Directory Services Engineer SENIOR
XMS Solutions is seeking a Senior Directory Services Engineer to support a large, mission-critical Microsoft Active Directory environment for the Department of State. This hybrid role is ideal for an experienced AD/Identity professional who can operate in complex enterprise environments, solve Tier 3 issues, communicate clearly under pressure, and strengthen directory services at scale.
You will support the continued consolidation, modernization, and security of the DoS Active Directory environment while working alongside a cross-functional technical team. This is a high-impact opportunity for someone who understands both the technical depth of Active Directory and the importance of reliable service delivery in a global government environment.
What You’ll Do
· Provide advanced support for Microsoft Windows Active Directory and related identity services.
· Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex Tier 3 directory services issues.
· Support secure operations across a large global AD infrastructure.
· Assist with escalations from other Directory Services team members through ServiceNow, email, phone, and monitoring tools.
· Identify and resolve functional or business issues affecting applications that rely on Active Directory.
· Develop and update SOPs, FAQs, technical documentation, and knowledge base articles.
· Communicate issue status clearly to both technical teams and executive stakeholders.
· Participate in cross-functional troubleshooting, planning, and operational improvement efforts.
· Apply sound judgment within established policies, standards, and security practices.
· Help advance the team’s mission of maintaining a secure, stable, and reliable directory services environment.
What Makes You a Strong Fit
· Deep hands-on experience with Microsoft Active Directory in a complex enterprise environment.
· Strong understanding of identity, directory services, authentication, Group Policy, DNS, replication, trusts, and related AD concepts.
· Experience supporting mission-critical or highly regulated environments.
· Ability to translate technical issues into clear business language for users, leadership, and stakeholders.
· Strong troubleshooting skills and the judgment to know when escalation is needed.
· A calm, professional communication style during high-priority incidents.
· Experience working with ticketing systems, monitoring tools, and operational support processes.
· A collaborative mindset with the ability to work independently when needed.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Required Experience
· Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of technical experience in a complex Windows Active Directory environment.
· Additional technical training, certifications, or equivalent experience may be considered in place of a degree.
· Expert-level knowledge of Active Directory and adjacent identity technologies.
· Prior customer-facing technical support experience.
· Experience contributing to documentation, SOPs, and team knowledge sharing.
Clearance Requirement
· Must have an Interim Secret clearance to start.
· Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Schedule & Work Arrangement
This role is based in the Washington, DC area and follows a hybrid work arrangement. Because this environment requires 24/7/365 operational support, candidates may be assigned to day, swing, or mid-shift coverage based on mission needs.
Core Skills
Microsoft Active Directory | Directory Services | Identity Management | Windows Server | DNS | Group Policy | Tier 3 Troubleshooting | ServiceNow | Enterprise Infrastructure | Government IT | Secret Clearance | Top Secret Clearance
Why This Role Matters
Directory Services is the backbone of secure access, authentication, and enterprise operations. In this role, your work will directly support the stability and security of a global Department of State environment. You will not just be closing tickets; you will be helping protect and improve the identity infrastructure that thousands of users and applications depend on every day.
