Principal Systems Engineer #5480

Contributes to the sections work effort in responding to incidents from other sections including the help desk. Supports tasks may include helping to develop standard operating procedures assignments and coordination of work efforts to address issues. Assists users with computer needs such as installing and configuring software/hardware on their PC; troubleshoots problems with user systems. Provisions new accounts for users. Supports the sections work effort to develop processes and procedures to streamline the resolution of issues. Provides technical support for Senate information technology or telecommunications services systems hardware software and storage solutions to the users; supports Senate offices contract support vendors and other technical staff in troubleshooting and managing the various Senate environments. Maintains and monitors LAN/WAN and SAN operations and solves LAN/WAN and SAN applications problems; installs integrates customizes enhances troubleshoots and tests LAN and SAN hardware and software. Assists in installing upgrading customizing tuning and maintaining databases for optimal performance and availability; assists in developing testing and implementing database store procedures functions triggers views and packages. Conducts acceptance and integration testing; assists vendor systems implementation by troubleshooting related system issues affecting Senate users. Analyzes designs develops implements and maintains applications to meet the needs of Senate users; assists with product evaluations and implementation. Attends internal training provided by subject matter experts to understand operational tasks documents support needs and share the information within the assigned section. Other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• For conditions of employment and citizenship requirements please visit the job announcement on the United States Senate Career Page at Duties/ Responsibilities

  Required Work Experience

  • Eight to ten years of relevant work experience (GED) six to eight (Associates) four to six years (Bachelors) two to four (Masters).

  Required Special Skills/ Knowledge

  • Provides long-range strategic planning activities for the Senate in the areas of information technology or telecommunications hardware software storage solutions and networking systems; monitors the impact of technological developments; identifies emerging technologies.
  • Provides expert-level technical support on Senate hardware software storage solutions and network systems to vendors other technical staff and other divisions and departments; resolves critical and complex systems applications storage or communications performance problems.
  • Serves as project manager on assigned projects; plans assigns directs and coordinates work efforts; develops project plans timetables and staff assignments.
  • Customizes tests recommends and configures operating and network systems and software platforms; monitors evaluates and resolves hardware/software configuration system performance problems; recommends third party software on other operating systems.

  Desired Qualifications

  • Develop maintain and troubleshoot CI/CD pipelines to streamline build and deployment processes.
  • Design and maintain a Disaster Recovery architecture utilizing replication over a WAN for all assigned systems.
  • GitLab Runner: Set up and manage GitLab Runners (shared or specific) to execute jobs in pipelines. Knowledge of installing configuring and maintaining GitLab Runners on different environments (VMs Kubernetes Docker).
  • Manage multi-stage pipelines to build test and deploy processes ensuring reliable and fast delivery of applications.
  • Experience working with Git for source code management and version control in DevOps workflows. Able to work with git workflow models like git-branch. Perform tasks like handling conflicts rolling back commits or squashing commits.
  • Experience using a commercial Content Delivery Network (CDN) as a frontend to cache distribute and protect public-facing websites.
  • Experience in developing and/or running applications written in PHP and Python as examples.
  • Experience with scripting/developing in Bash shell PERL and/or JavaScript.
  • Basic understanding of networking database integration and storage as backend systems to hosting web applications and ability to perform basic checks and debugging for this underlying infrastructure.

  Working Conditions

  • The U.S. Senate network cannot be taken offline for maintenance during the workday or while the Senate is in session. As such maintenance windows may only occur at night on weekends and occasionally on holidays. Employees who perform systems upgrades maintenance wiring backups support our alternate data centers will have schedules that include working nights weekends and holidays.
  • This position directly supports essential services of the U.S. Senate. As such this position requires the employee be available and prepared to work during a lapse in inclement weather on holidays weekends and during late nights to ensure essential services to the Senate continue without the context of government furloughs this position is considered excepted.
  • Since this position requires onsite presence in support of the U.S. Senate when in session this position requires the employee to be available and prepared to work during a lapse in inclement weather on holidays and during late night overnight and weekend the context of government furloughs this position is considered excepted.

  Security Clearance

  • This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain a SecretU.S. Government security clearance.
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens in order for the SAA to submit your application for a security clearance.

  Education

  High School Diploma/ GED.

  Additional information

  The Sergeant at Arms is an equal opportunity employer in accordance with the requirements of Senate rules regulations and applicable Federal Laws. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please email with Applicant Accommodation in the subject line. No moving relocation or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position or while in application for this position.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.