Principal Systems Engineer- DevSecOps

Job ID: 2611953

Location: San Diego, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-04-28

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is looking for a Principal System Engineer to serve as the primary DevSecOps engineer on a mission-critical Navy communications program. This is a high-visibility role where you will own the containerization strategy - from architecture and build to hardening and sustainment - for systems that directly support DoD operational readiness.

If you live and breathe containers, love solving hard security and scalability problems, and want your work to matter at a national security level, this role was built for you.

This is an ON-SITE role located in San Diego, CA

Why This Role Stands Out

• You are THE container expert on the program - your knowledge helps shape the architecture
• Work on real-world, mission-critical Navy communication systems
• Collaborative team of engineers, program managers, and government stakeholders
• Fast-paced, innovative environment where technical leadership is recognized and rewarded
• San Diego, CA - one of the best cities in the country to live and work
  
  

What You'll Do

Container Engineering & DevSecOps (Core Focus)

• Design, build, and manage the containerization platform using tools such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Build and maintain custom container images, optimized for security and performance
• Develop and manage CI/CD pipelines that integrate seamlessly with containerized environments
• Lead container hardening efforts, implementing:
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• SECCOMP and AppArmor profiles
• Namespace isolation and least-privilege configurations
• Ensure containers and orchestration platforms meet DoD/RMF compliance and ATO requirements
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize containerized applications for high availability and resilience in production
  
  

Security & Compliance

• Apply Risk Management Framework (RMF) principles across the DevSecOps lifecycle
• Implement and maintain compliance with DoD/DoN cybersecurity policies
• Utilize STIGs to harden containers, hosts, and network equipment
• Maintain environment compliance with directives (IAVA/IAVM)
  
  

Infrastructure & Networking

• Provide network integration, configuration, and administration support
• Configure and document network systems, including Cisco networking equipment
• Integrate container-specific monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK stack)
  
  

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a key technical leader, providing direction and mentorship to junior engineers
• Interface regularly with management, customers, and cross-functional teams
• Participate in technical issue resolution during integration, implementation, and testing phases
  
  

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience.
• Must have an Active Secret Clearance to start.
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret Clearance after start.
• DoD IAT 2 Level II certified eligibility.
• Hands-on container expertise, including:
• Setup, configuration, and hardening of Docker and Kubernetes environments
• Building and Managing CI/CD pipelines
• Container Security tools: RBAC, SECCOMP, AppArmor, namespace isolation
• strong knowledge of container networking, monitoring, and logging (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK)
• Strong grasp of DevOps/ DevSecOps practices and principles.
• Solid computer and networking skills with working knowledge of applicable military and commercial standards Certifications (One or More required)
• Security (required)
• MS Windows Server- Certification of course completion accepted
• MCITP, MCSA, or MCSE may substitute
• Cisco OS Certifications may substitute for MS certifications
  

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Experience with STIG implementation for network and container environments
• Working knowledge of Cisco networks and equipment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience establishing equipment configurations in support of operational requirements
  
  

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC's approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see .