Systems Engineer
📍 Job Overview
- Job Title: Systems Engineer
- Company: Agile Defense
- Location: Quantico Base, Virginia, United States
- Job Type: On-site
- Category: Systems Engineer
- Date Posted: 2025-06-11
- Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years)
- Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- Key Responsibilities: Design, implement, and maintain secure, high-availability systems for a federal law enforcement program. This role involves hands-on engineering, integration, deployment, testing, and maintenance of infrastructure and software environments.
- Key Technologies: Systems Engineering, Infrastructure Support, Virtualization, Scripting, Windows Server, SQL Server, Firewalls, Active Directory, DNS, VMware, HyperV, Oracle, Technical Documentation, Security Compliance, Stakeholder Support, Automation
💻 Primary Responsibilities
🛠️ Infrastructure & Systems Engineering
- Design, configure, and maintain infrastructure components including firewalls, switches, Active Directory (AD), and DNS.
- Support and manage virtual environments using VMware, HyperV, or Oracle virtualization technologies.
- Install, configure, upgrade, and migrate Windows Server and SQL Server software.
- Participate in the design and delivery of information and operational support systems.
📝 Scripting & Automation
- Leverage scripting to automate tasks, enhance efficiency, and support system management across the enterprise.
- Write clean, effective scripts using Python, PowerShell, Ruby, Perl, or similar languages.
🔒 Security & Compliance Review
- Ensure system and network designs meet evolving security standards and technical requirements.
- Review and provide recommendations on proposed network and system designs to ensure compliance with security policies.
- Assist in designing secure system configurations when needed.
🤝 Liaison & Stakeholder Support
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor and communication bridge between stakeholders, administrators, and engineering teams.
- Liaise with hardware/software support teams, stakeholders, and end users to support integration and troubleshooting.
- Review deliverables and provide technical feedback and approval recommendations.
- Attend local meetings and relevant conferences as required.
- Prepare and deliver technical briefings and presentations within established deadlines.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
📚 Education
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline)
🕒 Experience
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in systems engineering, including infrastructure and virtualization support
🛠️ Required Skills
- Proven experience with firewalls, switches, Active Directory, and DNS
- Proficiency in virtualization platforms (VMware, HyperV, Oracle)
- Strong background in Windows Server and SQL Server administration
- Demonstrated scripting skills in Python, PowerShell, or equivalent languages
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to provide consultative technical guidance
🏆 Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with Jira implementation
- Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), or VMware Data Center Virtualization
📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements
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Portfolio Essentials:
- Detailed documentation of infrastructure and systems engineering projects, highlighting your role and the technologies used
- Examples of scripting and automation tasks, demonstrating your ability to streamline processes and enhance efficiency
- Case studies showcasing your involvement in security and compliance reviews, with a focus on meeting evolving security standards and technical requirements
- Evidence of successful stakeholder communication and collaboration, including technical briefings and presentations
-
Technical Documentation:
- Well-structured and well-commented code, demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to best practices
- Version control systems and deployment processes, showcasing your ability to manage and maintain software environments
- Testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques, highlighting your commitment to quality and continuous improvement
💵 Compensation & Benefits
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Salary Range: $90,000 - $120,000 per year (Based on market research for mid-level systems engineers in the Virginia area)
- 📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on industry standards for mid-level systems engineers in the Virginia area. Actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
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Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Generous paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee assistance program
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- Competitive salary and bonus structure
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Working Hours: Full-time, Monday through Friday, with some flexibility for deployment windows, maintenance, and project deadlines
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
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Industry: Agile Defense operates in the defense and national security sector, focusing on adaptive innovation and mission-critical support.
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Company Size: Medium-sized, with a dynamic Project Management Office (PMO) environment
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Founded: 2007, with a strong focus on agility, innovation, and continuous improvement
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Team Structure:
- A dedicated and collaborative team of systems engineers, working closely with hardware/software support teams, stakeholders, and end users
- A flat reporting structure, encouraging open communication and cross-functional collaboration
- A strong emphasis on technical mentoring, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning
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Development Methodology:
- Agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban, to support iterative development and rapid response to changing requirements
- A focus on code review, testing, and quality assurance practices to ensure high-quality deliverables
- CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to streamline software delivery and maintenance
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Company Website: Agile Defense
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
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Web Technology Career Level: Mid-level Systems Engineer, responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure, high-availability systems for a federal law enforcement program.
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Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Project Manager, working closely with hardware/software support teams, stakeholders, and end users.
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Technical Impact: Plays a critical role in ensuring the availability, performance, and security of mission-critical systems, directly enabling national criminal justice operations.
