By Light Professional IT Services LLC readies warfighters and federal agencies with technology and systems engineered to connect, protect, and prepare individuals and teams for whatever comes next. Headquartered in McLean, VA, By Light supports defense, civilian, and commercial IT customers worldwide. 

Cole Engineering Services (CESI), a By Light company, is recognized as a premier provider of modeling and simulation (M&S) training solutions to the Federal Government and industry. Since 2004, CESI has been at the forefront of developing, maintaining, and integrating simulation-based training, serious gaming, technical services, training and other support in live, virtual, constructive, and gaming (LVCG) domains.  CESI also designs, builds and runs infrastructure, platforms, applications and processes that enable cyber training for the integrated multi-domain force. Our vision is to become a worldwide full spectrum LVCG and cyber training/analysis developer, integrator and services provider.

CESI is seeking motivated technical candidates to support the management of a cutting-edge virtual private cloud environment in support of the US Department of Defense. The candidate will provide critical management of user credentials, provide help desk support to stakeholders, ensure software development teams have appropriate system resources, perform patching, manage system backups, and support critical DevSecOps functions, such as the install of cybersecurity controls and other related duties as assigned. 

• The candidate will ensure that authorized users have system accounts and the ability to access the appropriate system resources, specifically utilizing Red Hat IdM and Keycloack SSO products.
• Manage a virtualization environment based on VMWare ESXI, vSphere and vCenter.
• Manage an operating system and core application environment based on Kubernetes.
• Provides help desk support to internal and external users.
• Candidate must have an ability to rapidly triage user issues and resolve issues directly or when necessary, seek the appropriate engineering support to come to a resolution.  

• Demonstrated experience with the administration of software systems within virtual machine and container-based cloud infrastructure. Competence with Virtual Machines, containers, and Red Hat Linux technologies. 
• Environment is primarily built with Linux, VMware, Kubernetes and Red Hat suite of enterprise products.
• Familiarity with computing hardware infrastructure tasks, such as iDRAC patches, troubleshooting servers, UPS maintenance, etc.
• Basic familiarity with managing physical networking hardware and understanding network protocols (e.g. login and configuration of network switches).
• Experience managing and troubleshooting networked storage systems.
• Experience with private and hybrid cloud design/operation/monitoring/deployment:
  • VMware vCenter and ESXi, generally maintained at the most current version.
• Analyzes real world problems and implements solutions according to corporate guidelines and procedures, and industry best practices. 
• Provides professional-level IT, virtual environment, and network support functions.
• Must be a self-starter in a fast-paced environment and able to work with/manage a range of engineers holding a diverse set of skills at differing levels of experience.
• Be sensitive and flexible to the needs and requirements of the customer.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are a must due to the high-level of user interaction.
• Ability to function effectively within a team environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as information technology, computer science, systems or software engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 2+ years applicable systems administrator experience solving complex technical challenges.
• IAT Level II or greater. Security+, CISSP or other equivalent certification.

• Expertise with offensive and/or defensive cyber training. 
• Ability to configuration manage, version control, and backup various scripts and work products created to execute and maintain the environment.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
• Interact with vendors/users/customers and developers to understand needs and operational requirements changes that will impact development and testing activities, examine any relevant change implementation, then report the changes to developers and testers welcoming feedback for future improvements.
• Ability to solve technical problems involving a variety of integrated software and hardware platforms.

Please note that pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires U. S. Citizenship status and a SECRET security clearance.