Microsoft Windows Engineer SME

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform® provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

DIGIT is seeking a highly skilled Microsoft Windows Engineer SME to provide expert-level support for hardware, software, and operating systems to our GSA customers. This Lead Windows Engineer role will manage and maintain our core Windows environment, including developing and maintaining a standardized quarterly Windows image to ensure a consistent and secure baseline. The ideal candidate will possess extensive expertise in deploying software and security updates via BigFix, scripting, troubleshooting, and resolving complex issues related to Group Policy, networking, hardware, software, and drivers within a Windows 11 environment.

As a leading provider of advanced information technology solutions and professional services to U.S. federal government agencies, EmpowerAI is the prime for a $807m task order in support of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Digital Infrastructure Technologies (IDT) DIGIT (Digital Innovation for GSA Infrastructure Technologies) task order driving digital transformation and delivering continuous improvement and business value to its customers.  The team is comprised of the best-in-class technology partners to leverage forward-leaning technologies and best practices to transform GSA’s IT capabilities and shift offerings to provide a more flexible service delivery model, completing the agency’s shift to a fully digital experience along with its adoption of advanced, emerging technologies such as intelligent automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Responsibilities:

This position shall perform the following (to include but not limited to) activities:

• Lead Engineer for engineering and development of the custom GSA Quarterly WIndows desktop image, Windows Build upgrades and vulnerability patching. 
• Creating scripts in VB, PowerShell and other scripting languages.
• Troubleshooting Group Policies, networking, workstation hardware, software and drivers for WIndows 11 machines.
• Prepares documentation of methods and procedures 
• Contributes to the development of sections of systems engineering documentation such as KIOSK configuration and Hardware Certification.
• GSA Baseline image testing 
• Hardware and Peripheral evaluation, testing and certification for use in GSA.
• Test and maintain BIOS guide for each model desktop/laptop in GSA.
• Provide Tier 3 support to ITSD/DSS/ATS (IT Support) for Hardware/Software/Configuration issues.
• Escalate issues to vendor and third-party entities, as necessary and directed by the Government

Requirements:

• Public Trust Clearance by start date.

• 10 - 15 years of experience and bachelor's degree

•  Experience as a remote worker demonstrating time management and self discipline with cultural change management and Agile mindset.

• ITILv4 Foundation Training and ITILv4 Foundation Certification, may be obtained within 120 days after hire.
• Experience with Scripting in Powershell and using BigFix to create BigFix Actions Scripts.
• Previous experience implementing Windows 11 in a large enterprise environment.
• Minimum of 8 years as Windows engineer.
• 2+ years working with Windows 11. 
• Must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including holidays as scheduled.
• Provides technical/management leadership on major tasks or technology assignments.
• Proven ability to work independently in a full and/or partial remote environment with limited supervision and may supervise/lead others.
• Possess the ability to communicate in both oral and written forms, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff as well as clients.
• Maintain standard working hours per the DIGIT contract and to be available for meetings, and other collaborative efforts during working hours.
• Decision-making and domain knowledge may have a critical impact on overall project implementation.

Desired:

• Microsoft certifications
• Experience with HCL BigFix, VMware, SolarWinds, Active Directory

• Proficiency in the Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Slack, ServiceNow, NetIQ AD/GPO Directory Management tool, WinBatch, Visual Basic, and PowerShell scripting.
• Experience with managing Active Directory Group Policies for WIndows 11 desktop operating systems and or applications such as Microsoft Office, Edge, Google Chrome and various client GPO setting requirements.
• Experience with evaluating and applying Security Hardening guide Group Policies to Windows workstations.
• Proficient in investigating Application, browser and OS issues that stem from GPO settings and work with security for approved exceptions to the hardening guides.
• Experience with MBAM (Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring) hard drive encryption for all GSA Win11 PCs including legacy key retrieval. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following: 

- If remote, maintain home workspace in a safe manner, free from safety hazards and in line with information security policies. 

- Communicate verbally in person, over the phone or by video chat and clearly/succinctly in writing, primarily utilizing a keyboard. 

- Appear on camera for meetings with co-workers and government partners via video chat and ensure the protection of proprietary company and customer information is consistent with the company’s expectation of information security.

- Viewing computer screens and sitting for long periods of time. 

- Travel is not required.    

All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firm’s overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.