ClearPass, and related platforms, ensuring performance, integrity, connectivity, and backup/recovery capabilities.
• Collaborate with enclave, network, and security engineers, and vendors to troubleshoot issues, enhance the enclave’s network and security posture, and manage security updates, licenses, and support tickets.
• Support vulnerability management and continuous monitoring, including reviewing scans, implementing patching and remediation, POA&M mitigation, and other corrective actions.
• Drive hardening and compliance efforts, including STIG review and implementation, to meet NIST and DoD requirements.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation for designs, configurations, and operational procedures.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED

Bring your technology expertise and drive for innovation to GDIT. The Systems Engineer Principal must have:

● Education: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

● Experience: 8+ years of related experience

● Technical skills:

• Hands-on experience with Red Hat operating system
• Understanding of various Linux operating systems (e.g., Red Hat, Debian)
• Hands-on experience with operations and maintenance (O&M) of Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco switches, and applicable software including Panorama and ClearPass
• Security clearance level: Current and active Top Secret
• Onsite - Mclean, VA
• Must be DoD 8140 / 8570.01-M compliant (e.g., Security+ or equivalent)

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE

At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

● Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities

● Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals

● Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off

● Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace

OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Explore an enterprise IT career at GDIT and you’ll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your desire to drive operations forward.

Work Requirements

Years of Experience

8 + years of related experience

* may vary based on technical training, certification(s), or degree

Certification

CompTIA Security+ CE | CompTIA - CompTIA

Travel Required

Less than 10%

Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship Required