Azure Cloud Engineer (Clearance Required)

Connsci is seeking an Azure Cloud Engineer to provide support for one of our federal customers. This individual will provide network and systems engineering and administration for multiple cloud-based environments in Microsoft Azure Government Cloud and Microsoft 365 (M365) in GCC High tenants.

Responsibilities:

• Troubleshoot, triage, escalate, and assist users with issues related to hybrid network infrastructure consisting of virtual machines (VMs), servers, endpoints, appliances, and services that may be connected and/or hosted in on-premises and remote locations by the agency and partner providers.
• Build, configure, deploy, secure, and administer cloud system resources, servers, and other multi-user devices to support virtual machines, storage, network, and other off-premises and cloud resources.
• Design scalable infrastructure for IT projects to meet specified business needs, including planning and scheduling deployments and incorporating cloud optimization to improve efficiency and save on costs.
• Devise and implement technical solutions to suit each situation; recommends the institution of processes and technologies necessary to meet changing office requirements and improve the quality and efficiency of work products.
• Assess traffic flow between internal and external networks to determine the necessary firewall rules and forward/reverse proxy exceptions to establish connections successfully.
• Create new automated jobs and scripts to streamline routine system tasks, including Command Line interfaces, PowerShell/Bash, or experience with CI/CD pipelines to automate the deployment of code.
• Monitor consumption, identify inefficiencies in cloud-based systems and resources, and suggest improvements to reduce costs and maximize taxpayer value. This may include request fulfillment improvement, application performance, and systems security posture.
• Administer and manage cloud-based applications and services such as Microsoft 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
• Perform routine system maintenance, including operating system upgrades, resizing VM resources, and security patching on Azure VMs and servers.
• Assist system owners in other divisions and offices in triaging issues and escalating tickets as required.
• Develop, maintain, and debug current custom IT solutions and program code when needed.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation regarding network and system design and governance.
• Creating and modifying domain objects, groups, and policies in Active Directory and Group Policy Management.
• Perform analysis on emerging application enhancements as a benefit to the business models.
• Provide input and best practice recommendations to current and future policies and procedures as needed or requested.
• Conduct internal technical reviews to improve performance, support, and technical enhancements.
• Work assigned service tickets and tasks IAW the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL).
• Develop standard operating procedures, knowledge base articles, technical bulletins, and other documents supporting the IT Division.
• Provide required certifications and resume for review and validation.
• Demonstrate leadership and can work without supervision.

Basic Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience as a cloud engineer supporting cloud infrastructure and applications to include experience working with Active Directory and Microsoft Azure
• Current CompTIA Security+ or Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator certification
• Minimum Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field from a US Department of Education accredited University. Extensive and relevant experience may be considered as a substitute for education.

Preferred Skillsets/Knowledge areas:

• PowerShell/Bash
• DNS
• DHCP
• Group Policy Management
• DevOps methodology and tools such as Azure DevOps, Git, Docker, Kubernetes, etc.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC), including provisioning template development and maintenance.
• Server/Desktop Virtualization
• Network-Attached Storage (NAS) protocols
• Linux OS
• Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication

Location: This role requires onsite presence during an initial ramp up period (usually 60 days) and then allows for primarily remote work. However, occasional onsite attendance may still be required for meetings, coordination activities, and other Government-directed work. The office location is in Washington, DC and is Metro and rail accessible.

• Collaboration and Innovation: Work in an environment where collaboration and innovation are key. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that make a real difference for our clients.
• Professional Growth: Be part of a team that values professional development. We offer opportunities for growth and advancement, allowing you to enhance your skills and career.
• Impactful Work: Engage in meaningful work that addresses mission-critical issues and supports organizations in achieving their goals.