Cloud Engineer III (TS or Q Clearance)

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Cloud Engineer III (Tier 3) to support the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) in Washington, DC. This role focuses on optimizing cloud infrastructure, automating processes, and ensuring the performance, security, and scalability of enterprise cloud systems.

Success will be measured by a combination of performance metrics, technical expertise, collaboration, leadership, and their ability to solve complex issues and innovate for business growth.

• MTTR (Mean Time to Recovery): Time taken to recover from outages or incidents.
• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): Time between failures for the systems they manage.
• Cost Savings: Cloud cost optimizations implemented and realized savings.
• Automation Efficiency: Reduction in manual tasks due to automation.
• Customer Satisfaction Scores: Feedback from internal or external stakeholders.
• Security Posture: Number of security vulnerabilities identified and mitigated.
• Operational Uptime: Service uptime and reliability metrics.
• Incident Handling: Success rate in resolving complex incidents or escalations.
  
  

Key Responsibilities:

• Research, design, develop, test, and evaluate cloud-based systems and applications
• Monitor system performance and availability; identify and resolve infrastructure vulnerabilities
• Collaborate with application architects and product owners to gather and implement requirements
• Plan and execute technical tasks related to shared virtualization infrastructure
• Create functional design specifications and support cloud project deliverables
• Develop and execute cloud solution roadmaps aligned with business objectives
• Work closely with cybersecurity teams to support system accreditation and compliance
• Drive automation to reduce manual tasks and improve operational efficiency
• Ensure high availability, security posture, and cost optimization of cloud services
• Support incident response and complex issue resolution
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Active DOE Q Clearance or Top Secret Clearance
• Proven experience in cloud engineering and infrastructure automation
• Proficiency with tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes
• Experience deploying and managing PostgreSQL databases in AWS or other cloud platforms
• Strong understanding of database design, query optimization, and system performance
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a secure, enterprise environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with cloud security and accreditation processes
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and DevSecOps practices
• Strong scripting skills (e.g., Python, Shell)
• Experience with monitoring tools and performance dashboards
  
  

Compensation:

• Salary: $150,000 - $180,000 (based on experience and education)
• Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), 20 days paid time off, 11 federal holidays, and sick leave
  
  

Application Period: Opens on 08/04/2025, and will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date