Senior DevOps Engineer

The Opportunity NTS is seeking a Senior DevOps Engineer (SDE) to operate, deploy, and support mission-critical services in a secure environment at a customer facility. This role blends DevOps engineering, secure deployments, automation, and customer-facing leadership; you will ensure system reliability, drive automation, maintain compliance, and act as the on-site technical lead. Key Responsibilities (*Essential Functions) Deploy, operate, and optimize applications in a secure environment Architect, maintain, and improve CI/CD pipelines for secure, repeatable deployments Perform advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and incident response Implement security hardening and compliance (STIGs, RMF, NIST) Automate infrastructure and application workflows using Terraform/Ansible and related tools Own documentation for deployments, runbooks, and operational procedures Lead system upgrades, patches, and lifecycle management activities Mentor junior engineers and act as the on-site technical authority Fluency in English (written and spoken) Must have active Secret clearance; T/S Preferred Education Bachelors Degree in a relevant field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Required Skills, Experience & Abilities 7+ years in DevOps/SRE/Systems Engineering Expertise with CI/CD (GitLab CI/Azure DevOps/GitHub Actions) Experience with containers & orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift) Infrastructure as Code and automation (Terraform, Ansible, or similar) Proficiency with server operating systems (Linux, Windows) and shell scripting; strong networking fundamentals Experience working in secure or restricted environments Certifications in one or more of the following: Azure/AWS/GCP Preferred Qualifications Experience working with the Department of State Experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, and integrating AI models into existing platform 3+ years’ experience with an object-oriented programming language Excellent communication and customer engagement skills Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills Professionalism and positive attitude in workplace interactions Initiative and ability to take ownership of tasks/projects Comfort with ambiguity and learning on the job Strong work ethic and reliability Ability to work well independently or as part of a team. Willingness to learn new tools or procedures Positive attitude toward safety and following protocols. Problem-solving and troubleshooting mindset Physical Demands & Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the *essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Ability to lift up to 15 pounds on occasion (e.g., transporting laptop, presentation materials, or small equipment). Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling documents. . Clear vision and hearing required for meetings, presentations, and communication. Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time, which may include extended periods of standing, walking, or navigating airports and government facilities. Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Professional office environment with standard office equipment (computers, phones, printers). Frequent interaction with clients, executives, and government officials in both in-person and virtual settings. Regular travel to customer sites, government facilities, and industry events. Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment requiring adaptability and responsiveness. Work may occasionally be performed in secure government facilities, requiring adherence to security protocols. Work may be conducted in laboratory, workshop, office, and field environments with varying conditions. This position will work onsite with customers and be embedded in their team. It will also require consistent interaction with our team. It will involve application delivery into a closed network. There will be occasional travel. Compensation: The base salary range for this position is $175,000-$235,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, qualifications, skills, location, and internal equity. Benefits: NexTech Solutions offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families, including competitive health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement savings options, paid time off, and additional employee benefits. Exciting opportunities like this are better when shared. Send this role to someone you know: Sr. DevOps Engineer Equal Opportunity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. NTS will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws for employment. For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email recruiting@nextechsol.com.