Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is seeking a Software Systems Engineer to join the Enterprise Information Systems Division in support of JPL’s institutional missions and projects. As part of the Enterprise Infrastructure & Operations IT team, the candidate will provide daily operational and expert support for highly available Cloud, COTS, and custom applications, systems, and platforms to solve a wide array of customer needs and requests and enable projects to perform and deliver on milestones and deadlines to NASA and non-NASA sponsors.

This Software Systems Engineer is responsible for the development of a comprehensive multi-Cloud strategy and implementation plan to include installation/configuration, operation, and maintenance of software and systems along with related support infrastructure. They will participate in technical research and development to enable continuing innovation within the infrastructure. They will ensure that software systems and related procedures adhere to organizational values and sponsor and cybersecurity requirements. Candidates must be self-starters and be able to solve complex problems with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide expert support of Cloud environments, applications and services, as well as software and solution development capabilities, to include but not limited to:

• Experience implementing Cloud infrastructure, applications, and processes, as well as developing strategies and support processes for cost and performance management and reporting.

• Experience maintaining core enterprise COTS and custom developed applications in highly available environments

• Experience automating provisioning, deployment, patching, and configuration management using Git, Ansible and other industry standard technologies, as well as integrating various technologies including OpenShift, VMware, Jenkins, and Ansible AWX

• Manage, maintain, and design deployment of various customer software support programs including GitHub, Artifactory, Jira ServiceDesk, and other Atlassian products like Jira and Confluence, including system engineering tools like JAMA and Teamwork Cloud, and engineering tools like Teamcenter and Thermal Desktop

• Deploy and maintain various authentication methods utilizing LDAP, Active Directory, Kerberos, SSO, and RSA multifactor authentication, along with Cloud-based federated identity technologies

• Develop middleware tools in Python, BASH, PowerShell to unify multiple disparate systems and simplify the process of account deployment. Other programming languages are a plus.

• Maintain storage and virtualization infrastructure on TrueNAS, NetApp, and VMware

• Maintain container environments and implement container orchestration strategies using Docker, Kubernetes, Nomad, and Podman

• Streamline OS upgrades in RedHat Enterprise Linux utilizing Ansible and OpenShift for virtual and bare-metal workstations

• Demonstrate competence working in Agile development environments

• Contribute to the regular maintenance and support of many other enterprise applications as well as help to maintain the underlying application infrastructure in conjunction with the System Administrators

• Work with cross-functional teams, including development, operations and security teams to design and implement secure and scalable solutions within a mission environment

• Oversee and direct the work of other software engineers to ensure mission success and high availability of the IT infrastructure

• Provide Tier 2/3 (Escalation) problem identification, diagnosis and resolution of problems. Assist as needed with Tier 1 (Help Desk) and provide mentoring and leadership for Tier 1 staff

• Participate on teams in the analysis and design of new large-scale deployments of new and/or modifications to existing systems

• Perform high level analysis of software systems and requirements, processes, and characteristics for the purpose of ensuring efficient and effective software design and operation

• Evaluate system requirements regarding impact to existing environment and suggest improvements or alternatives

• Have extensive experience with IT security and related technologies to ensure compliance with regulations and government sponsor security requirements

• Must be accomplished in all areas of analysis, design, installation, implementation, configuration, tuning, administration, operation, and security of software systems

• Be available to work in a team environment of internal and external co-workers

Required Qualifications:

• Typically requires a Bachelors degree in Information Technology with a minimum of 9 years related experience, or a Master's degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 7 years of related experience or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 5 years of related experience.

• Demonstrated proficiency with cloud‑native containerization and orchestration technologies, including working knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform.
• Strong understanding of enterprise system design and scaling, including distributed architectures, high‑availability patterns, resiliency strategies, and performance optimization.

• Proven experience designing and implementing DevOps‑driven infrastructure automation, including the use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and enterprise automation frameworks.

• Practical understanding of CI/CD pipeline architecture, integration, and operational governance within enterprise environments.

• Working knowledge of NIST 800‑53 Rev. 5 security and compliance requirements.

• Experience architecting and leading at least two large‑scale production system deployments, with demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into secure, scalable, and cost‑optimized cloud solutions.

• Deep expertise in Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM), including creation of roles, policies, permission boundaries, and enterprise access governance.

• Proven experience architecting isolated network environments such as VPCs, VNets, and segmented enclaves, including secure routing and boundary controls.

• Familiarity with data‑at‑rest (DAR) and data‑in‑transit (DIT) encryption standards, key management systems, and compliance‑driven data protection requirements.

• Hands‑on experience with at least one enterprise cloud cost management platform, including the ability to build cost models tied to architectural decisions (e.g., AWS Cost Explorer / CUR, Azure Cost Management, Google Cloud Billing).

• Experience in at least two of the following areas:

  • Microservices operating in production

  • Distributed data systems

  • Event‑driven or asynchronous architectures (message queues, data streams)

  • Systems employing autoscaling or load balancing

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience architecting solutions across multi‑cloud or hybrid‑cloud environments, including integration patterns and governance models.

• Experience generating enterprise‑level cloud architecture documentation, standards, and reference designs.

• Strong background in cloud migration strategy, including application modernization, dependency mapping, and phased migration planning.

• Familiarity with cloud‑native observability platforms and monitoring strategies for distributed systems.

• Experience guiding DevOps, engineering, and operations teams in cloud best practices, architectural decisions, and technology adoption.

• Experience developing cloud cost optimization strategies, cost forecasting, and financial governance models (FinOps practices).

• Background in designing architectures that support zero‑trust principles and advanced cloud security postures.

• Experience evaluating and integrating new cloud services, emerging technologies, or enterprise platform capabilities.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.