Systems Engineer - Riverbed SME

Job Description BAE Systems is looking for an experienced Systems Engineer to join our SITEC team at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. The Riverbed SME Systems Engineer will be the technical authority for Riverbed performance monitoring, digital experience management, and network visibility platforms across the enterprise environment. This position is responsible for engineering, administration, optimization, cybersecurity compliance, and lifecycle management of Riverbed technologies (excluding Steelhead WAN optimization appliances).

The Riverbed SME Systems Engineer will operate within and support multiple classified and unclassified environments, ensuring secure, compliant, and highly available performance monitoring capabilities across J6 mission systems.

This position supports operations within the following enclaves: NIPR (Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network); SIPR (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network); SOCRATES (as defined by the supported command architecture)

The Riverbed SME will manage and support the following suites, as deployed:

• Riverbed AppResponse
• Riverbed NetProfiler
• Riverbed Portal
• Riverbed Aternity
• Riverbed NPM+

Key responsibilities of this role include the following:

• Architecture & Engineering
• Design and implement secure Riverbed monitoring architectures across NIPR, SIPR, and SOCRATES enclaves.
• Develop enclave-specific system design documentation and data flow diagrams.
• Engineer scalable deployments supporting hybrid, virtual, and physical infrastructures.
• Integrate Riverbed tools with SIEM, ITSM, cybersecurity, and enterprise monitoring platforms.
• Ensure cross-domain and enclave segmentation compliance.

• Operations & Administration
• Provide Tier II/III engineering support and root cause analysis.
• Administer platform configuration, system health monitoring, and performance tuning.
• Perform software upgrades, patching, backups, and disaster recovery validation.
• Maintain role-based access controls (RBAC) and auditing policies.
• Support configuration management and change control boards (CCB).
• Proficiency in Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Combine subsystems, resolve compatibility issues, and ensure interoperability

• Performance Monitoring & Optimization
• Analyze application, network, and endpoint performance trends.
• Generate executive dashboards and mission-impact assessments.
• Develop actionable insights to reduce latency, packet loss, and user-impacting incidents.
• Tune alert thresholds and monitoring policies to reduce noise.

• Cybersecurity & Compliance
• Maintain compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards and STIG requirements.
• Support ATO lifecycle documentation and security control validation.
• Coordinate vulnerability scanning, remediation, and patch cycles.
• Ensure enclave-specific hardening baselines are maintained.

• Documentation & Reporting
• Develop and maintain SOPs, engineering diagrams, and operational runbooks.
• Provide weekly/monthly operational reports to leadership.
• Brief senior leadership on system health, trends, and risk posture.

• Collaboration & Leadership
• Coordinate with Network, Cybersecurity, Systems, and Application teams.
• Support incident response and war-room troubleshooting efforts.
• Provide mentorship to junior administrators and engineers.
• Serve as the technical liaison between contractor teams and government leadership.

• Troubleshooting and Support
• Monitor the health and performance of the monitoring servers themselves, proactively addressing any issues.
• Investigate and resolve issues related to data collection, ensuring all monitored devices are reporting correctly.
• Basic to intermediate scripting skills (PowerShell, Bash, Python) for automation of routine tasks.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• BS + 10 years of experience OR MS + 8 years of experience OR PhD with 5 years of experience
• A DoW security clearance at the TS/SCI level is required.
• DoDD 8570 01-M IAT II, specifically CompTIA Security
• Must be DoW 8140 compliant under the Work Role Code 451 – System Administrator - Advanced level.
• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability in performance optimization and system engineering processes.
• Advanced knowledge of:
• TCP/IP, SNMP, NetFlow, sFlow
• Application Performance Monitoring (APM)
• Network Performance Monitoring (NPM)
• Windows & Linux server administration
• VMware or other virtualization platforms
• Scripting (PowerShell, Python, Bash)
• REST API integrations
• Splunk, ServiceNow, or similar enterprise tools
• SQL databases
• Multi-enclave architecture support (NIPR/SIPR)

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• SCSA: SolarWinds Certified Systems Administrator (Not Required but highly desired)
• RCSA: Riverbed Certified Solutions Associate

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $120874 - $205486

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems, Inc.BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.