Freelance Python Automation Engineer Jobs in South Carolina

Entarian is seeking an Automation Engineer to support the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC Atlantic) Expeditionary Enterprise Systems and Services (E2S2) Division. NIWC Atlantic provides design, acquisition, and sustainment services for Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) Information Technology (IT) systems.

This is a mid-level Automation Engineer position and focuses on designing, deploying, and sustaining secure cloud-native infrastructure within a federal/defense environment. The engineer will act as a subject matter expert in AWS cloud services, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), and CI/CD pipelines to ensure repeatable, compliant, and efficient IT system delivery.

Core responsibilities:

• Infrastructure Automation: Design and maintain repeatable infrastructure deployments using IaC methodologies (CloudFormation/Terraform).
• Pipeline Management: Build and manage CI/CD pipelines for automated testing, deployment, and rollback (GitLab CI, AWS CodePipeline).
• Cloud Operations: Implement and manage monitoring, logging, and diagnostic solutions (CloudWatch, AWS Config, Splunk) to resolve complex infrastructure issues.
• Integration: Facilitate the integration of AWS cloud services with on-premises systems and hybrid environments.
• Collaboration & Leadership: Work with cross-functional teams (developers, security analysts) and mentor junior engineers while leading automation initiatives.
• Technical Documentation: Write detailed documentation for architecture decisions, automation processes, and compliance artifacts.

Technical Skills:

• Cloud Platforms: Deep expertise in AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, IAM, VPC, RDS).
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Advanced proficiency in CloudFormation and Terraform.
• Scripting & Development: Expert-level Python, Bash, or PowerShell; experience with AWS SDKs and CLI.
• Networking: Strong knowledge of VPC peering, Transit Gateway, Route 53, VPNs, and firewall management.
• Configuration Management: Experience with Ansible and AWS Systems Manager.
• Containers (Preferred): Familiarity with Docker, ECS, EKS, and Kubernetes.

Compliance and Security:

• Federal Standards: Working knowledge of FISMA and NIST 800-53.
• Security Best Practices: Implementation of IAM policies, encryption, logging, and monitoring.
• Risk Mitigation: Ability to assess and mitigate risks in cloud environments specifically to meet evolving government requirements.
• Access Control: Strict adherence to federal security protocols and identity management.

This position is remote but visits to customer site (Charleston, SC) will be required. Currently, customer site visits for Program Increment Planning occur four times per year, one week each.

• Active Secret Level Clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer, Electrical or Electronics Engineering or Mathematics with field of concentration in computer science.
• 3 years in cloud engineering, automation, or DevOps.
• Certification/training in accordance with DoD 8570.1M / 8140 (e.g., Security+ CE, CISSP, Network+ CE).
• Tooling: Hands-on experience with GitLab CI, CloudWatch, and either Python or Bash.

• Professional AWS Certifications: DevOps Engineer Professional or Solutions Architect Professional.
• Associate AWS Certifications: SysOps Administrator or Solutions Architect Associate.
• Project/Process Certifications: ITIL or PMP.

Formed through the strategic union of Sev1Tech and ERT, Entarian is a premier provider of mission-critical engineering and technology solutions. Founded on a legacy of excellence dating back to 1993, Entarian is a product of an evolved and fully diversified engineering and federal technology leader. From deep space to defense and civilian missions, Entarian delivers secure, mission-aligned digital solutions that drive national resilience and operational effectiveness. We don't just support modernization; we define it.

Join the Mission and Start your Career Journey: Apply Directly via our Careers Portal  Connect, Referrals & Inquiries? Email the team: careers@entarian.com

Entarian is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.