IT Systems Engineer/SME

Koniag Professional Services LLC, a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking an IT Systems Engineer/SME with a TS/SCI clearance to support KPS and our government customer in Arlington, VA.

We offer competitive compensation and an extraordinary benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, 401K with company matching, flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, three weeks paid time off, and more.

Koniag Professional Services (KPS) is seeking a highly skilled and motivated IT Systems Engineer to join the Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO) Data Governance team within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (USW(R&E)). The ideal candidate will be a key contributor to designing, building, and maintaining the secure infrastructure that powers our 'policy as code' initiatives in a mission-critical environment. This role focuses on providing robust architecture and development support within a fast-paced DevSecOps environment using GitLab. You will play a critical part in automating data governance controls to ensure DoW data is secure, discoverable, and leveraged as a strategic asset for national security.

Essential Functions, Responsibilities & Duties may include, but are not limited to:
• System Architecture: Design, implement, and manage scalable, resilient, and secure system architectures to support data governance tools and 'policy as code' frameworks in accordance with DoW standards.
• DevSecOps & Automation: Manage the GitLab environment, integrating security best practices and automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to facilitate the rapid and secure development, testing, and deployment of data policies.
• Development Support: Collaborate closely with the development team to troubleshoot issues, optimize workflows, and provide the necessary infrastructure and tooling support throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Policy as Code Implementation: Engineer and maintain systems that allow data governance policies to be written, tested, and enforced as code, enhancing automation and ensuring continuous compliance.
• Infrastructure Management: Provision, configure, and maintain the underlying infrastructure in classified and unclassified DoW cloud environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government) and on-premise systems.
• Security & Compliance: Ensure systems and configurations comply with DoW security requirements, including the application of Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and adherence to Risk Management Framework (RMF) controls.
• Monitoring & Performance: Implement monitoring and alerting solutions to ensure the high availability, performance, and security posture of the systems.
• Documentation: Create and maintain clear, comprehensive documentation for system architecture, configurations, and security processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with an active Secret security clearance and the ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Proven experience as a Systems Engineer, DevOps/DevSecOps Engineer, or in a similar role within a DoW or Intelligence Community (IC) environment.
• Strong, hands-on experience with GitLab, including setting up and managing CI/CD pipelines in a hardened or regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience with 'Policy as Code' (PaC) concepts and related tools (e.g., Open Policy Agent).
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Solid understanding of containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or Ansible.
• Must meet DoW 8570/8140 IAT Level II requirements (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:
• An active Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Hands-on experience with DoW-accredited cloud environments like AWS GovCloud or Azure Government at Impact Levels 5/6.
• Familiarity with the DoW Data Strategy, DoW Directives concerning data management, and NIST publications (e.g., 800-53).
• Experience with DevSecOps scanning tools (e.g., SonarQube, Fortify, Twistlock) within a CI/CD pipeline.
• Knowledge of deploying and managing applications on Kubernetes in a DoW environment (e.g., Platform One's Big Bang).
• GitLab or other relevant DevOps/Cloud certifications are a plus.

Our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The company is an equal opportunity employer. The company shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity (e