Senior DevOps Engineer/Technical Lead (Active Secret Clearance required) - NorthHill Technology : Job Details

DEVOPS/TECH LEADPosition OverviewWe are seeking a highly skilled Senior DevOps Engineer/Technical Lead to serve as our on-site technical authority for the USAF SBIR Phase II contract in Montgomery, Alabama. This critical role requires a security-cleared professional to work directly with USAF stakeholders while leading technical implementation and coordinating remote engineering teams. You will eliminate AR middleman delays, provide hands-on technical leadership, and ensure successful integration with the USAF Eagle Eye CI/CD pipeline.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & On-Site Authority

• Serve as primary technical point of contact with USAF leadership.
• Lead hands-on technical implementation in USAF environment with direct deployment access and infrastructure control.
• Coordinate remote Lineaje engineering team and Metro State University developers for integrated project delivery.
• Provide technical troubleshooting and immediate issue resolution for mission-critical USAF systems
• Ensure Eagle Eye CI/CD pipeline integration success with comprehensive testing and validation
• Eliminate AR middleman delays through direct technical authority and deployment capabilities

AWS GovCloud & Infrastructure Management

• Architect and manage secure AWS GovCloud environments compliant with FISMA High and IL-5/IL-6 requirements
• Optimize container orchestration using AWS ECS, EKS, and ECR for USAF containerized workloads
• Manage AWS CloudFormation deployments with infrastructure as code best practices for government environments
• Support OpenSearch (Elasticsearch) for log aggregation, search performance optimization, and security analytics
• Configure and maintain IAM, VPC, load balancers (ELB/ALB), and API Gateway for secure government operations
• Implement cloud security controls including KMS encryption, CloudTrail auditing, and GuardDuty threat detection

Container Security & Supply Chain Integration

• Lead container remediation implementation with auto-healing software supply chain features
• Integrate with Gold Open Source pre-vetted containers and USAF-approved base images
• Develop runtime tamper detection and integrity verification systems for containerized applications
• Implement SBOM 360 integration with existing Lineaje platform capabilities for vulnerability management
• Support microservices architecture optimization for Java/Python/React/Go technology stack
• Ensure container security scanning and vulnerability remediation workflows

Government Compliance & Security Operations

• Maintain DoD STIG compliance and RMF processes for all system configurations and deployments
• Ensure FISMA High controls implementation with continuous monitoring and audit readiness
• Manage SAML/OIDC authentication integration with Keycloak IDP for secure user access
• Coordinate security reviews and vulnerability assessments with USAF cybersecurity teams
• Document compliance procedures and maintain audit trails for government accountability requirements
• Support FedRAMP compliance activities and federal security framework adherence

Team Coordination & Project Management

• Manage distributed engineering team including remote Lineaje developers and Metro State University students
• Coordinate with Project Manager for milestone delivery and stakeholder communication
• Provide technical mentorship to university developers and junior team members
• Facilitate technical reviews and architecture decisions across multiple development teams
• Ensure quality standards and code review processes for all project deliverables
• Support agile development processes with sprint planning and cross-functional collaboration

CI/CD Pipeline & DevOps Leadership

• Optimize Eagle Eye integration with existing USAF CI/CD infrastructure and financial system components
• Implement secure deployment pipelines with automated testing, security scanning, and compliance validation
• Manage infrastructure automation using CloudFormation, Terraform, and configuration management tools
• Support continuous integration workflows with Jenkins, GitLab CI, or government-approved CI/CD platforms
• Ensure deployment security with secrets management, access controls, and change management processes
• Monitor system performance and implement automated alerting for operational excellence

Required QualificationsSecurity Clearance & Citizenship

• U.S. Citizen with active DoD Secret clearance (Top Secret preferred)

Professional Experience

• 7+ years of DevOps/Cloud engineering experience with 3+ years in federal or DoD environments
• Technical leadership experience managing distributed teams and complex government projects
• Hands-on USAF or DoD environment experience with military IT systems and compliance requirements
• Production system support in FedRAMP, FISMA High, or IL-5/IL-6 classified environments

Core Technical Skills

• Advanced AWS expertise with comprehensive knowledge of:
  • ECS, EKS, ECR for container orchestration and management
  • CloudFormation/Terraform for infrastructure as code and automation
  • IAM, VPC, security groups for identity management and network security
  • OpenSearch/Elasticsearch for log analytics and search optimization
  • ELB/ALB, API Gateway for load balancing and API management
• Container security expertise with Docker, Kubernetes, and microservices architecture
• Programming proficiency in Java and Python for application support and automation scripting
• CI/CD pipeline mastery with Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar enterprise-grade platforms

Government & Compliance Expertise

• Deep understanding of DoD STIGs and security technical implementation guides
• RMF (Risk Management Framework) process experience with ATO/IATT procedures
• FISMA compliance implementation with NIST 800-53 controls and continuous monitoring
• Authentication systems expertise with SAML, OIDC, and Keycloak identity provider configuration
• Federal compliance frameworks experience with FedRAMP, NIST CSF, and government audit processes

Leadership & Communication Skills

• Technical team leadership with experience managing remote and on-site development teams
• Stakeholder management with ability to communicate technical concepts to government leadership
• Problem-solving expertise with rapid issue resolution and crisis management capabilities
• Documentation skills for government compliance and technical procedure documentation
• Mentorship abilities for developing junior engineers and university student developers

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSAdvanced Certifications

• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional level preferred
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional or Associate level
• Security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or government-specific security credentials
• Project management certifications (PMP, Agile/Scrum Master) for team coordination

Specialized Experience

• USAF-specific systems experience with Eagle Eye or similar military financial systems
• Container security platforms experience with commercial or government container scanning solutions
• SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) implementation with CycloneDX, SPDX, or similar standards
• AI/ML platform operations supporting machine learning workloads in government environments
• Multi-cloud experience with Azure Government or other government cloud platforms

Government Contract Experience

• SBIR/STTR project experience with milestone-driven government contract delivery
• Government customer management with direct interaction with military and civilian leadership
• Compliance audit experience supporting government inspections and security assessments
• Clearance upgrade eligibility for Top Secret or higher classifications

PROJECT IMPACT & MISSIONNational Security Contribution

• Critical infrastructure protection for USAF system security
• AI-driven cybersecurity advancement with autonomous vulnerability remediation capabilities
• Government AI innovation leadership in compliant artificial intelligence for classified environments
• Supply chain security enhancement for software component integrity and threat mitigation

Career Development Opportunity

• Technical leadership role with visibility to executive leadership and government stakeholders
• Cutting-edge technology integration with AI/ML, container security, and government cloud platforms
• Government contracting expertise development for long-term career growth in federal sector
• Industry recognition for contributions to government cybersecurity and AI innovation

Team & Culture

• Mission-driven work contributing directly to national security and military readiness
• Collaborative environment with distributed team coordination and mentorship opportunities
• Innovation focus with freedom to implement best practices and drive technical excellence
• Professional growth with clear advancement paths and leadership development support