Good Morning, Network!
Today is Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024. I’m excited to share my first article focusing on federal news and new job opportunities in the area.
My name is Jake Biggs, and I am a Government Services Recruiter with Teksystems. I specialize in the DoD and Cleared IT space, working primarily on positions that require security clearances or public trusts with various government agencies.
I am eager to navigate this evolving technological landscape and aim to use this platform to promote new job opportunities and share news that I find interesting or important for professionals in this field.
Stay tuned for updates and feel free to reach out with any questions or opportunities you’d like to discuss!
Exciting News for Federal Contractors!
The Army is fast-tracking a massive new ID/IQ contract to revolutionize its software procurement and development processes. Just months after announcing the initiative, the Army has already issued a request for information and two draft RFPs.
- Oct. 11: Latest draft RFP issued
- This Friday: Deadline for comments
- Nov. 7: Industry day before final RFP
This rapid timeline is unprecedented for large federal ID/IQ contracts, which typically take years to plan and award. Danielle Moyer, leading the Army’s Digital Capabilities Contracting Center of Excellence, emphasized the urgency and efficiency driving this project.
The estimated $10 billion, 10-year contract will initially include 15-20 vendors competing for task orders, with frequent opportunities for new vendors to join. The focus will be on agile software development, not purely commercial off-the-shelf software.
- Vendors without prior government experience are welcome.
- No facility security clearances required.
- Labor rates and other specifics will be decided at the task order level.
The Army aims to streamline the process, reducing paperwork and focusing on real-world technical challenges to evaluate vendors. This approach ensures that only the most capable and agile companies will be selected.
Federal Union Officials Urge Labor Department to Reconsider Return-to-Office Mandate
Federal union officials are calling on the Labor Department to revisit its recent return-to-office announcement, which impacts thousands of employees. Acting Secretary Julie Su announced that most bargaining unit employees must report onsite at least five days per pay period starting December 1. This decision follows nearly a year of negotiations with the National Council of Field Labor Locals (NCFLL).
Su acknowledged the potential impact on work-life balance but emphasized that “onsite” work includes fieldwork, such as OSHA inspections. The new policy does not apply to employees in the National Union of Labor Investigators or the inspector general’s office, who have already been working onsite.
NCFLL President Daryl Laurie expressed disappointment, stating that negotiations are not complete and that the union’s proposals should be considered before implementation. Laurie advocates for flexible telework arrangements tailored to individual roles and responsibilities, rather than a blanket requirement.
The union is seeking congressional support and considering actions with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to address the issue. Laurie emphasized the need for a more nuanced approach, reflecting the diverse nature of the department’s work.
The following positions are available in the DMV area for Public Trust and Cleared Individuals:
- Experience with multi-cloud environments, with a focus on AWS.
- Proficiency in Azure, Jenkins, Ansible, Terraform, AWS platform development, Python, PowerShell, SQL (Azure/MS/MYSQL), and other development tools.
Secondary Skills - Nice to Haves:
Job Description: The Team specializes in rapid recovery from ransomware attacks, working with DFIR firms, breach counsel, and cyber insurance to restore operations swiftly. Our team of IT and cybersecurity specialists uses advanced playbooks and custom-built equipment to ensure your infrastructure is resilient and operational in record time.
- AWS (IAM/EC2/Lambda/ECS/DynamoDB/RDS/S3/EBS)
- REST APIs/GraphQL/SQL/Containers
- Advanced Python or Go
- Serverless Architecture Experience
- CICD - IaC (Terraform/CFT), Jenkins
- Automated Testing (ATDDs)
- Observability tools (Splunk/New Relic) and troubleshooting (CloudTrail/Cloudwatch)
- Design and implement cloud and hybrid architectures.
- Develop solutions using Azure AI Services, OpenAI API, Python, Microsoft Graph API, Flask, and Docker.
- Conduct security audits and develop remediation strategies.
- Utilize Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) for efficient recovery and cloud failover.
- Create automated workflows in PowerShell for incident response.
- Lead ransomware recovery projects and ensure business continuity.
- Collaborate with clients on cybersecurity frameworks and security audits.
Senior Systems Architect -
- 10+ years of experience in cloud architectures, systems engineering, and cybersecurity within highly regulated environments.
- Proven track record of leading complex IT infrastructure projects, enhancing system efficiencies, and securing enterprise data.
