Senior Windows Systems Engineer

Position Summary

As a Senior Windows Systems Engineer supporting the Federal Trade Commission, you will provide senior technical support for the agency's Windows platform. You will design, engineer, configure, deploy, maintain, monitor, and modernize Windows components and environments within the FTC IT infrastructure. Support program operations and maintenance activities. Set the standards the rest of the team builds to and serve as an escalation point when an issue exceeds Tier 1 and Tier 2 support. This is a hands-on engineering role with design ownership: you will contribute to how the platform is built, hardened, automated, recovered, and maintained. You will mentor the administrators who operate it day to day.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, operate, and maintain Microsoft Azure environments, including Zero Trust, hybrid cloud, and cross-domain architectures.
• Develop and enforce Azure governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with DoD Zero Trust and least-privilege principles.
• Configure, maintain, and upgrade Windows servers and physical/virtual server installations in FTC datacenters.
• Implement Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for cloud infrastructure provisioning and deployment automation.
• Provide experience in designing, deploying, and maintaining Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) / PKI environments.
• Apply knowledge of system security engineering, including CIS and STIG hardening, vulnerability management, and federal compliance frameworks.
• Participate in reviewing and improving operational processes, procedures, technology, and documentation.
• Create, monitor, and resolve change requests and trouble tickets for service level changes affecting Windows Servers and applications.
• Draft SOPs and technical documentation, and communicate with senior program and customer leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related technical field, and eight (8) or more years of progressive Windows Administration and engineering experience OR Master's degree in a related field and at least 6 years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in cloud operations, engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years performing at a senior and lead level with design and architecture ownership for an enterprise Windows environment.
• Familiarity with federal compliance (NIST, FISMA, FedRAMP) and CIS 4.0 controls.
• Expertise in Microsoft Azure architecture, Microsoft Entra ID, and on-prem interoperability.
• Experience with Azure Monitor and cost optimization strategies.
• Demonstrated experience with the integration of federated identity solutions with AWS Identity Center, Entra, or on-premises Active Directory.
• Ability to script in one or more computer languages: Python, Bash, Visual Basic, or PowerShell.
• Understanding of federated identity, modern authentication protocols (SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0), and cross-cloud authentication mechanisms.
• Hands-on experience with networking concepts (DNS, VPNs, load balancers, etc.) and cloud-based networking configurations.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills with the ability to resolve complex technical issues in a timely manner.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to conduct root cause analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to complete technical projects independently, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• ITIL4 experience.
• ServiceNow experience.
• Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate certification (AZ-104).
• Current DoD 8570/8140 baseline certification appropriate for Intermediate System Administrator roles (e.g., Security+, GSEC, SSCP, or equivalent).

Clearance, Citizenship, and Work Conditions

• Background requirements: Must possess, or be eligible to obtain and successfully complete, a Public Trust background investigation and/or Public Trust clearance.
• Citizenship: Due to Federal requirements, candidates must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Location: Washington, DC (hybrid). Work primarily offsite with the need to support onsite as needed to meet program requirements.
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, with occasional overtime, weekend work, or after-hours response to critical outages and scheduled maintenance windows. (Hybrid: Onsite 2x per week. Hours charged limited to no more than 40 hours per week, unless specifically approved by the Client TO4 Program Manager.)

Washington, DC, the capital of the United States, is known for its historical landmarks, vibrant culture, and diverse community. It offers a dynamic environment for professionals and is home to numerous federal agencies and private sector organizations.

Benefits
PEAK's benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Savings Account (DCA), and 401K plan. PEAK believes that taking care of our team is essential for success and we are proud to provide benefits that enhance both your well-being and your future. Additionally, our associates may be eligible for Paid Sick Leave as required by Federal, State, or local laws.  

Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) 
PEAK Technical Staffing is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. PEAK does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business need. We encourage all individuals to apply. 

Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) 
The physical and mental requirements described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to perform the essential physical functions of the position, including sitting, standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, and lifting up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Candidate Privacy
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AI Recruiting Disclosure 
We use AI-assisted tools to help review applications and compare your experience to job requirements, but all hiring decisions are made by human recruiters. You may request a human-only process or opt out of automated communication at any time. Required notices and our latest bias audit are available on our website: www.peaktechnical.com/ai-disclosure.