Senior Systems Engineer

At ValidaTek, we modernize and optimize IT services to solve some of the most critical challenges facing federal civilian and defense agencies. From customers to partners to top-talent employees, ValidaTek puts people first, empowering them to exceed expectations and transform government organizations. Our success starts and ends with our people, so we built a company where great people can do great things, with the resources and autonomy to make decisions that transform organizations. We operate as one team of diverse people, united by a passion for continuous growth and optimization. Our commitment to quality and performance optimization is the reason why our IT Service Projects and New Development Projects have been appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 5, positioning us as one of a handful of elite companies to receive the highest form of third-party validation.

Summary
The Senior Systems Engineer – Team Lead serves as the technical lead responsible for the architecture, implementation, and sustainment of enterprise server and systems infrastructure supporting mission-critical operations. This role requires strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills to oversee system performance, guide engineering staff, and ensure alignment with Government technical requirements and operational objectives.

The Senior Systems Engineer – Team Lead works closely with cross-functional teams—including network engineers, cloud architects, vendors, and data center personnel—to deliver secure, efficient, and reliable system solutions that support both current and future mission needs.

Responsibilities
Systems Engineering & Operations

• Design, configure, and implement operational server systems, prototypes, and environments according to engineering data and Government requirements.
• Prioritize and manage multiple system outages, upgrades, and projects while ensuring service continuity and minimal downtime.
• Oversee the troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair of complex system infrastructure issues, including performance degradation, configuration errors, and hardware/software failures.
• Conduct root cause analysis for recurring issues and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Ensure systems meet security, compliance, and configuration baselines in accordance with Government standards.

Technical Leadership & Team Oversight

• Lead a team of Systems Engineers and Administrators, providing technical direction, task prioritization, and mentorship.
• Develop and maintain system engineering standards, documentation, and configuration management procedures.
• Coordinate with project management and leadership to align system initiatives with broader program goals.
• Provide escalation-level support and ensure high levels of customer and mission satisfaction.

Collaboration & Problem Resolution

• Collaborate with Network Engineers, Systems Engineers, Cloud Engineers, vendors, and data center personnel to identify, define, and resolve trending or developmental technical problems.
• Work closely with Data Center Engineering teams to communicate, coordinate, and resolve system-related issues across multiple data center locations.
• Participate in technical working groups and change control processes to ensure all systems-related changes are properly reviewed and implemented.

Cloud & Virtualization Engineering

• Support cloud engineering initiatives and migration strategies for transitioning on-premise systems to cloud or hybrid environments.
• Design and maintain virtualized environments (VMware, Hyper-V, or similar platforms) to improve scalability and operational efficiency.
• Integrate cloud-based infrastructure with on-prem systems to ensure seamless interoperability and performance.

System Performance & Optimization

• Evaluate system architecture, configurations, and protocols to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Implement performance monitoring and capacity planning tools to proactively address resource utilization and potential bottlenecks.
• Conduct regular system health checks, patch management, and security hardening activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of detailed technical experience in systems engineering.

• Demonstrated experience in:

• Prioritizing and resolving system outages, projects, and operational tasks.

• Designing, configuring, and implementing enterprise server systems and prototypes.
• Maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing systems infrastructure.
• Collaborating across technical teams and vendor partners to resolve complex issues.
• Supporting and executing cloud engineering and migration strategies.

• Coordinating with data center engineering teams to ensure successful deployment and maintenance of system resources.

• Strong understanding of systems principles, protocols, and architecture to evaluate and ensure optimal performance.

• Experience with enterprise OS environments (Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or similar).
• Must be able to pass the DHS law enforcement background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator / Solutions Architect, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, CompTIA Server+, or Linux+.
• Experience supporting DHS, DISA, or similar federal data center environments.
• Familiarity with ITIL, DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF), and NIST compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and manage mission-critical infrastructure projects.

Salary Disclosure
Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, geographic location, contract affordability, internal equity, education, and certifications.

The upper end of the salary range may be reserved for individuals who have demonstrated tenure with the company, seniority, and proven excellent performance. This includes factors such as education, certifications, and extensive/unique experience beyond what is required.

EEO Statement
ValidaTek is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Applicants who are selected for employment will be required to verify authorization to work in the United States.

Offers of employment will be contingent upon passing a post-offer background check.