- Expertise in Azure and AWS platforms, focusing on scalable cloud solutions and rigorous security frameworks.
- Ability to drive innovations in IT operations, reduce costs, and mentor engineering teams.
Job Description: This Team specializes in rapid recovery from ransomware attacks, working with DFIR firms, breach counsel, and cyber insurance to restore operations swiftly. Our elite team of IT and cybersecurity specialists uses advanced playbooks and custom-built equipment to ensure your infrastructure is resilient and operational in record time.
- Design and implement cloud and hybrid architectures.
- Develop solutions using Azure AI Services, OpenAI API, Python, Microsoft Graph API, Flask, and Docker.
- Conduct security audits and develop remediation strategies.
- Utilize Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) for efficient recovery and cloud failover.
- Create automated workflows in PowerShell for incident response.
- Lead ransomware recovery projects, ensuring business continuity.
- Collaborate with clients on cybersecurity frameworks and security audits.
Position: Security Engineer ‐ Lead
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: CISSP, CISE (preferred)
- Experience: 12 years
- Skills: Symantec Anti-Virus Software: Administer, deploy, manage, troubleshoot Network Security Tools: IDS/IPS, firewalls, SIEM IPv6 Network Architectures: Design, implement, maintain
- Preferred Skills: IPv4/IPv6 Topologies, Cybersecurity Best Practices, Regulatory Requirements
Position: Audit Remediation Project Manager
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
- Certifications: CISA, CISSP, GSNA, CRICS (preferred)
- Experience: 8 years
- Skills: FISMA Compliance: Ensure adherence to standards FISMA Audits: Conduct and respond Compliance Testing: Align with FISMA, NIST
- Preferred Skills: FedRAMP-Hybrid Environment, ATO Package Compilation, POA&M Management
Position: Cyber Security Engineer Senior
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: CyberArk Sentry (required)
- Experience: 15 years (varies with degree level)
- Skills: CyberArk: Design, implement, manage Server Administration: Windows Server 2019, RHEL 8 Business Solutions Engineering: Design, proof of concept, pilots
- Preferred Skills: CyberArk/SailPoint Integration, Active Directory, Database Management, CyberArk Configuration
Position: Cyber Security Engineer SME
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: CyberArk Sentry (required)
- Experience: 18 years (varies with degree level)
- Skills: CyberArk: Design, implement, manage Server Administration: Windows Server 2019, RHEL 8 Business Solutions Engineering: Design, proof of concept, pilots CyberArk Design Architect: Disaster recovery, high availability
- Preferred Skills: CyberArk/SailPoint Integration, Active Directory, Database Management, CyberArk Configuration
Position: Mid Systems Engineer, ILM (SailPoint)
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: SailPoint Certified IdentityIQ Engineer (required)
- Experience: 15 years (varies with degree level)
- Skills: SailPoint: Design and implement integrated lifecycle management processes, manage and safeguard identity solutions System Administration: Manage SailPoint, including integration and configuration with Active Directory and HR systems Business Solutions Engineering: Provide architectural design, proof of concept development, pilots, analysis, results, and documentation
- Preferred Skills: CyberArk Integration, SailPoint Connectors, Active Directory, Database Management
Position: Server Engineer
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Shift: Once every 2-3 months, support existing server infrastructure in a 24x7 on-call escalation capacity as part of a team rotation
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) - Server Infrastructure or equivalent (required)
- Experience: 10 years
- Skills: Windows Server Infrastructure: Manage day-to-day operations, including Active Directory and SQL Server oversight Active Directory: Manage Active Directory, Group Policy Objects, registry, and file system security PowerShell: Script automation tasks IPv4 and IPv6: Perform dual-stack implementation and testing, troubleshoot authentication issues with VPN Server Administration: Manage Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022, including failover clustering, file and folder sharing (DFS-R), and print services
- Preferred Skills: Azure, Virtualization, Federal Government Experience, Cloud Integration, Large-Scale Management
Position: Mid Systems Engineer, CyberArk
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: CyberArk Sentry (required)
- Experience: 5 years
- Skills: CyberArk: Design and implement integrated lifecycle management processes, manage and safeguard privileged accounts Server Administration: Manage Windows Server 2019 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 environments Business Solutions Engineering: Provide architectural design, proof of concept development, pilots, analysis, results, and documentation