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Growth Opportunities:
- Technical Growth: Expand expertise in emerging technologies, scripting languages, and cloud-based infrastructure solutions.
- Leadership Development: Develop technical leadership skills through mentoring, team management, and architecture decision-making.
- Career Progression: Transition into senior systems engineering roles, technical project management, or specialized technical domains within the organization.
🌐 Work Environment
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Office Type: On-site, with a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster team interaction and knowledge sharing.
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Office Location(s): Quantico Base, Virginia, United States
- 📝 Enhancement Note: Quantico Base is a U.S. Marine Corps installation, offering a secure and well-equipped work environment for federal law enforcement professionals.
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Workspace Context:
- Access to cutting-edge hardware, software, and testing tools to support systems engineering tasks
- Multiple monitors and virtualization platforms to facilitate efficient workflow and multitasking
- A dedicated and collaborative team environment, encouraging open communication and knowledge sharing
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Work Schedule: Full-time, with some flexibility for deployment windows, maintenance, and project deadlines
- 📝 Enhancement Note: The work schedule may vary depending on project requirements and mission-critical needs.
🛠️️ Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure
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Infrastructure & Systems Engineering Tools:
- VMware, HyperV, and Oracle virtualization platforms
- Windows Server and SQL Server administration
- Firewall, switch, Active Directory (AD), and DNS management
- Scripting languages such as Python, PowerShell, Ruby, and Perl
- Version control systems, deployment processes, and CI/CD pipelines
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Security & Compliance Tools:
- Security information and event management (SIEM) systems
- Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
- Network access control (NAC) and identity and access management (IAM) solutions
- Public key infrastructure (PKI) and certificate management systems
👥 Team Culture & Values
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Web Development Values:
- Happy: Foster a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction drive success.
- Helpful: Encourage a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
- Honest: Uphold transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential for complex domains and mission-critical support.
- Humble: Promote a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication and a willingness to learn from one another.
- Hungry: Drive an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling the team forward in the face of new challenges.
- Hustle: Reflect a relentless work ethic, committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.
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Collaboration Style:
- A strong emphasis on cross-functional integration between systems engineers, hardware/software support teams, stakeholders, and end users
- Code review culture and peer programming practices to ensure high-quality deliverables and knowledge sharing
- Technical mentoring and knowledge sharing to support continuous learning and professional development
⚡️ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
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Technical Challenges:
- Design and implement secure, high-availability systems for a federal law enforcement program, supporting national criminal justice operations
- Manage and maintain virtual environments, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security
- Script and automate tasks to enhance efficiency and support system management across the enterprise
- Ensure system and network designs meet evolving security standards and technical requirements
-
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Expand expertise in emerging technologies, scripting languages, and cloud-based infrastructure solutions
- Develop technical leadership skills through mentoring, team management, and architecture decision-making
- Transition into senior systems engineering roles, technical project management, or specialized technical domains within the organization
💡 Interview Preparation
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Technical Questions:
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of systems engineering fundamentals, including infrastructure support, virtualization, and scripting
- Showcase expertise in Windows Server and SQL Server administration, with a focus on performance optimization and security best practices
- Discuss experience with firewalls, switches, Active Directory, and DNS, highlighting your ability to design, configure, and maintain secure, high-availability systems
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Company & Culture Questions:
- Research Agile Defense's mission, values, and commitment to adaptive innovation and mission-critical support
- Prepare questions about the company's culture, team dynamics, and growth opportunities for systems engineers
- Show enthusiasm for the role and the company, emphasizing your fit with the Agile Defense team and values
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Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Highlight your involvement in infrastructure and systems engineering projects, demonstrating your ability to design, implement, and maintain secure, high-availability systems
- Showcase your scripting and automation skills, emphasizing your ability to enhance efficiency and support system management
- Include examples of security and compliance reviews, demonstrating your commitment to meeting evolving security standards and technical requirements
- Share evidence of successful stakeholder communication and collaboration, including technical briefings and presentations
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Systems Engineer position at Agile Defense:
- Submit your application through the application link provided in the job listing.
- Customize your resume, highlighting your systems engineering experience, relevant skills, and portfolio projects that demonstrate your qualifications for the role.
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your systems engineering projects, scripting and automation tasks, security and compliance reviews, and stakeholder communication examples.
- Research Agile Defense's mission, values, and culture, and prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview process.
- Practice technical interview questions and prepare for a hands-on assessment of your systems engineering skills and knowledge.
📝 Enhancement Note: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Agile Defense before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of experience in systems engineering, particularly in infrastructure and virtualization support. Experience with firewalls, switches, Active Directory, and scripting languages is also required.