Full Job Description
About the Principal Systems Engineer Position
The Principal Systems Engineer is responsible for the architecture, design, implementation, automation, configuration, and support of complex enterprise infrastructure across on-premises, cloud, hybrid cloud, and Operational Technology (OT) environments. This role improves reliability, resiliency, security, scalability, and operational efficiency while serving as a senior technical subject matter expert and leading medium-to-large technology initiatives. The position is based in Alpharetta and requires approximately 20% travel.
What You Get to Do
• Design, implement, configure, maintain, and support enterprise infrastructure across on-premises, cloud, hybrid cloud, IT, and OT environments.
• Engineer and support compute, storage, virtualization, operating systems, cloud platforms, identity integration, monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Improve system reliability, performance, security, availability, and operational efficiency through automation, observability, preventive maintenance, and lifecycle management.
• Develop and maintain infrastructure-as-code, configuration-management, and scripting solutions using technologies such as Terraform, Bicep, Ansible, and PowerShell.
• Apply cloud architecture and governance practices, including landing zones, identity and access controls, networking, security guardrails, resource organization, policy enforcement, monitoring, and cost management.
• Evaluate workloads for modernization, migration, re-platforming, or continued on-premises operation based on business, security, reliability, supportability, and cost requirements.
• Install, configure, optimize, and troubleshoot servers, storage, virtualization platforms, operating systems, cloud services, and related infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain system standards, procedures, architecture documentation, technical roadmaps, and operational support practices.
• Serve as a senior technical SME and escalation point while providing technical direction, guidance, and mentorship to engineering and support teams.
• Lead medium-to-large infrastructure and modernization projects, managing scope, timelines, resources, vendors, risks, and budgets.
• Research and recommend technologies and automated solutions that reduce technical debt, strengthen security, improve resiliency, and simplify operations.
• Support infrastructure security, change management, incident and problem management, service continuity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
What You Bring to the Table
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience implementing, administering, engineering, and managing complex enterprise technology infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience designing or supporting production workloads in Microsoft Azure.
• Advanced experience with Windows Server, RHEL/Linux, VMware or comparable virtualization technologies, Microsoft 365, and enterprise infrastructure services.
• Experience with cloud compute, storage, virtual networking, identity and access management, monitoring, backup, disaster recovery, governance, security, and cost management.
• Experience with infrastructure as code, configuration management, automation, and scripting using Terraform, Bicep, ARM templates, Ansible, PowerShell, or comparable technologies.
• Knowledge of SAN/storage, Active Directory, Entra ID, PKI, SQL Server, IP address management such as Infoblox, networking, and cybersecurity practices.
• Understanding of hybrid connectivity, workload migration, cloud shared-responsibility models, least-privilege access, encryption, logging, secrets management, and policy enforcement.
• At least one relevant certification in cloud, operating systems, virtualization, automation, or enterprise infrastructure. Examples include Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, RHCE, VCAP, VCDX, or NCP.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, architecture, project management, communication, and technical leadership skills.
Skills That Set You Apart
• Advanced engineering or technology-focused degree.
• Experience supporting OT or critical infrastructure, including pipelines, power distribution, railways, or other highly regulated operational environments.
• Experience designing cloud landing zones, hybrid network connectivity, cloud governance models, disaster recovery solutions, or workload migration programs.
• Experience with Azure Policy, Azure Monitor, Azure Backup, Azure Site Recovery, Key Vault, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, AWS Control Tower, AWS CloudWatch, or comparable cloud services.
• Experience with container platforms, platform engineering, CI/CD pipelines, Git-based workflows, or automated infrastructure testing.
• ITIL certification or practical experience with IT service management processes.
• Experience with Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), SAN technologies, industrial data centers, SCADA, or Industrial Control Systems.
• Knowledge of pipeline operations and infrastructure resiliency within critical infrastructure environments.
Advantages of Working at Colonial Pipeline Company
• Getting to work for a company that helps meet our country's energy needs and keeps us moving!
• Team members who care about each other while accomplishing remarkable things.
• Highly competitive benefits. Check out Colonial's Total Rewards.
Are you up to the challenge? What are you waiting for? Apply today!
