Senior Systems Engineer Security Clearance

Forge Forward is searching for a Sr. Systems Engineer to support a client in Charleston, SC. The role requires a minimum of seven years experience in systems engineering and support for IT and C4I systems, a US citizenship, and an active Secret clearance. This is a 100% on‑site position serving a Navy enterprise command-and-control environment in Charleston, SC. The Senior Systems Engineer will act as a senior technical authority responsible for the design, engineering, hardening, and lifecycle management of enterprise Windows environments within secure DoD networks.

The role centers on Windows Server ecosystems, identity and access management, system hardening, and compliance enforcement. Responsibilities include maintaining highly available, secure, and scalable infrastructure; leading system‑level vulnerability remediation; RMF compliance; and enforcing DISA STIG baselines across enterprise environments.

• Engineer and administer enterprise Windows Server environments (2016/2019/2022) within classified and DoD networks
• Architect, manage, and optimize Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), including forests, domains, trust relationships, and replication topology
• Design and enforce Group Policy strategy and configuration baselines across enterprise systems
• Implement and maintain Windows security hardening in accordance with DISA STIGs and DoD cybersecurity policies
• Serve as the technical lead for vulnerability assessment and remediation, leveraging ACAS scan results and system‑level mitigation strategies
• Lead engineering efforts for system compliance, auditing, and continuous monitoring under RMF frameworks
• Develop advanced automation using Power Shell to support configuration enforcement, auditing, and remediation
• Support and optimize virtualized infrastructure (VMware vSphere/ESXi/vCenter) hosting Windows workloads
• Provide engineering support for Windows‑based VDI environments, focusing on system performance, stability, and security
• Implement and manage identity, authentication, and access control mechanisms, including least privilege and privileged access strategies
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Windows OS, AD, and infrastructure‑level issues across lab and production environments
• Participate in architecture reviews, engineering boards, and configuration control processes
• Produce and maintain engineering documentation, including system designs, implementation plans, and compliance artifacts
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership within a multi‑disciplinary team environment

• Seven years of experience in systems engineering and support for IT and C4I systems
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering (e.g., network, electrical, mechanical, systems)
• CompTIA Security+ certification and ability to meet DoD Cybersecurity Workforce IAT Level II certification with an operating systems certificate (e.g., Linux+)
• Active Secret clearance with current SSBI/T5 investigation; US citizenship required. TS/SCI desired
• Extensive experience in Active Directory design, architecture, and disaster recovery
• Deep knowledge of Windows Server internals and enterprise infrastructure design
• Experience with hybrid identity solutions (Azure AD / Entra )
• Proven success leading STIG implementation and compliance at scale
• Experience supporting classified DoD environments with privileged administrative access

• Familiarity with infrastructure‑as‑code concepts
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering efforts and influence architecture decisions