Senior Systems Engineer

AIRs Information Technology team is seeking aSenior Systems Engineerto join its forward-thinking and supportive team. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to support the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project and broader cloud infrastructure initiatives at AIR. This role is critical to maintaining and advancing our hybrid cloud capabilities with a strong focus on Amazon Web Services (AWS) environments security compliance and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise proven experience with FEWS NET systems and a proactive approach to cloud architecture monitoring and disaster recovery. This position will also play a key role in supporting AI initiatives through Amazon Bedrock and ensuring seamless coordination with the InfoSec team. This position reports to the Director IT Engineering. If youre looking to grow your impact and be part of a mission-driven organization we invite you to bring your skills and perspective to AIR.

About AIR:

Established in 1946 with headquarters in Arlington Virginia AIR is a nonpartisan not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education health the workforce human services and international development to create a better more equitable world.

Responsibilities:

AWS Infrastructure Management

• Lead the configuration optimization and maintenance of AWS environments supporting FEWS NET.
• Ensure continuous monitoring and operational readiness of AWS production systems.

Hybrid Cloud Architecture & AI Integration

• Design and support hybrid cloud solutions across AWS and Azure.
• Provide technical leadership for Amazon Bedrock AI initiatives and integration.

Security & Compliance Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison with the InfoSec team to ensure compliance with security protocols.
• Oversee AWS configuration management and enforce best practices in cloud security.

System Administration & License Compliance

• Manage system and user administration for FEWS NET.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with software licensing requirements.

Cost Optimization & Financial Planning

• Analyze and optimize AWS resource usage to align with budgetary goals.
• Provide strategic input on cloud financial planning and forecasting.

Disaster Recovery & Backup Strategy

• Maintain and enhance the backup and disaster recovery (DR) strategy across AWS and Azure.
• Lead implementation of East-West DR for SPP-R in compliance with state contract requirements.

Secure Project Portal (SPP) Oversight

• Provide technical and operational oversight for the Secure Project Portal supporting 350 projects.
• Support quarterly audits and formal project off-boarding processes.

Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing

• Work closely with cross-functional teams including Project Managers DevOps and InfoSec.
• Share expertise and mentor team members on AWS best practices and tools.

Duties responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time based on business needs.

Qualifications:

Education Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Computer Engineering or related discipline and at least 9 years of relevant experience in the IT industry or a masters degree with at least 4 years of relevant experience or at least 15 years of relevant industry experience.
• At least 5 years experience in designing architecting provisioning operating and maintaining VMWare/vCenter environments and VMs within.
• Strong knowledge and experience with installation administration and troubleshooting of Windows Server Operating Systems.
• Extensive experience in designing architecting provisioning and maintaining systems within the Azure cloud environment with a strong background in deploying and supporting enterprise storage solutions and managing Microsoft SQL databases.

Skills:

• Effective communicator with demonstrated ability to communicate with and understand the needs of both technical and non-technical internal and external clients.
• Additionally effectively collaborate in a virtual cross-functional diverse team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and collaboratively as needed.
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities and projects simultaneously consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines.
• Adept in a fast-paced environment to manage multiple concurrent deliveries.
• Demonstrated analytical critical thinking and problem-solving skills with a focus on details and high quality.
• Passion for the craft with a demonstrated ability to learn and understand the technology both at a high level and at a detailed level.

Disclosures:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age race color religion sex gender gender identity/expression sexual orientation national origin protected veteran status or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE:If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability please send an email to Taliba Boone ator call 202.403.5000.

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