PRINCIPAL COMPUTER SCIENTIST

MIKEL invests in people and technology – empowering the creative process, building responsive relationships, and propelling innovative solutions from conception to completion for the U.S. Navy.  MIKEL is a small woman owned business that has been providing Undersea Warfare Solutions to the Department of Defense since the company’s inception in 1999.  

Be a part of our dynamic team whose solutions and services enable the Navy to solve their toughest problems and meet their mission requirements.  We have undersea operations experience, combined with engineering and specific subject matter expertise, that provides an in-depth understanding of the problem and a novel, innovative and cost-effective solution.   MIKEL is committed to providing an environment that challenges its employees to use and advance their skills and knowledge to provide solutions that exceed customer expectations.

Position: Principal Computer Scientist

Nature of Role: We are seeking a Principal Computer Scientist to lead the secure administration, automation, and hardening of our high-assurance Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) development and enclave systems. This role is a critical part of our Cybersecurity Work Force (CWF), responsible for ensuring the ongoing operational efficiency and strict compliance of all systems with DoD Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) requirements.

The successful candidate will possess a unique blend of deep Linux expertise, comprehensive cybersecurity knowledge, and advanced automation skills to maintain a robust and compliant operating environment.

Responsibilities:

• Automation & Hardening: Lead the development, deployment, and execution of advanced Bash scripts and Ansible playbooks to automate RHEL system installation, patching, and configuration management, ensuring continuous adherence to the latest DoD STIG and security posture requirements.

• Security Compliance: Act as the subject matter expert for system hardening tools (e.g., EvaluateStig), including reviewing underlying code (e.g., PowerShell) to troubleshoot issues, resolve vulnerabilities, and develop custom compliance remediation solutions.

• Vulnerability Management: Execute monthly vulnerability scans across all systems, analyze results, and lead the implementation of timely mitigation and resolution strategies.

• Configuration Management (CM): Maintain strict configuration control of all system scripts, custom tools, and procedures using Subversion (or equivalent CM tools).

• System Maintenance: Perform core system administration tasks, including the setup of hardware configurations (e.g., RAID drives and partition schemes for RHEL servers) and managing proprietary software integration, including modification of driver packages for RHEL kernel compilation.

• Documentation: Author high-quality, comprehensive technical documentation for all custom software, scripts, and installation/maintenance procedures to facilitate knowledge transfer and user understanding.

• Software Deployment: Develop and manage procedures for secure software package distribution, including downloading Red Hat RPMs and transferring them for installation on remote or air-gapped systems.

Requirements: 

• Experience: 15+ years of demonstrated experience in Linux Systems Administration and Cybersecurity within a DoD or government environment.
• Linux Expertise: Expert-level proficiency in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) System Administration and maintenance.
• Scripting/Automation: Advanced proficiency in Bash Scripting and practical experience using Ansible for enterprise-level automation.
• Cyber Focus: Deep knowledge of and proven experience enforcing DoD STIG requirements and managing the vulnerability scanning and mitigation process.
• Networking: Experience with network configuration, including CISCO switch setup and managing Firewalls.
• Source Control: Proficiency in using Subversion or similar configuration management tools.
• Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance (active Secret clearance preferred).

Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related S.T.E.M. field.

Work Location: Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Ad Hoc Telework (<10%)

MIKEL offers