Associate Software Engineer Jobs in Salinas, CA (NOW HIRING)

1. Position Overview

The Health and Services Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for a Cloud Engineer to work in the Seaside, CA area. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience helping the Defense Testing and Assessment Center (DTAC) Manpower Personnel Testing Analysis (MPTA) mission.

In this mission, we design, develop, and sustain secure, scalable cloud-based systems that support DoW testing and assessment programs, including the delivery of the CAT-ASVAB and associated language testing platforms. Our team enables reliable, high-performing cloud environments that support research, data analysis, and operational test delivery across geographically distributed users.

As a Cloud Engineer, you will contribute to building and maintaining modern cloud infrastructure that supports mission-critical applications and data systems. You will help implement cloud architectures, optimize system performance, and support continuous modernization efforts aligned with DevSecOps and DoW digital transformation objectives. This role is essential to ensuring system availability, scalability, and security for applications that directly impact military recruiting, assessment, and readiness.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist who enjoys solving complex infrastructure challenges, working collaboratively across engineering and cybersecurity teams, and supporting innovative cloud solutions in a dynamic, mission-focused environment.

2. Primary Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain cloud-based infrastructure and services supporting DTAC systems, including web-based and cloud-based testing platforms (e.g., CAT-ASVAB and language testing systems).
• Develop, deploy, and manage scalable cloud architectures to support secure test delivery, data processing, and application hosting.
• Support cloud migration, system integration, and modernization efforts in alignment with DoW CIO digital modernization, DevSecOps, and Zero Trust initiatives.
• Configure and manage cloud resources (compute, storage, networking) to ensure performance, availability, and reliability of mission systems.
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot cloud infrastructure, applications, and network issues across development, test, and production environments.
• Implement and maintain automated deployment pipelines and infrastructure-as-code solutions to support continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD).
• Ensure compliance with DoW cybersecurity requirements, including secure configurations, patching, and vulnerability remediation.
• Support system accreditation activities by assisting with documentation, configuration management, and RMF-related tasks.
• Provide technical support for cloud-based systems, including troubleshooting, system updates, and user support for field testing environments.
• Collaborate with software engineers, cybersecurity personnel, and system administrators to ensure secure and efficient system operations.

3. Basic Qualifications (Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience designing, implementing, managing, and optimizing cloud computing infrastructure and services.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Basic knowledge of cloud architecture, networking, virtualization, and storage concepts.
• Experience with scripting or programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, or .NET) used in cloud environments.
• Familiarity with system administration, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring.
• Understanding of cybersecurity best practices and secure cloud configurations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required DoW background investigation (Tier 1 or higher) and IT system access.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

4. Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a DoW or federal environment, including familiarity with RMF and ATO processes.
• Cloud certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate, Azure Administrator Associate, or equivalent.
• Experience with DevSecOps tools, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with DISA Cloud SRG, FedRAMP, and NIST 800-series frameworks.
• Experience supporting high-availability, mission-critical systems or large-scale enterprise applications.
• Exposure to monitoring and logging tools (e.g., CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Splunk).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.