Senior IT Operations Engineer (Classified Infrastructure)

About the role

Shield AI, a defense-tech company, is hiring a Senior IT Operations Engineer in Dallas. The engineer builds, improves and sustains classified infrastructure supporting engineering work, covering compute, virtualization, storage, networking, identity, endpoints and security tooling in standalone and air-gapped environments. This is a hands-on senior individual contributor role, sitting between IT operations and accreditation, with systems that must be secure, reliable and ready for review by ISSMs and government assessors.

Key responsibilities

• Build and operate classified infrastructure: deploy, configure and sustain Windows Server, RHEL, virtualization clusters, storage and core services in air-gapped enclaves, and support VMware, Nutanix AHV/Prism or similar (Nutanix preferred).
• Support high-density compute for AI/ML, simulation and engineering workloads, including GPU node provisioning, performance troubleshooting and capacity planning.
• Administer Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, PKI, certificate services, privileged access and role-based access for isolated forests.
• Build golden images and hardened baselines, manage patching and updates in disconnected environments, and administer backup, recovery and restore testing.
• Configure managed switching, VLANs, firewall rules and network segmentation, coordinating with network and security teams.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching, reporting and compliance with PowerShell, Ansible, Python or Terraform, and apply DISA STIGs and SRGs via SCAP, STIG Viewer, ACAS/Nessus and scripted remediation.
• Document configuration records, as-built documentation and change records, and review changes before production.
• Support accreditation: implement NIST SP 800-53, JSIG, RMF and program controls, provide documentation for authorization packages and audits, set up audit logging and SIEM, and support vulnerability management and POA&M resolution.
• Act as escalation point for classified IT issues, support user and workstation access requests, and mentor junior system administrators.

Required profile

• Strong hands-on experience with Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, PKI and enterprise endpoint management.
• Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux or similar enterprise Linux systems.
• Experience with VMware, Nutanix, Hyper-V or similar virtualization platforms (Nutanix AHV/Prism preferred).
• Experience with enterprise storage, backup/recovery, capacity planning, managed switching, VLANs, firewall administration and network troubleshooting.
• Experience with PowerShell and infrastructure automation; Ansible, Python or Terraform is a plus.
• Experience applying DISA STIGs, using SCAP/STIG Viewer, supporting ACAS/Nessus findings, and working in RMF, NIST SP 800-53, JSIG or similar regulated environments.
• Experience in disconnected, air-gapped, classified or highly controlled environments.
• Ability to document work clearly, follow change control and work independently in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Nutanix AHV, Prism Central, Files, Flow or cluster lifecycle management.
• GPU server, AI/ML, simulation, VDI or high-performance compute infrastructure.
• Elastic, Splunk or other centralized logging and SIEM platforms.
• Disconnected WSUS, offline patching, software-repository management or approved media-transfer workflows.
• Data-center buildouts, rack-and-stack, structured cabling, power/cooling coordination and new-facility stand-ups.
• Certifications such as Security+, CISSP, RHCSA/RHCE, VMware VCP, Nutanix NCA/NCP, Microsoft certifications or CCNA/CCNP.