AWS Cloud Systems Engineer (Top Secret) with Security Clearance

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Cloud Systems Engineer to support Research & Development for Intelligence customers in Fairfax, VA. The team is seeking an engineer well-versed across AWS services, Linux, and continuous deployment to support the development of critical software from the ground up. Details below: Clearance: Top Secret clearance Location: Fairfax, VA or Denver, CO (100% onsite) This job opens for applications on 7/24/2026 Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date Responsibilities of the Cloud System Engineer: · Design, build, deploy, and maintain cloud-native solutions within AWS environments supporting mission-critical Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Special Communications programs. · Develop, implement, and optimize scalable AWS infrastructure utilizing services such as EC2, VPC, EKS, IAM, Route 53, CloudWatch, S3, and related cloud technologies. · Architect and sustain secure, resilient, and highly available cloud environments that support data collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination capabilities. · Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to solve complex, previously unsolved technical challenges in support of Intelligence Community customers. · Evaluate emerging technologies and determine technical feasibility for innovative R&D initiatives, prototyping solutions from concept through operational deployment. · Deploy, administer, and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters in production and development environments, ensuring scalability, performance, and operational reliability. · Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation solutions to streamline provisioning, configuration management, and system lifecycle management. · Create and maintain scripts using Linux-based scripting languages (Bash, Python, Shell, or similar) to automate operational processes, system monitoring, and deployment workflows. · Administer Linux-based operating systems and services, including system configuration, patching, performance tuning, troubleshooting, and security hardening. · Support cloud migration, modernization, and containerization efforts to improve application portability, maintainability, and operational efficiency. · Monitor system performance, identify operational bottlenecks, and implement proactive solutions to improve system reliability and mission effectiveness. · Research, test, and integrate new technologies to enhance cloud operations, signal intelligence capabilities, and mission support systems. · Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting complex infrastructure, networking, containerization, and cloud architecture issues within highly secure environments. Qualifications of the Cloud System Engineer: · Active Top Secret clearance · Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering (preferred) or relevant degree (CS, Physics, Computer Engineer, Math) required · Minimum of 8 years of cloud engineering experience, 10+ years of experience desired · AWS Cloud Services (EC2, VPC, EKS, S3, IAM, Route 53, CloudWatch, Lambda, and related services) · Experience using Kubernetes orchestration and container technologies · Linux systems administration · Scripting: Bash, Python, Shell, or other Linux-based languages · Cloud-native architecture and microservices · Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar) · Experience supporting Agile development and R&D environments Compensation of the Cloud System Engineer: · Total compensation based on experience level - $120,000 - $180,000+ **based on years of experience and degree level and type** · Competitive Benefits: 8 Weeks PTO, 100% certification/tuition reimbursement, 25% 401k contribution, 25% IBA covering the majority of Medical, Dental, Vision premiums · Long-term, stable work (10+ year programs supporting various Intelligence customers) #LI-MK1 #LI-Onsite Keywords: AWS Cloud, Amazon Web Services, EC2, Elastic Compute Cloud, VPC, Virtual Private Cloud, EKS, Kubernetes, Container Orchestration, Cloud-Native Architecture, Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, CloudFormation, DevOps, DevSecOps, CI/CD Pipelines, Automation, Linux Administration, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu Linux, System Administration, Bash Scripting, Shell Scripting, Python Scripting, Infrastructure Automation, Platform Engineering, Cloud Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Containerization, Docker, Microservices, Cloud Security, AWS Networking, IAM, Identity and Access Management, Route 53, CloudWatch, S3, High Availability, Scalability, Performance Optimization, Systems Integration, Global Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise Architecture, Distributed Systems, Top secret, ts/sci, top secret/sci, Federal, W2, opentowork, hiring, onsite, Fairfax, EC2, S3, Lambda, Linux, Agile Development, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Full-Stack Development, Mission-Critical Systems, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Special Communications, Intelligence Community (IC), Research and Development (R&D), Technical Innovation, Advanced Analytics, Signal Processing, Geolocation Technologies, Cross-Mission Solutions, Cross-Platform Integration, Data Collection, Data Processing, Data Exploitation, Data Dissemination, Prototype Development, Emerging Technologies, Technical Feasibility Analysis, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, Troubleshooting, System Monitoring, Configuration Management, Security Hardening, Cloud Migration, Application Modernization, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, Operational Excellence, Mission Support, Strategic Intelligence, Tactical Intelligence, Secure Computing Environments, Systems Engineering, Network Architecture, Enterprise Solutions, Technology Evaluation, Innovative Solutions, Collaborative Engineering, Customer-Focused Solutions, Critical Information Systems, Resilient Infrastructure, Cloud Operations, Production Support, Technical Leadership, Intelligence Systems, Mission-Driven Engineering, Complex Problem Solving.