Cloud Engineering Senior Specialist

Important Notice for Applicants:

At Bixal, we want to ensure a transparent and secure application process for all candidates. Official communication will come from an email address ending in @bixal.com or from talent@bixal.com. Messages from other sources may be fraudulent, and you should exercise care to avoid any links or attachments included. If you experience any challenges with your submission, please contact us at talent@bixal.com.  We're here to help!

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About Us:

Bixal is a consulting company based in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Location

This role can work remotely from anywhere in the USA. You must be legally authorized to work in the US. Bixal does not provide visa sponsorship.  

What will you do?  

Bixal is seeking a Cloud Engineering Senior Specialist to support the development and deployment of cloud-based solutions for a project supporting the US Department of State (DOS). This role will work within an Agile DevSecOps environment to implement, optimize, and maintain cloud infrastructure and applications that enhance user experiences in federal services. You will work closely with senior cloud engineers, DevOps specialists, software developers, and security teams to ensure reliable and scalable cloud solutions, and will gain hands-on experience with AWS services, container orchestration, infrastructure as code (IaC), and CI/CD pipelines in a government IT environment. 

This is a full-time position contingent on contract award by our client, with a defined performance period of one year with two one-year option periods. This role offers you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a project that aligns with Bixal’s mission of delivering innovative, human-centered solutions. While the role has a fixed duration, we are committed to transparency and collaboration, keeping you informed about contract updates and new opportunities. At Bixal, we support your professional journey, ensuring your experience reflects our inclusive, purpose-driven culture and prepares you for future success. 

• Assist in deploying, configuring, and maintaining AWS cloud services (EC2, S3, Aurora PostgreSQL, EKS, CloudFront, IAM, etc.). 
• Support Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development using Terraform and Helm. 
• Work with Kubernetes and Docker to deploy containerized applications in a cloud environment. 
• Monitor system performance using AWS CloudWatch and other observability tools. 
• Help implement DevSecOps practices to automate security, compliance, and application monitoring. 
• Support troubleshooting and debugging of cloud infrastructure issues. 
• Work with CI/CD tools (GitLab, ArgoCD, Drone) to ensure smooth application deployment. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve system reliability and scalability. 
• Document cloud configurations and procedures for internal knowledge sharing. 
• Support compliance efforts, including Section 508 accessibility standards and security best practices. 
• Other relevant duties as qualified and trained to perform 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; plus at least four (4) years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience 
• Demonstrated experience in cloud engineering, DevOps, or system administration. 
• Basic understanding of AWS cloud services (EC2, S3, IAM, RDS, CloudFront, etc.). 
• Familiarity with Linux-based systems and shell scripting. 
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation. 
• Working knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, ECS, or EKS). 
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, or Drone). 
• Working experience with DevOps tools and methodologies (e.g., Git, Jenkins, CI/CD pipelines) 
• Experience collaborating with developers on dynamic web application stacks (e.g., LAMP, LEMP, MERN, MEAN, Django) 
• Familiarity with security frameworks (e.g., NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-171, ISO 27001) and industry standards (e.g., CIS Benchmarks) 
• Familiarity with dynamic web application stacks (e.g., LAMP, LEMP, MERN, MEAN, Django) 
• Experience with cloud security tools and services (e.g., AWS Security Hub, Azure Security Center, GCP Security Command Center) 
• Understanding of networking concepts, security best practices, and monitoring tools. 
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug system performance issues. 
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative Agile team environment. 
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, embracing new challenges and technologies. 
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering technology solutions that enhance user experiences and accessibility. 
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance. 

• Familiarity with government-managed AWS environments like BESPIN, including integration with shared services, inherited security controls, and deployment pipelines. 
• Understanding of federal compliance frameworks, documentation practices, and the role of infrastructure engineers in supporting security accreditation. 
• Experience creating synthetic checks and dashboards for performance, uptime, and SLA tracking using tools such as AWS CloudWatch, Grafana, or Prometheus. 
• Ability to package and manage Kubernetes applications with Helm in a modular, version-controlled DevSecOps workflow. 

Perks & Benefits:

Flex hours

401K with matching incentive

Parental Leave

Medical/dental/vision benefits

Flex Spending Account

Company provided short-term disability and life insurance

Commuter benefits

Generous PTO

11 Paid holidays

Professional development opportunities

Please note that candidates selected may undergo a background investigation and, if applicable, meet eligibility requirements for suitability.

Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.