- Preferred Skills: CyberArk and SailPoint Integration, Active Directory, Database Management, CyberArk Configuration
Position: SailPoint Engineer
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: SailPoint Certified IdentityIQ Engineer (required)
- Experience: 5 years
- Skills: SailPoint: Design and implement integrated lifecycle management processes, manage and safeguard identity solutions System Administration: Manage SailPoint, including integration and configuration with Active Directory and HR systems Business Solutions Engineering: Provide architectural design, proof of concept development, pilots, analysis, results, and documentation Integrated Lifecycle Management: Three years of experience in designing and implementing integrated lifecycle management processes within a large enterprise
- Preferred Skills: SailPoint and CyberArk Integration, Connector/Integration Maintenance, Active Directory
Position: Technical Writer - Mid
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: ITIL Foundations v3 or 4, project lifecycle (waterfall/agile) training (preferred)
- Experience: 6 years
- Skills: Writing and Editing: Research, write, and edit materials for reports, manuals, briefs, proposals, instructional material, catalogs, technical publications, and software/hardware documentation Technical Data Collection: Obtain technical data from observation, review with technical staff, and studies of published materials and existing documentation Document Revision: Revise text, recommend changes in scope, format, and content to ensure conformance with established standards
- Preferred Skills: IT Service Management, Office 365 and Visio, Process Improvement, IT Project Lifecycle Documentation
Position: Quality Assurance Specialist - Mid
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: ITIL Foundations v3 or 4, project lifecycle (waterfall/agile) training (preferred)
- Experience: 3 years
- Skills: Quality Assurance and Control: Perform quality assurance and control, establish and maintain a process for evaluating project deliverables and associated documentation SLA Process Development: Provide oversight on SLA process development and verification IT Project Lifecycle: Ensure improvement plans are identified and implemented to resolve performance and SLA issues
- Preferred Skills: IT Service Management, Office 365 and Visio, Process Improvement, IT Project Lifecycle Documentation
Position: Solutions Engineer - Senior (SailPoint Senior Systems Engineer)
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: SailPoint Certified IdentityIQ Engineer (required)
- Experience: 8 years
- Skills: SailPoint: Design and implement integrated lifecycle management processes, manage and safeguard identity solutions System Administration: Manage SailPoint, including integration and configuration with Active Directory and HR systems Business Solutions Engineering: Provide architectural design, proof of concept development, pilots, analysis, results, and documentation Integrated Lifecycle Management: Three years of experience in designing and implementing integrated lifecycle management processes within a large enterprise
- Preferred Skills: SailPoint and CyberArk Integration, Connector/Integration Maintenance, Active Directory, Database Management and Modeling
Position: Network Engineer
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 3 days a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: Any Cisco training and certification (preferred)
- Experience: 3-5 years
- Skills: Cisco ISE: Experience managing and safeguarding privileged accounts Palo Alto Firewall: Manage and configure firewall settings Cisco Firepower VPN: Implement and manage VPN solutions Cisco ACI: Design and manage network infrastructure Cisco DNAC: Utilize DNAC for network management IPv6: Experience with IPv6 implementation and management Cisco Equipment: Manage Cisco routers, switches, and other equipment Firewalls: Configure and manage firewall settings
- Preferred Skills: Network Design and Architecture, Routing Protocols, Virtualization Networking, VoIP Services
Position: Storage Engineer (IPv6 Support)
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site twice a week
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Certifications: EMC Certified Storage Administrator or equivalent (required)
- Experience: 5 years
- Skills: Storage System Configuration and Management: Set up and configure storage systems (SAN, NAS, Direct Attached Storage) Data Backup and Recovery: Implement and manage backup solutions Storage Performance Monitoring: Monitor performance to identify and resolve bottlenecks IPv6 Configuration: Configure storage technologies for IPv6 communication
- Preferred Skills: Storage Solutions Engineering, Storage Capacity Monitoring, Backup and Disaster Recovery
Position: Desk Side Engineer – Mid
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 5 days a week
- Education: High School Diploma
- Certifications: HDI Desktop Support Technician (required within 6 months)
- Experience: 3 years
Position: Desk Side Engineer – Junior
