Senior Computer Network Architect

Overview

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform® provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2022 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

Responsibilities

DIGIT is seeking a Virtualization Computer Engineer/Architect to support GSA platform management services which encompass operations, continuity services, and recovery services for all IT core infrastructure services required to deliver any technology. In support of platform management, the Virtualization Engineer/Architect support services including, but not limited to, managed hosting and unmanaged hosting (Platform-as-a-Service/Infrastructure-as-a-Service (PaaS/IaaS)), server installation, O/S loading, system hardening in accordance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) security requirements, installation of patches, application and system back-ups, and restoration.

As a leading provider of advanced information technology solutions and professional services to U.S. federal government agencies, is the prime for a $807m task order in support of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Digital Infrastructure Technologies (IDT) DIGIT (Digital Innovation for GSA Infrastructure Technologies) task order driving digital transformation and delivering continuous improvement and business value to its customers.  The team is comprised of the best-in-class technology partners to leverage forward-leaning technologies and best practices to transform GSA’s IT capabilities and shift offerings to provide a more flexible service delivery model, completing the agency’s shift to a fully digital experience along with its adoption of advanced, emerging technologies such as intelligent automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This position shall perform the following (to include but not limited to) activities:

• Responsible for the implementation and management of virtualization products and systems that support virtualization, including all server hardware, networking, and operating systems including Microsoft and Linux.
• Simultaneously convert and support existing and future Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) architecture.
• Manage and maintain legacy HCI while providing technical expertise to migrate workloads from on-premises to cloud architecture.
• Leads technical direction, guidance, and assistance to assigned projects, suggesting efficient approaches and methods for solving problems  Provides technical leadership for the integration or requirements, design and technology.
• Manages and ensures the technical integrity of the system baseline over time, continually updating it as various changes are imposed on the system during the lifecycle from development through deployment and operations and maintenance.
• In conjunction with system stakeholders, plans the verification efforts of new and unproven designs early in the development lifecycle to ensure compliance to established requirements.
• Prepares and presents written and oral reports.
• Analyzes diagnoses, and recommends solutions to complex systems problems.
• Develops advanced concepts of automation and information processing, display, control, and transfer for various subsystems.
• Ultimately responsible for the technical integrity of work performed and deliverables associated with the Systems Engineering area of responsibility.
• Escalate issues to vendor and third-party entities, as necessary and directed by the Government.
• Develops technical best practices, concepts, and technologies to present innovative computing solutions.
• Performs knowledge transfers to customers and looking for additional opportunities to help improve their environment. 
• Works within engineering teams and engages with experts across all technology competencies: applications, data management, IT & business management, and network & infrastructure competencies.
• Support software upgrades, system troubleshooting, and fulfillment of access and applicable change requests.
• Provision and manage administrative accounts including creation, modification, deletion, and general identity access administration in accordance with GSA security policies and procedures.
• Deploy critical patches in accordance with agreed upon schedules.
• Work is performed under the general direction of a senior level manager.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and client personnel at all levels.
• Produce knowledge base articles and SOPs.

CONTRACT REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

This following are REQUIRED for this position:

• Public Trust Clearance and ITILv4 Foundation Certification by start date.
• Possesses and applies a comprehensive knowledge across key tasks and high impact assignments. 
• Plans and leads major technology assignments. Evaluates performance results and recommends major changes affecting short-term project growth and success. 
• Functions as a technical expert across multiple project assignments. 
• May supervise others.
• Experience  designing and developing solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. 
• Experience performing systems management and integration functions.
• Proven ability to work independently in a full and/or partial remote environment with limited supervision and may supervise/lead others.
• Possess the ability to communicate in both oral and written forms, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff as well as clients.
• Maintain standard working hours per the DIGIT contract and to be available for meetings, and other collaborative efforts during working hours.
• Demonstrated ability to apply comprehensive knowledge across key tasks and high impact assignments with the ability to use practical experience and training to determine how to accomplish tasks.

CONTRACT DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The following are DESIRED for this position:

• Proficient in technical writing skills with specific focus on architecture and security documentation.
• Proficient in configuring the following protocols: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and Static routes.
• Familiar with SD-WAN architectures such as Cisco (Viptela), and VMware (VeloCloud)
• Design network architecture for Software Design Access / Software Defined Networks, utilizing Cisco DNA Center.
• Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) or Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA).
• Must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including holidays as scheduled.
• Shall possess the ability to communicate in both oral and written forms, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff as well as clients.
• Demonstrated ability to apply comprehensive knowledge across key tasks and high impact assignments.
• Familiarity with the following technologies: Active Directory, Windows, ServiceNow, Network Monitoring Systems (Solarwinds), Cisco Prime, LAN/WAN control protocols. 
• Security certification.
• Proficiency in the Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Slack, and ServiceNow.
• Must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including holidays as scheduled.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The following are the education and experience required for this position:

• 7 - 12 years of experience and bachelor's degree.
• Experience as a remote worker demonstrating time management and self discipline with cultural change management and Agile mindset.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTSThe physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following: 

• If remote, maintain home workspace in a safe manner, free from safety hazards and in line with information security policies. 
• Communicate verbally in person, over the phone or by video chat and clearly/succinctly in writing, primarily utilizing a keyboard. 
• Appear on camera for meetings with co-workers and government partners via video chat and ensure the protection of proprietary company and customer information is consistent with the company’s expectation of information security.
• Viewing computer screens and sitting for long periods of time. 
• Travel minimally, via car or plane, which requires ability to manage luggage, laptop, and briefing materials (up to 25 pounds).

About Empower AI

It is the policy of Empower AI to provide equal opportunity in recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting individuals in all job categories without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class or category as may be defined by federal, state, or local laws or regulations. In addition, we affirm that all compensation, benefits, company-sponsored training, educational assistance, social, and recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It is our firm intent to support equal employment opportunity and affirmative action in keeping with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.