Senior AWS Cloud Engineer

Position: Senior AWS Cloud Engineer

Location: Richmond, VA (Hybrid)

Type: Long term contract

Overview

The Senior AWS Cloud Engineer will play a key role in leading the modernization and automation of enterprise cloud services supporting Naval Sea Systems. This role focuses on designing, deploying, securing, and optimizing large-scale AWS (including GovCloud) and Azure environments using Infrastructure as Code and DevSecOps best practices. The engineer will provide technical leadership, drive automation strategy, and mentor junior engineers while ensuring compliance with DoD security and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Architect, deploy, and manage highly available, secure, and scalable cloud environments in AWS (including GovCloud) and Azure.
• Lead design and implementation of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, including reusable modules, versioning, and CI/CD integration.
• Drive automation-first strategies for provisioning, configuration management, patching, monitoring, and compliance.
• Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines for cloud infrastructure and application deployments using GitHub and related DevOps tools.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across cloud, network, OS, and application layers.
• Administer and optimize Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows Server environments, including hardened AMIs and lifecycle management.
• Implement and maintain identity and access management solutions leveraging SAML, SSO, and CAC authentication.
• Ensure environments meet DoD security controls, STIGs, and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with cyber security, networking, and application teams to design secure cloud architectures.
• Participate in and contribute to agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and technical design sessions.
• Create and maintain detailed system architecture diagrams, run books, SOPs, and operational documentation.
• Provide technical leadership, code reviews, and mentoring to junior cloud engineers
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability, performance, and cost optimization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related STEM field OR equivalent professional experience.
• 12+ years of experience with cloud engineering and DevOps roles.
• Extensive hands-on experience with AWS services (EC2, VPC, IAM, S3, RDS, Cloud Watch, ELB, Auto Scaling, etc.).
• Strong experience with Terraform for large-scale enterprise infrastructure deployments
• Advanced experience administering RHEL and/or Windows Server in secure environments.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using Python, Bash, and/or Power Shell.
• Experience integrating identity solutions using SAML/SSO with CAC authentication.
• Solid understanding of networking concepts, including VPNs, subnets, routing, firewalls, and load balancing.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments supporting mission-critical systems.
• Strong documentation, communication, and cross-team collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in secure government-regulated environments and follow compliance processes.

Certifications

• AWS Solutions Architect – Associate or higher OR Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate or higher.
• DoD 8570/8140 Computing Environment certification (e.g., Security+) or ability to obtain.
• Additional AWS Professional or Specialty certifications preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AWS GovCloud and federal compliance frameworks.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, and EKS).
• Familiarity with configuration management tools (Ansible, Chef, or similar).
• Experience with security tooling, vulnerability scanning, and compliance automation.
• Prior experience supporting DoD or federal government cloud programs.