Windows System Engineer

Leidos is seeking a Windows System Engineer to support Federal Civil customer in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

LOCATION: This position is remote; however, prefer candidates that are within driving distance to the Washington, DC area.

CLEARANCE: Must be a U.S. Citizen capable of obtaining and maintaining a Public Trust clearance prior to start.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the engineering, operation, maintenance, and modernization of secure, mission-critical enterprise Windows Server and hybrid cloud infrastructure across geographically distributed environments. The Windows System Engineer partners with the Senior Windows System Engineer to implement, maintain, and troubleshoot Windows, virtualization, and cloud solutions across on-premises and hybrid environments. You’ll collaborate with engineering, cybersecurity, and service desk teams to ensure system availability, performance, and security, while supporting infrastructure modernization, documentation, configuration management, and continuous improvement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, implement, and administer Windows Server environments (2012, 2016, 2019, 2022), Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Microsoft 365, alongside core infrastructure services including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Hyper-V, PKI, Group Policy (GPO), and file/print services.
• Partner with the Senior Windows System Engineer to write, read, test, and implement PowerShell scripts, configuration templates, and process improvements that automate administrative tasks and boost operational efficiency.
• Execute patching, security configuration activities, and remediation tasks to keep servers and databases up to date. Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to uphold compliance standards utilizing CIS Benchmarks and DISA STIG frameworks.
• Support the planning, deployment, and lifecycle replacement of server infrastructure under senior engineering guidance. Assess, install, and recommend innovative technologies across databases, systems management, virtualization, network storage, and security measures.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of Client/Server architecture to deploy solutions securely within internal and external production environments.
• Continuously monitor system health, availability, performance, and capacity trends. Gather operational metrics and implement approved improvements to proactively prevent incidents and strengthen service delivery.
• Analyze and troubleshoot complex technical issues involving multiple interconnected systems, implementing approved corrective actions and escalating complex architectural challenges to the Senior Windows System Engineer as needed.
• Manage incidents, service requests, problems, and change tickets throughout their entire lifecycle, ensuring technical accuracy, thorough documentation, and strict adherence to SLAs.
• Participate in incident investigations by gathering diagnostic data, identifying root causes, recommending solutions, and executing corrective and preventive tasks.
• Create, update, and maintain system diagrams, configuration records, technical implementation plans, disaster recovery procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common issue resolution.
• Collaborate within a hybrid, multi-location operations team alongside internal engineering groups, security teams, vendors, and service providers to coordinate maintenance windows and execute technical tasks.
• Communicate technical information, status updates, and project progress clearly to Executives, Managers, Peers, and Customers.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and 4 years’ experience; additional years of experience accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Hands-on experience designing, implementing, administering, and troubleshooting complex enterprise Windows Server infrastructure (Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022) in production environments.
• Competent in essential administration concepts around Active Directory, Group Policy (GPO), DNS, DHCP, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
• In-depth knowledge of scripting and task automation using PowerShell.
• Hands-on experience supporting virtual computing platforms (such as VMware/vSphere) and familiarity or hands-on experience administering Windows Server workloads in hybrid cloud environments (such as AWS EC2 or Microsoft Azure).
• Hands-on experience configuring, maintaining, and hardening Windows Server security baselines, executing monthly OS patching, and performing vulnerability remediation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot multi-system server and application issues, assist with root cause analysis (RCA), and implement approved corrective actions.
• Experience executing server infrastructure changes, OS upgrades, and system migrations in production environments following established change control procedures.
• Experience updating and maintaining accurate system architecture diagrams, technical documentation, configuration records, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working alongside senior engineers, cross-functional teams, vendors, and stakeholders to resolve operational issues.
• Ability to obtain a DoD 8140 / IAT Level II baseline certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+, GSEC, SSCP).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Active certifications in Microsoft server or cloud technologies (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, Azure Administrator Associate, or Endpoint Administrator).
• Active CompTIA Security+ CE certification (or equivalent DoD 8140 / IAT Level II baseline certification).
• Active AWS and/or Microsoft Azure certifications (e.g., AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, Solutions Architect, or Azure Solutions Architect).
• Hands-on experience administering and integrating Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), including hybrid identity synchronization, conditional access, and enterprise authentication.

*** Candidates selected for an interview should note that it will be conducted live via video, with cameras on at all times. As part of our identity verification process, a photo will be taken during the interview to confirm your identity and help protect against fraud. At hire, candidates complete formal identity verification.***

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.