Systems Engineer V

About

The Systems Engineer V serves as a senior technical leader driving the maturity of software development practices, continuous delivery, and large-scale digital transformation initiatives. This role oversees complex technology programs involving artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and emerging digital solutions, while providing strategic guidance across multiple business units. The Systems Engineer V responds to high-impact events, leads critical incident management, and ensures robust observability and reliability across enterprise and cloud platforms. This position combines deep hands-on engineering with advisory responsibilities, including defining technical approaches, standardizing processes, and mentoring other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key technical leader to advance the maturity of software development and continuous delivery for highly visible applications.
• Drive strategic change and digital adoption across multiple business units through senior consulting and advisory engagement.
• Oversee and implement technology transformation initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and emerging digital solutions.
• Assess technical and business environments to determine the true impact and risks of events and provide clear, executive-level communication on status and resolution.
• Respond to RFIs and draft technical approach responses that align with the organization’s technology roadmap and strategic agenda.
• Provide accountability and ownership for digital services initiatives and lead other technical resources to ensure successful outcomes.
• Use modern tools, observability metrics, and monitoring practices to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve recurring enterprise or cloud platform issues.
• Monitor and manage communications during high-impact events across relevant channels, ensuring timely and accurate updates.
• Prioritize, manage, and own emerging and developing customer issues from initiation through resolution.
• Leverage enterprise domain expertise in monitoring and alerting tools and practices to improve incident detection and response.
• Identify areas where process standardization will improve incident response and operational efficiency, and drive the adoption of those standards.

Essential Skills

• At least 10 years of experience in systems engineering or related roles, including supervisory or lead responsibilities.
• At least 10 years of experience building and operating solutions on AWS, including networking, IT security tools, databases, and associated tools.
• Hands-on technical expertise in DevSecOps, security, automation, application development, databases, implementation, integration, and release management.
• Proven experience establishing and maturing application development and CI/CD pipelines toward progressive delivery.
• Ability to design and manage infrastructure as code solutions using Terraform.
• Strong understanding of identity and access management concepts, including roles, permissions, and policy design.
• Experience using tools in an AWS cloud environment, including services such as CloudWatch and OpenSearch.
• Experience with security tools in cloud environments, such as Aqua, DLP, or similar solutions.
• Strong hands-on experience with Kubernetes-based containerized applications, particularly AWS EKS and Spring Boot–based container services.
• Experience with GitLab CI/CD, including configuring environments, feature flags, and aggregating DORA metrics.
• Experience with real-time monitoring, alerting, and diagnostics tools used during incidents.
• Experience with observability platforms such as Datadog.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Python, C, C++, Java, or Ruby.
• Ability to operate effectively as a self-starter, executing at both tactical and strategic levels with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to support a 24/7 operational environment and perform off-hours work for issues or changes.
• Strong analytical acumen with the ability to apply technology experience and business judgment to solve complex problems.
• Leadership presence and communication skills to work effectively with customers and stakeholders at all levels of their organization.
• Ability to communicate complex technical matters clearly and concisely in both written and verbal formats.
• Demonstrated passion for leading the resolution of critical incidents and improving incident response processes.
• Ability to manage communications for critical incidents in an impromptu manner while ensuring detailed and accurate information is shared.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience driving digital adoption and technology transformation across multiple business units.
• Background in initiatives involving artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and emerging digital solutions.
• Experience working within Agile methodologies and participating in sprint-based delivery.
• Experience in large-scale enterprise architectures involving infrastructure, cloud modernization, secure networks, and complex systems.

Work Environment

This is a fully remote role, offering the opportunity to contribute to high-impact, mission-critical work from any location that supports collaboration and 24/7 operations. You will work with modern cloud-native technologies including AWS (such as CloudWatch and OpenSearch), Kubernetes and AWS EKS, Spring Boot services, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform, Datadog, and various security and observability tools.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Herndon, VA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $80.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.