Senior Server Engineer

Senior Server Engineer – Messaging & Email Security (Contract) Estimated Duration: February 2, 2026 – September 11, 2026 Employment Type: Contract (W2 or 1099 options available) Work Environment: Enterprise / Public Sector Technology Operations Position Summary Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G) is seeking a highly experienced Senior Server Engineer to lead the engineering, optimization and security of enterprise messaging platforms. This contract role serves as a senior technical authority and subject matter expert for Microsoft 365 Exchange, Exchange on-premises, email security platforms and Azure-based identity services. The Senior Server Engineer will provide advanced operational support, lead incident resolution, support migrations and modernization efforts and strengthen the organization’s email and messaging security posture. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong independent execution and the ability to collaborate across infrastructure, security and operations teams in regulated environments. Key Responsibilities Messaging Platform Engineering & Support • Lead administration and optimization of Microsoft 365 Exchange Online and on-premises Exchange environments • Manage mail flow, routing, retention policies, compliance settings and hybrid Exchange configurations • Support Exchange upgrades, migrations and service modernization initiatives Email Security & Threat Protection • Administer the Proofpoint email security platform, including spam filtering, DLP, encryption, quarantine management and forensic analysis • Manage Microsoft Defender for Office 365 including anti-phishing, safe attachments, safe links and advanced threat intelligence • Troubleshoot complex email delivery, security events and end-user messaging issues Azure & Identity Integration • Support Azure AD integration with Microsoft 365 services, SSO and hybrid identity synchronization • Assist with identity hardening, conditional access policies and security baseline implementation Incident Response & Root Cause Analysis • Lead resolution of major messaging and email security incidents • Perform root cause analysis and deliver corrective and preventive action recommendations Monitoring, Reporting & Optimization • Develop dashboards and reports covering message flow trends, threat detection, blocked attacks and service health metrics • Analyze platform performance and deliver actionable improvement recommendations • Support SLA tracking and operational reporting Documentation & Knowledge Transfer • Create and maintain operational SOPs, runbooks, architecture diagrams and service reports • Support knowledge transfer and mentoring of engineering and operations staff Required Qualifications • 7+ years of professional experience supporting enterprise messaging environments • Advanced hands-on expertise with Microsoft 365 Exchange Online • Strong experience with Exchange Server 2013, 2016 or 2019 • Proven experience with hybrid Exchange coexistence and migrations • Demonstrated administration of Proofpoint Essentials or Enterprise Protection, including TAP and TRAP • Strong experience with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 • Advanced troubleshooting skills related to email routing, SMTP protocols and DNS records including MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC • Experience supporting Azure AD and identity integrations Preferred Qualifications • PowerShell scripting for automation, administration and reporting • Experience supporting government, education, financial services or other regulated environments • Familiarity with message trace tools and transport rule design • Exposure to Microsoft Purview compliance and data protection solutions • Ability to evaluate and provide architecture guidance on emerging email security technologies Professional Competencies • Clear and confident communicator with strong documentation skills • Ability to translate complex technical concepts for leadership and non-technical stakeholders • Self-directed engineer capable of operating with minimal supervision • Strong analytical, diagnostic and problem-solving skills Employment Classification This position is available as either W2 or 1099, based on candidate preference and engagement structure. • W2 Contract: Hourly compensation with applicable employment tax withholdings • 1099 Contract: Independent contractor engagement for qualified candidates Final classification will be determined prior to onboarding in accordance with contract requirements and applicable regulations.