Lead Platform Cloud Engineering Specialist

Important Notice for Applicants:

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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 Lead Cloud Engineering 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. 

• Lead the design, provisioning, and management of secure, scalable cloud infrastructure using AWS services (e.g., EC2, S3, Aurora PostgreSQL, EKS, ElastiCache, CloudFront, IAM). 
• Oversee deployment pipelines and IaC practices using Terraform, Helm, and GitLab CI/CD (with Drone and ArgoCD integration where applicable). 
• Collaborate with BESPIN platform teams to align infrastructure with federal hosting standards and inherited security controls. 
• Drive automation initiatives that improve deployment speed, repeatability, and system reliability across multiple environments. 
• Configure and monitor access control, data encryption, and secrets management using AWS-native tools (e.g., Secrets Manager, KMS, IAM). 
• Conduct system performance monitoring using CloudWatch and implement synthetic checks and dashboards for real-time observability. 
• Identify and remediate infrastructure vulnerabilities; support compliance with FedRAMP, Section 508, and NIST 800-53 security controls. 
• Troubleshoot complex issues involving Kubernetes workloads, microservices, networking, and container lifecycle management. 
• Mentor junior engineers and foster a DevSecOps culture of continuous learning, peer reviews, and knowledge sharing. 
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, contributing to sprint planning, retrospectives, and backlog prioritization with the broader technical team. 
• Other relevant duties as qualified and trained to assume. 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five (5) years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience in cloud engineering, DevOps, or system administration. 
• Demonstrated success leading cloud-native infrastructure efforts in AWS, including experience with services like Aurora PostgreSQL, Redis (ElastiCache), and ECR. 
• Proficiency with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, EKS) and orchestrating workloads across clusters. 
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Helm) and modern CI/CD platforms (GitLab CI, Drone, Jenkins, ArgoCD). 
• Solid background in Linux systems, networking fundamentals, and scripting (e.g., Bash, Python). 
• Strong understanding of cloud security and compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, ISO 27001). 
• Experience with monitoring and observability tools (e.g., AWS CloudWatch, Prometheus, Grafana) and synthetic testing. 
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders. 
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced Agile environment. 
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance. 

• Familiarity with BESPIN or other federal AWS environments, including shared service integration and inherited controls. 
• Experience supporting Authority to Operate (ATO) activities and contributing to system security plans. 
• Ability to manage Kubernetes applications using Helm and GitOps workflows for modular, scalable deployments. 
• Exposure to secure service integrations with external APIs, gateways, or legacy ESB platforms (e.g., USPS, Pay.gov). 

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.