DevOps Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Knight Federal Solutions is a trusted provider to industry leading prime contractors, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. We have established a company culture that supports our employees, their families and the communities in which they live and work. When you join our team you belong to a group of people that work hard, strive for greatness and care about people.

Our hard work is evident in everything we do. Whether it be supporting large government programs in the areas of Simulation and Training, Information Technology, Intelligence or Engineering we always strive to be the best. It is for this reason that we have been recognized as a World Class Team Supplier by Northrop Grumman and were also named one of Florida’s fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine.

As Knight Federal Solutions continues to grow, we look forward to hiring the best and the brightest to join us in our success!  

Knight Federal Solutions is seeking an experienced Cloud DevOps Engineer with excellent technical background in system administration, scripting automation, and deep Linux operational knowledge to help support our high-value clients. This position requires designing, implementing, and maintaining secure cloud-based systems and applications through infrastructure as code (IaC) and automation scripting, ensuring compliance with security and regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate possesses strong scripting capabilities, is hyper-focused on fulfilling customer needs, enthusiastic about cloud technologies, a self-starter who is eager to learn, and someone who is dedicated to supporting high-visibility national security missions. 

Locations available:

Arlington, VA 22203

Chantilly, VA 20151

Kingstowne, VA 22315

Fort Washington, MD 20744

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  

- Design and implement secure cloud-based systems and applications, including IaC and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. 

- Build, deploy, and troubleshoot cloud-native applications in AWS environments. 

- Develop and maintain IaC using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and CloudFormation . 

- Create and maintain automation scripts using Bash, Python, or PowerShell to streamline operations and deployments. 

- Ensure compliance with security and regulatory requirements, including NIST 800-53, DISA STIGs, and FedRAMP. 

- Collaborate with development teams to integrate security into the development lifecycle. 

- Implement and maintain security controls, including identity and access management (IAM), encryption, and network security. 

- Automate deployment, scaling, and monitoring of applications and services. 

- Work with a variety of cloud native tools to add capabilities while maintaining security of the platform. 

- Troubleshoot complex technical issues across all layers of the technology stack. 

Goals & Objectives:  

- Assist with design and implementation of robust, secure, and scalable cloud infrastructure. 

- Establish and maintain efficient CI/CD pipelines that incorporate security best practices. 

- Reduce deployment time and increase deployment frequency through automation. 

- Continuously seek to improve system reliability, availability, and security. 

- Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to drive adoption of DevSecOps practices. 

- Maintain comprehensive system documentation to ensure efficient knowledge sharing. 

- Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and security best practices. 

Here's what you need:  

- 5+ years of experience in Linux system administration (RHEL, CentOS, or similar distributions)

- 3+ years of experience with a public, private, or hybrid cloud environments.

- 3+ years of experience with automation and scripting using tools such as Bash, Python, or PowerShell

- 3+ years of experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Chef, or Puppet

- 3+ years of experience implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines for Linux-based systems (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD)

- 2+ years of experience troubleshooting Linux networking configurations (e.g., DNS, VPN, firewalls, security groups)

- 2+ years of experience implementing security controls in Linux environments, including encryption, access management, and monitoring

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or 4+ years of relevant job or military experience in lieu of degree

- DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification or higher (e.g., Security+, CISSP, or CASP) or DoD 8140 equivalent

Technical Expertise: 

- Deep knowledge of Amazon Web Services (EC2, VPC, EBS, ALB, RDS, S3, EKS, ECR, etc.) or similar cloud service provider (CSP) technologies

- Deep expertise in Linux system administration, including RHEL, CentOS, and related distributions

- Proficiency in scripting and automation using Bash, Python, PowerShell, or similar languages

- Experience with IaC (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation) to manage Linux environments.

- Strong knowledge of networking concepts (e.g., DNS, VPN, firewalls, load balancing, and hybrid-cloud connectivity) as applied to Linux systems

- Familiarity with containerization using Docker and Kubernetes, particularly for Linux environments

- Experience with system monitoring and logging tools such as Splunk, Prometheus, or ELK stack

- Knowledge of security hardening techniques for Linux systems, including SELinux, kernel hardening, and compliance with NIST, DISA STIGs, and similar frameworks

Professional Competencies: 

- Excellent communication skills in both written and oral formats 

- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills 

- Ability to work effectively in a team environment 

- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines 

- Strong customer service mindset 

- Ability to interface effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders 

- Ability to execute autonomously and take ownership of assigned responsibilities 

Bonus points if you have:  

- AWS certifications (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer, Security Specialty) 

- Experience with Kubernetes (EKS) or other container orchestration platforms

- Experience with Agile development methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban 

- Experience with National Security systems and Air-Gapped Environments 

Security Clearance: 

- Active Top-Secret Clearance with SCI eligibility 

- The position may require a polygraph examination

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Physical requirements may include, but are not limited to, lifting, ascending, and descending stairs, climbing, extended sitting or standing, to various degrees.

Knight Federal Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other protected classification.