Watch Desk Lead

Watch Desk Lead

Why You Want This Role

Step into a leadership role at the center of 24x7 mission operations. This team supports a Watch Desk responsible for monitoring and sustaining operational systems that serve the warfighter and other mission users across Government and Contractor-approved facilities worldwide. You will help keep critical systems healthy, responsive, and mission-ready in an environment where speed, ownership, and steady execution matter every day. You will help sustain and evolve a high-performance operational IT environment supporting CNO capabilities. This is not a ticket-only administrator role. You will work hands-on with advanced compute infrastructure, improve how engineers work day to day, and build the documentation and repeatable processes that keep mission systems moving.

What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out

This role gives you real ownership over systems, workflows, and user experience. You will support advanced compute platforms, help modernize infrastructure, partner directly with onsite administrators and engineering teams, and improve how support happens across the environment. The work is practical, visible, and tied to mission outcomes, with a mix of hardware sustainment, Linux administration, virtualization, documentation, and long-term modernization.

At Intelliforce, your work is seen and your contribution matters. Because we support prime programs, our teams stay close to meaningful mission work with real momentum. Because we are a small business, leadership is accessible, communication is direct, and strong technical ownership gets noticed. Add in long-term stability, strong benefits, and a people-first culture, and this becomes more than another system administration role. It is a chance to help shape modern mission infrastructure while making tomorrow’s work easier than today’s.

Schedule and Work Details

This role provides technical services for a 24x7 Watch Desk responsible for monitoring and sustaining operational systems that support the warfighter and other users in Government and Contractor-approved facilities worldwide. The team responds to system problems and customer inquiries in a timely manner while helping meet the continued demands of the global mission. This role includes Tier 1 Watch Desk support for operational systems as well as support for forthcoming new architecture alongside the government.

Watch Desk operates on a repeating two-week schedule:

• 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday through Tuesday and every other Wednesday, this is the open shift
• 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday and every other Wednesday
• 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Sunday through Tuesday and every other Saturday
• 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Wednesday through Friday and every other Saturday
• 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Watch Desk Lead

Here’s What Your Day-to-Day Might Include

• Lead Watch Desk activities supporting operational systems in a 24x7 mission environment
• Monitor system and application health and identify issues before they become mission-impacting
• Troubleshoot OS, application, dataflow, and network issues and escalate as required
• Read and interpret system graphs, dashboards, and metrics to assess system health and correct operations
• Support mission analytics operations and use RTRG mission analytics in day-to-day monitoring and response
• Oversee Tier 1 support activities for production systems supporting mission users worldwide
• Generate concise and accurate status updates for customers, teammates, and leadership
• Produce reports and metrics for customer submission using multiple data sources
• Develop SOPs for Watch Desk personnel and customer use
• Direct and provide meaningful guidance to a small team of Watch Desk shift personnel
• Maintain schedules and support shift coordination as required
• Partner with government personnel and contractor teammates to support new architecture entering operations
• Help maintain clear procedures, strong coordination, and steady execution in a high-visibility mission support environment

Minimum Qualifications

Clearance: Top Secret Clearance with Polygraph, must be active. We do not have the ability to sponsor clearances
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen. We cannot sponsor visas
Experience: 14 years of experience as a Systems Engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Five additional years of SE experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree

Security+ Certification required, or willingness to attain within 6 months

Required Skills

• Experience supporting operational systems in a mission, NOC, Watch Desk, or service desk environment
• Experience leading or coordinating technical support efforts in a high-tempo operational setting
• Strong systems troubleshooting skills across hardware and software
• Strong Linux skills, including system monitoring and troubleshooting
• Experience with Java or scripting languages such as Ruby, Python, or Bash
• Experience developing SOPs and operational procedures
• Familiarity with Rancher, Ansible, Elasticsearch, Redis, Solr, Docker, Kubernetes, and dataflow concepts
• Experience with Nagios, Grafana, and Prometheus
• Experience monitoring OS and applications and troubleshooting issues as needed
• Experience troubleshooting dataflow and network issues and escalating when required
• Ability to read a variety of system graphs and operational dashboards and correctly interpret system behavior
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to dissect complex issues and generate concise, accurate status
• Experience generating metrics and reports for customers using disparate data sources
• Ability to lead a small team and provide meaningful guidance to teammates
• Ability to maintain schedules and support continuous Watch Desk operations

Desired Skills

• AWS knowledge or hands-on AWS experience
• Experience supporting 24x7 operations or watch environments
• Experience with Tier 1 support for mission-critical or operational systems
• Experience helping transition new systems or architecture into operational support
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes, requirements, and operational documentation
• Strong troubleshooting, coordination, and incident management skills
• Ability to stay organized and decisive in fast-moving operational environments

Compensation Range: $155,000.00 - $195,000.00
This salary range reflects our current market estimate for the role. Final compensation will depend on your experience, technical background, overall qualifications, and alignment with the position. We evaluate each candidate thoughtfully, so offers are shaped around the value you bring to the team

• Ample PTO to rest and recharge—plus all federal holidays and your birthday off, just because.
• Multiple medical plan options, including ones with zero deductible or premium for employees.
• Generous 401(k) with immediate vesting—because your future matters now.
• Exciting bonus opportunities, from profit sharing to quarterly awards and President’s Club recognition.
• A culture of collaboration, connection, and fun, with regular team activities that go beyond the work.

Equal Opportunity Matters
Intelliforce-IT Solutions Group, LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.
Need accommodations during the application process? We’re happy to help. Reach out to us at [email protected] with your specific request.