Senior Systems Engineer

Location: Charleston, SC

REQ: 026_018

Forge Forward is searching for a Senior Systems Engineer to support a client in Charleston, SC. This is on-site position which will require a daily commute to North Charleston. Candidates applying must be a US citizen with a minimum active Secret clearance. Those not meeting both of these requirements cannot be considered.

Responsible for the engineering, hardening, baseline enforcement, and lifecycle management of enterprise Windows, Linux, virtualization, and endpoint management platforms while serving as a technical authority for vulnerability assessment, remediation, and RMF compliance. This is a hands-on, senior-level engineering role requiring extensive experience supporting enterprise IT and C4I systems in secure DoD environments. The candidate must be capable of independently troubleshooting complex system issues, leading vulnerability remediation efforts, and ensuring compliance with DoD, Navy, and DISA cybersecurity requirements.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Engineer, administer, and secure enterprise Windows and RHEL systems
• Maintain and enforce baseline configurations
• Administer and optimize VMware vSphere / ESXi / vCenter environments
• Support VDI infrastructure
• Endpoint & Configuration Management
• Manage Active Directory and Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
• Develop and maintain automation using: PowerShell, Bash / Linux scripting, Ansible
• Serve as subject matter expert for ACAS scanning and analysis
• Lead system-level vulnerability remediation efforts to closure
• Implement and manage endpoint security solutions: Trellix / HBSS / ESS
• Support RMF activities, including control validation, POA&M development, and continuous monitoring
• Ensure compliance with DISA STIGs, DoD policies, and Navy cybersecurity requirements
• Provide limited support for Brocade switches (firmware, baselines)
• Troubleshoot systems in lab and production environments
• Participate in technical reviews, change management, and engineering boards
• Produce and review technical documentation including implementation plans, test results, and technical reports
• Coordinate and knowledge-share within a multi-disciplinary engineering team

Required Skills:

• Seven (7) years of experience with C4I systems with specific focus on systems engineering and cybersecurity support
• Bachelor’s degree in IT or related technical field desired
• CompTIA Security+ certificate
• DoD Cybersecurity Workforce IAT Level II
• Candidates must be a US citizen and hold an active SECRET clearance with a current SSBI/T5 investigation, TS/SCI desired

Desired Skills:

• Experience supporting Navy C4I environments
• VMware, Microsoft, or Linux enterprise certifications
• Experience supporting classified environments with privileged access
• Ability to automate infrastructure provisioning using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or Ansible
• Strong understanding of DevSecOps principles
• Proficiency in scripting and programming languages (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell)
• Experience with CI/CD tools and automation platforms
• Familiarity with containerization and cloud security
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Familiarity with Navy cloud and automation platforms
• Git repository management
• Knowledge of FRCB deployment requirements