Cloud Engineer

SAIC is seeking an experienced Cloud Engineer to join our Department of the Air Force Integrated Fires Command and Control (DIFC2) Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) Team.  This position will be responsible for architecting, implementing, and maintaining cloud solutions to support customer-specific mission needs.  The Cloud Engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable, and efficient cloud platforms that enable critical operations in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.  This role requires technical expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), a strong problem-solving mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams to meet operational and project-driven objectives.

This position is ONSITE in Reston, VA.

 Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deploy cloud-based solutions in support of customer-specific applications.
• Develop and implement cloud migration strategies, including lift-and-shift, hybrid, and re-platforming approaches.
• Ensure architectural alignment with enterprise goals and security policies.
• Configure and manage virtual machines, serverless architecture, containers, and storage within hybrid environments.
• Automate cloud infrastructure provisioning and configuration through Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, Ansible).
• Monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot performance, cost, and security concerns in cloud assets.
• Design solutions with a focus on security (zero-trust, encryption, IAM) and compliance with customer and industry standards (e.g., FedRAMP, NIST, DoD requirements).
• Manage identity and access management (IAM) controls, role-based policies, and threat detection tools.
• Perform vulnerability and patch management for cloud resources.
• Coordinate with internal DevOps, software engineers, and mission stakeholders to meet technical and operational challenges.
• Provide ongoing system documentation, knowledge transfer, and training to ensure smooth cloud adoption.
• Deliver technical advice and best practices to customers to ensure mission success in cloud modernization efforts.
• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of cloud-native application architectures.
• Manage containerized workloads using tools such as Kubernetes, Docker, or OpenShift.

Required Skills/Experience

• Active TS/SCI or SCI eligible.    
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience. Years of experience are accepted in lieu of a degree. 
• 9+ years relevant cloud engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP cloud services and tools.
• Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools and methods (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible).
• Experience with networking principles, monitoring/configuration management, and cloud security policies and tools.
• Strong expertise in Linux and/or Windows system administration in conjunction with cloud platforms.
• Knowledge and implementation of CI/CD best practices using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions.
• Knowledge of Agile software development and tools such as JIRA.

Desired Skills/Experience

• Industry-specific certifications, such as:
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate or Professional).
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
  • Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect.
  • CISSP, CCSP, or Security+ for cloud security knowledge.
• Experience in cloud-cost governance and optimization strategies (e.g., AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management).
• Familiarity with serverless frameworks, microservices design, or large-scale analytics platforms.
• Experience integrating cloud systems with enterprise services, such as Active Directory, hybrid data platforms, or high-performance computing.
• Hands-on experience with container orchestration tools (Kubernetes, Docker/OCI, Rancher EKS, AKS).
• Experience deploying mission applications or capability bundles into cloud-based environments.