Sr. Staff Site Reliability Engineer-Federal, Security Clearance

About the role

Zscaler is seeking a Senior Staff Site Reliability Engineer to support our Government Cloud department. This position involves managing and securing cloud infrastructure within classified environments to protect critical government missions. The role focuses on ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of systems that underpin federal operations. You will act as a technical leader guiding infrastructure decisions in sensitive government contexts. The position requires a deep understanding of cloud technologies and their application within secure government frameworks. You will collaborate closely with mission owners to align technical solutions with operational requirements. This role demands a proactive approach to managing complex infrastructure challenges in high-stakes environments. Your work will directly contribute to the continuity and integrity of essential government services.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate deployment workflows and manage on-call rotations while executing incident management and deployment syncs in US Government classified environments.
• Sustain operational stability and scale across AWS, private cloud, container, and virtual machine infrastructure using established engineering practices.
• Author automation scripts and develop containerized services while constructing monitoring tools to mitigate service interruptions and enhance system resilience.
• Engineer and refine services while codifying DevOps standards through meticulous documentation and structured escalation management processes.
• Assume 24x7 support responsibilities, including night and holiday shifts, operating within a SCIF environment to address emergent technical conditions.
• Liaise with cross-functional teams to translate operational requirements into technical specifications that guide infrastructure development.
• Implement security controls and monitoring strategies to ensure infrastructure components adhere to government compliance mandates.
• Optimize resource utilization and performance metrics to improve efficiency and reliability of critical government cloud services.
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with technical leads to elevate the overall capability of the site reliability engineering team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance system observability, automate manual processes, and reduce mean time to resolution.

Requirements

• Hold an active US Government Secret security clearance as a mandatory condition of employment for this role.
• Possess a Bachelor degree in Computer Science or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Accumulate 7+ years of professional experience in Site Reliability Engineering spanning both operational and engineering responsibilities.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Linux administration techniques and network troubleshooting methodologies in complex environments.
• Exhibit experience with infrastructure automation tools including Ansible and Terraform for provisioning and configuration management.
• Apply technical expertise in Python programming language to develop automation and operational tooling.
• Show familiarity with container architectures such as AWS ECS and Kubernetes for deploying and managing scalable applications.
• Conduct monitoring activities including patch management and vulnerability scanning to maintain system integrity.
• Establish foundational knowledge of AI/ML technologies and their practical application within functional government domains.
• Navigate air-gapped or classified environments with discipline, adhering to strict operational protocols and security guidelines.

Nice to have

• Manage AI-driven observability platforms or AIOps solutions focused on anomaly detection and automated incident response workflows.
• Contribute background experience in air-gapped or classified environments with participation in monthly monitoring programs and assessments.
• Understand FedRAMP High/Moderate authorization processes and compliance requirements for cloud services in government.
• Hold an Information Assurance Technician Level 2 certification to support security engineering initiatives.
• Maintain a Top Secret security clearance demonstrating experience in handling sensitive government information.

Practical notes

• This role requires maintaining an active Secret security clearance as a condition of employment.
• Compensation excludes bonus, commission, and equity components as outlined in standard government contracting practices.
• Benefits include various health plans, retirement options, parental leave, education reimbursement, and paid time off.
• This position operates on a full-time, fully onsite basis at the designated facility in Crystal City, Virginia.
• Candidates must be available to work night shifts and holiday rotations as required by federal service level agreements.
• Travel requirements are limited to official government duties within authorized facilities and secure locations.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation and security clearance verification.
• The role is subject to government funding and contract terms, requiring flexibility to adapt to evolving mission needs.
• Professional development opportunities may be available through structured education reimbursement programs.
• Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria outlined in federal regulations for government-contractor positions.
• The work environment demands strict adherence to security protocols and operational procedures at all times.