Be an Early Applicant
Always Ideating, Iterating, Innovating.
The Role
Designs, deploys, and manages secure Microsoft Azure infrastructure for federal IT environments. Responsibilities include Azure networking, Terraform infrastructure as code, PowerShell and Bash automation, GitLab CI/CD pipelines, Azure Virtual Desktop administration, monitoring, troubleshooting, performance optimization, and compliance with NIST, RMF, and FedRAMP controls. The role collaborates with engineering, security, program teams, and federal customer stakeholders while working onsite in Washington, DC four days per week.
Summary Generated by Built In
LightFeather is seeking a Senior Cloud Engineer specializing in Microsoft Azure to design, implement, and manage secure cloud solutions for federal IT environments. You’ll play a key role in supporting Azure infrastructure, automation, and security, applying DevOps best practices to drive performance, strengthen compliance, and improve operational efficiency.
- Location: Hybrid, On-site 4 days/week in Washington, D.C. 20006 and 1 day Telework
- Job Type: Full-time
- Salary: $130,000–$170,000 annually, based on experience level.
- Clearance Requirement: U.S. citizenship is required for this position due to federal contract requirements and the need to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance
Key Responsibilities
- Design, deploy, and maintain Azure cloud infrastructure including VMs, VNets, Storage, Azure AD, and PaaS services.
- Manage and optimize Azure networking components (VNets, NSGs, Load Balancers, VPN/ExpressRoute connectivity).
- Develop and maintain Terraform templates as the primary IaC tool (critical requirement emphasized by hiring managers).
- Support automation via PowerShell, Bash, YAML/JSON, and GitLab pipelines.
- Deploy, configure, and manage AVD environments including host pools, session hosts, FSLogix profile containers, and Azure AD/M365 integrations.
- Provide troubleshooting and performance optimization for AVD users (explicit customer requirement).
- Build, maintain, and troubleshoot CI/CD pipelines in GitLab.
- Automate cloud operations, system configuration, and monitoring tasks.
- Implement secure cloud practices aligned with federal requirements (RBAC, Key Vault, IAM, encryption standards).
- Ensure compliance with NIST, RMF, FedRAMP, and agency-specific controls.
- Use Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and related tools to analyze system health, diagnose issues, and enforce SLAs.
- Work with engineering, security, and program staff to support ongoing cloud modernization efforts.
- Support onsite collaboration with customer stakeholders (note: role cannot be performed remotely long-term).
Required Qualifications
- Active Secret or higher clearance
- 3+ years of experience with Azure Cloud Engineering
- 3+ years of experience with CI/CD pipelines
- 3+ years of experience using Terraform for IaC
- 3+ years of experience using GitLab
- Minimum of 4 years experience with PowerShell scripting
- 5+ years of experience in Cloud Engineering, DevOps, or Systems Engineering (mid-level target).
- Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure core services and architecture.
- Proficiency with Terraform (high priority), PowerShell, and GitLab CI/CD.
- Experience supporting Azure networking (VNets, routing, NSGs, VPN/ExpressRoute).
- Hands-on experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) in production environments.
- Understanding of federal cloud security frameworks (FedRAMP, NIST, RMF).
- Ability to work on-site in Washington, DC four days per week.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting DoD or federal agency cloud environments.
- Experience with Docker/Kubernetes (AKS).
- Azure serverless tools (Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid).
- Cost optimization using Azure Cost Management / FinOps practices.
Why Join LightFeather?
At LightFeather, you're not just taking a job—you're joining a purpose-driven team that delivers innovative, mission-critical solutions to make a real difference. You'll work on diverse, meaningful projects that challenge and inspire you, alongside some of the best minds in the industry.
At LightFeather, you're not just taking a job—you're joining a purpose-driven team that delivers innovative, mission-critical solutions to make a real difference. You'll work on diverse, meaningful projects that challenge and inspire you, alongside some of the best minds in the industry.
LightFeather is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Skills Required
- Active Secret or higher security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- At least 3 years of Azure Cloud Engineering experience
- At least 3 years of CI/CD pipeline experience
- At least 3 years of Terraform infrastructure-as-code experience
- At least 3 years of GitLab experience
- At least 4 years of PowerShell scripting experience
- At least 5 years of Cloud Engineering, DevOps, or Systems Engineering experience
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure core services and architecture
- Proficiency with Terraform, PowerShell, and GitLab CI/CD
- Experience with Azure networking, including VNets, routing, NSGs, VPN, and ExpressRoute
- Production experience supporting Azure Virtual Desktop
- Understanding of FedRAMP, NIST, and RMF cloud security frameworks
- Ability to work onsite in Washington, DC four days per week
- Experience supporting DoD or federal agency cloud environments
- Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or AKS
- Experience with Azure Functions, Logic Apps, or Event Grid
- Experience with Azure Cost Management or FinOps practices
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
LightFeather is a federal technology company that helps government agencies move from complexity to clarity. We build and run the systems behind some of the government’s most consequential missions: AI and data intelligence, secure agile engineering, cloud, and cybersecurity for more than 20 federal agencies, including DHS, DOJ, the Department of State, and the IRS. Our work unifies hundreds of millions of records, automates what used to take whole teams, and keeps mission-critical platforms running at 100 percent uptime. We are a woman-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with a team of 55 working across 16 states. Small is the point. Our engineers, analysts, and designers get real ownership of work that matters from day one, ship to production in their first weeks, and see their work used by the people who protect, process, and serve the public every day.
Why Work With Us
We hire people who are curious, direct, and comfortable in complex, high-trust environments. Many of our roles support cleared federal programs, and we hold a Top Secret facility clearance. If you want your work to carry weight, come build with us.