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 5 days a week (10am-7pm shift)
- Education: High School Diploma (or 2 additional years of related experience)
- Certifications: HDI Desktop Support Technician (required within 6 months); A+, Net+, Secure+, ITIL V4 (preferred)
- Experience: 3 years
- Skills: Deployment of customer hardware and software Troubleshooting IT issues and providing problem resolution support Remote and deskside troubleshooting of hardware and software issues Microsoft Windows installation and configuration Knowledge of smart cards/PIV cards, Office 365, VPN, Active Directory, Thin Client Remote tool support and conference room/VTC setups
- Soft Skills: Strong customer service and communication skills Ability to multitask and meet aggressive timelines Ability to work independently and as part of a team Exceptional organization and documentation skills
- Preferred Skills: Familiarity with ServiceNow, imaging machines, and troubleshooting during the imaging process
Position: Desk Side Engineer – Senior
- Location: Ashburn, VA – On-site 5 days a week
- Education: High School Diploma
- Certifications: HDI Desktop Support Technician (required within 6 months)
- Experience: 4 years
Position: IT Support Specialist Senior
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 5 days a week
- Education: High School Diploma
- Certifications: HDI Technical Support Professional or ITILv4 (required within 6 months)
- Experience: 7 years
Position: Principal Cloud Engineer
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 2 days a week
- Certifications: Professional Architect Certification in AWS or Azure (required)
- Experience: 12 years
- Skills: Cloud Architecture Design and Implementation: Design and implement cloud architectures using IaC (CloudFormation, Terraform) DevOps Practices and Tools: Use DevOps tools (GitHub, Jenkins, SonarQube, Artifactory) Kubernetes Management: Manage Kubernetes clusters Troubleshooting and Performance Analysis: Troubleshoot enterprise computing and operating systems (Linux, Windows) Cloud Environment Configuration: Produce IaC or CaC, configure cloud environments for AWS and Azure Azure Focused: Configure Subscriptions, Resource Groups, VNets, Subnets, load balancers, App Services, Azure Batch, Virtual Machines, resource tagging, billing, policy implementation, and security controls AWS Focused: Configure AWS Accounts, IAM Users and Roles, VPCs, subnets, load balancers, Network routes, Transit Gateway, Control Tower, Systems Manager, Config Manager, stack sets, WAF, CloudFront, and Route53
- Preferred Skills: Documenting requirements, user stories, use cases; ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team environment
- Location: Washington DC, HQ – On-site 5 days a week (Shift: M-F 7am – 3:30pm)
- Experience: 5 years
- Skills: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Documentation: Document RCA for incidents, gather and process required information, assign RCA numbers, and update knowledge management repository Incident Management: Escalate issues, manage ITTSM tickets, initiate Critical Incident Management process, and anchor Incident Response Bridge process Early Analysis and Troubleshooting: Perform early analysis, contact POCs, troubleshoot affected Configuration Items (CI) Communication: Generate incident management correspondence, including notifications and follow-ups On-Site Support and Reporting: Provide on-site troubleshooting and repair support, generate and distribute daily and weekly reports
- Preferred Skills: Familiarity with ServiceNow, BMC Remedy
Position: Senior Systems Engineer - Azure Focused
- Building, configuring, patching, and maintaining servers via IaC and Ansible.
- Integrating services like PrinterLogic and Ansible Automation Platform.
- Application packaging, deployments, and documentation using Jira, GitLab, and Ansible.
- Providing Tier 3/4 support and resolving complex issues.
- Researching and deploying security patches.
- Automating tasks through scripting.
- Identifying improvement opportunities and enforcing security best practices.
- Bachelor’s degree with 8-12 years of experience or Master’s degree with 6-10 years.
- Ability to obtain and maintain DoD Secret clearance (US Citizenship required).
- Experience with Windows/Linux servers, Azure Cloud, and networking protocols.
- Hands-on experience with system logs, Entra ID/Active Directory, and IaC.
- Familiarity with Federal security requirements (NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA).
- Strong communication skills and teamwork.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Active DoD Secret clearance.
- Security+ or CISSP certification.
- Experience with IaaS, Azure Virtual Desktop, and complex virtual infrastructures.
- Cloud certifications (Azure, AWS).
I have various positions open as well operating on a hybrid basis out of Fort Meade. They focus mainly on infrastructure and design as opposed to roles that are focused on operations and maintenance. Feel free to reach out if you have a security clearance and are skilled in anything related to Infrastructure!
