Operations Engineer

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Department: 60004433 - AFS DevSecOps

Join a high impact Tier Two Operations team that sits at the heart of our cloud platform environment. In this role, you’ll deploy cutting edge applications, automate and optimize core processes, and serve as the trusted escalation point for our service desk. We’re looking for engineers who thrive in dynamic environments, bring strong Linux and Windows expertise, and are eager to work hands on with AWS services. If you’re a proactive problem solver with strong communication skills and a passion for collaboration, you’ll make an immediate impact here.

What you’ll do:

• Serve as the primary escalation point for the service desk, tackling complex troubleshooting for applications, virtual workspaces, network and performance issues, and a variety of service requests
• Administer and maintain Windows systems, leveraging technologies such as PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) and Group Policy Objects (GPO), and manage software bundles for diverse virtual desktop environments
• Oversee Kubernetes clusters in a private-cloud setting, including ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, and incident response
• Deploy and maintain both commercial and custom software using AWS Cloud Services (EC2, EKS, S3, Workspaces, and more), ensuring proper snapshot management and system reliability
• Collaborate closely with Cyber Security and Engineering teams to optimize cloud solutions and support DevOps continuous improvement initiatives
• Analyze and support systems engineering functions for new system development, critical enhancements, and patching, all in line with established system engineering and configuration management processes
• Automate routine operational tasks and maintain automated job schedules to drive efficiency
• Use Jira to track Tier 2 issues and communicate ongoing work and status updates with customers

What you’ll need:

• 3 years of relevant Information Technology experience 
• 1 year of hands-on experience with Kubernetes and/or Docker
• Experience working with AWS Cloud services
• Ability to meet DoD 8570 IAT II requirements (Security+ or higher certification)

Bonus Points if you have:

• Hands-on experience scripting with Python and Bash
• Experience working in Agile environments
• Leadership experience in a relevant technical area
• Technical certifications, especially AWS Cloud Practitioner or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Comfortable working in both remote and on-site environments
• Excellent communication skills
• A strong ‘customer first’ mindset

Clearance:

Must have a TS/SCI level clearance and a willingness to sit for a polygraph if necessary