Zawad Zahid

Systems Engineer

I keep federal infrastructure running, secure, and automated. Nearly 10 years across defense, government, and enterprise IT.

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  • Active Secret Clearance
  • Security+ CE
  • ITIL 4
  • MBA, IT Management
Zawad Zahid in a gray three-piece suit
Windows PowerShell
PS C:\Users\zawad> Get-Engineer -Name "Zawad Zahid" | Format-List

Role             : Systems Engineer, U.S. Navy program
Experience       : ~10 years (federal, defense, enterprise)
Environment      : 25+ servers, hybrid AWS GovCloud + VMware/Hyper-V
UsersSupported   : 2,200+
HoursAutomated   : 40+ per week (PowerShell, Python)
Compliance       : DISA STIGs, ACAS, patching
Clearance        : Active Secret
Certifications   : {Security+ CE, ITIL 4 Foundation}
Education        : MBA, IT Management
Status           : Open to systems engineering and IT operations roles

PS C:\Users\zawad>

About

I keep mission systems running, and I automate the work that slows teams down.

I currently support a U.S. Navy program, where I manage 25+ servers across a hybrid cloud and on-prem environment and keep a portfolio of applications running for more than 2,200 users.

Outside my day job, I co-founded DMV IT Service in 2020. As CTO, I've directed the build of our AI products and helped grow our training programs to more than 250 students. Long term, I'm working toward IT operations leadership, combining hands-on technical work with mentoring and building teams.

Expertise

Three layers of the same job: keep it running, keep it secure, and keep it from needing a person to babysit it.

Infrastructure & operations

Server administration across cloud and on-prem, Citrix application delivery, patch cycles, and keeping mission applications stable.

ToolsAWS GovCloud, VMware, Hyper-V, Citrix, Windows Server, Active Directory

Security & compliance

DISA STIG implementation, ACAS vulnerability remediation, and web risk assessments in DoD environments.

ToolsDISA STIGs, ACAS, certificate management, ECA/CAC authentication

Automation

PowerShell and Python tools that take repetitive work off the team: 40+ hours a week in my current role and 30+ in my previous one.

ToolsPowerShell, Python, Task Scheduler, SSIS, GitLab

Experience

Full-time roles on one track, the business I co-founded running in parallel since 2020.

Jul 2024 – nowU.S. Navy, via Serco

Business Systems Analyst III (Systems Engineer)

Washington, DC

  • Built PowerShell and Python automation tools, delivered via Citrix, that eliminate 40+ hours of manual work per week.
  • Administer 25+ servers across a hybrid AWS GovCloud and on-prem VMware/Hyper-V environment.
  • Drive STIG, ACAS, web risk assessment, and patch compliance; led a Citrix environment migration.
Sep 2020 – nowDMV IT Service

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer

Vienna, VA

  • Grew the firm from IT training into managed IT, AI and automation, custom software, and technical staffing.
  • Directed development of AI products Ava and Rova.
  • Helped grow DMV IT Institute's training programs to 250+ students.
Sep 2022 – Jul 2024Pentagon Force Protection Agency

Business Technical Analyst

Arlington, VA, via Systems Engineering, Inc.

  • Maintained mission-critical systems in a law enforcement dispatch environment.
  • Automated operations with PowerShell, eliminating 30+ hours of manual work per week.
Apr 2020 – Mar 2023The World Bank Group

IT Operations Management Consultant

Washington, DC

  • Coordinated incident response with ServiceNow and PagerDuty.
  • Monitored on-prem, Azure, AWS, and VMware servers with Splunk.
  • Managed identity and access with SailPoint IdentityIQ.

Earlier

  • Systems Administrator, American Institutes for Research 2019 – 2020
  • IT Support Specialist, Northern Virginia Community College 2018 – 2019
  • Systems Administrator, ASRS Tax 2017 – 2018

Credentials

Cleared and certified for DoD work.

Active Secret Clearance

U.S. Department of Defense

CompTIA Security+ CE

DoD 8140 baseline

ITIL 4 Foundation

IT service management

Education

  • MBA, Information Technology Management, Western Governors University 2026
  • B.S., Information Systems Management, University of Maryland Global Campus 2022
  • A.S., Information Technology, Northern Virginia Community College 2019

Stack

  • AWS GovCloud
  • Azure
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V
  • Citrix
  • Windows Server
  • Active Directory
  • PowerShell
  • Python
  • Oracle
  • SQL Server
  • ServiceNow
  • Splunk
  • GitLab

Let's talk.

Open to conversations about systems engineering and IT operations roles in the DC area and remote.

Email me LinkedIn Download resume