Lead Infrastructure Engineer

Sparton is an innovative defense contractor headquartered in DeLeon Springs, Florida, with a rich heritage dating back to 1900. Renowned for our exceptional manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in producing high-quality sonobuoys critical to the United States' undersea warfare arsenal, enhancing national security against current and future adversaries. But we are more than manufacturers; we are problem solvers. Our team of dedicated engineers and skilled professionals tackles some of the most challenging issues in defense technology. Our expertise includes advanced research systems, maritime solutions, sophisticated sensor technologies and payload delivery capabilities.

Job Summary

The Lead Infrastructure Engineer is the senior technical authority responsible for the implementation, operation, and continuous improvement of the organization's on-premises and cloud infrastructure. This role provides hands-on technical leadership across server platforms, Microsoft Azure, and infrastructure operations while serving as the primary escalation point and technical lead for the Systems Administration team. This is a technical leadership role, not a people-management position. The Lead Infrastructure Engineer owns infrastructure standards, drives execution of infrastructure projects, and ensures operational excellence across day-to-day support, lifecycle management, and modernization initiatives. Reports directly to the Senior IT Manager/IT Director.

• Serve as the technical owner for enterprise server and infrastructure platforms.
• Lead infrastructure implementation efforts across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Act as the highest-level escalation point for complex infrastructure issues.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to Systems Administrators without direct people management.
• Translate business and security requirements into practical infrastructure solutions.
• Own the lifecycle management of Windows and Linux Server environments (physical and virtual).
• Lead server build standards, configuration baselines, and hardening practices inline with InfoSec policies.
• Oversee patching strategies, vulnerability remediation, and system reliability.
• Manage virtualization platforms (Hyper-V) including capacity planning and performance optimization.
• Ensure backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions are properly designed, tested, and maintained.
• Own Azure infrastructure operations including virtual machines, storage, governance, and automation.
• Define Azure standards for resource organization, tagging, cost management, and lifecycle management.
• Lead cloud modernization initiatives and hybrid infrastructure integration.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts and runbooks to improve reliability and efficiency.
• Partner with InfoSec team on cloud connectivity and security posture.
• Lead day-to-day infrastructure operations and ticket workflows.
• Ensure consistent execution of infrastructure processes and adherence to SLAs.
• Define and maintain operational runbooks, SOPs, and documentation.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for infrastructure incidents.
• Guide change management execution for infrastructure changes and projects.
• Serve as the technical lead for infrastructure projects including upgrades, migrations, and platform improvements.
• Coordinate technical execution across Systems Administrators and cross-functional teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve stability, scalability, automation, and standardization.
• Balance operational stability with modernization and improvement initiatives.
• Partner with the Sr. Network & Security Engineer on infrastructure-related networking and firewall initiatives.
• Collaborate with the InfoSec team to align infrastructure with security and compliance requirements.
• Ensure infrastructure designs and configurations support regulatory and compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, CMMC, ISO).

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field - or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience in Windows System administration or infrastructure engineering roles.
• 3+ years of experience in Network Engineering (Cisco).
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and endpoint management platforms.
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation and configuration management tools.
• Experience with monitoring and management platforms (e.g., ManageEngine, SolarWinds).
• Knowledge of security frameworks such as NIST 800-171, CMMC, or ISO 27001.
• Exposure to cloud cost optimization and governance practices.

• Strong expertise in Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and virtualization platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure and hybrid environments.
• Strong PowerShell scripting and automation skills.
• Experience managing backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP).
• Experience working in regulated or compliance-driven environments.
• Strong documentation, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Experience managing Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

• Less than 30% travel required
• The physical demands describe here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. This job operates in a professional office environment and a manufacturing environment. The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to a variety of extreme conditions in the plant. The noise level in the work environment may be loud.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, talk, and communicate, use hands/finger, feel, and reach with arms. This position requires the ability to lift, bend or stoop as necessary up to 20 lbs.

• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage.
• Healthcare concierge to help you navigate your benefit selections.
• Virtual health solutions for physical therapy, menopause, and diabetes.
• Company paid Basic Life Insurance. Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available.
• On-site wellness clinic.

• Competitive compensation.
• 401k program to plan for your future with company match 75% up to 8% plus 1% Employer contribution.
• Company Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick).
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption assistance.
• Fertility and family building assistance.

• Flexible work schedules available based on position:
  • 9/80 schedule providing every other Friday off
  • 5/8s
  • 4/10s
  • 3/12s
• Lifestyle spending account.
• Perks at work.
• Generous employee referral program.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Voluntary benefits available: longer term care, legal, identity theft, pet Insurance, and many more options