Senior Kubernetes Solutions Architect

Description

The company is a technology firm within a larger global organization and works only with the US federal government.

Its team of more than 13,000 people supports clients in defense, national security, public safety, civilian, and military health.

This senior role centers on designing, deploying, and automating Kubernetes-based platforms that run secure, scalable, and highly available container environments for business-critical workloads.

You will build strong clusters and help development teams get the most from self-service Kubernetes platforms.

Deep experience in cluster management, security, and scaling is central, along with advanced skill in Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native automation.

Experience with hybrid or private cloud, such as VMware vSphere or OpenShift, would set you apart.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and run Kubernetes clusters with a focus on scale, reliability, and security, following cluster lifecycle best practices.
• Oversee core Kubernetes services: networking, storage, workload scheduling, and RBAC access control.
• Keep containerized workloads highly available, efficiently scaled, and secure in multi-tenant environments.
• Design, implement, and manage Kubernetes Operators that automate deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and lifecycle management of complex applications, using both custom and existing Operators to keep environments consistent.
• Use Infrastructure as Code, mainly Terraform, to provision Kubernetes resources automatically.
• Design, implement, and improve CI/CD pipelines for containers, with security controls built into every stage.
• Write automation tools and scripts in Python, Go, or Bash that use APIs to cut manual work in Kubernetes operations.
• Act as the senior Kubernetes expert, mentoring development teams and guiding their use of container orchestration.
• Work with stakeholders to evaluate new Kubernetes-native solutions and recommend platform improvements.
• Encourage sound Git practices and the use of AI tools to speed up building and troubleshooting container applications.

Requirements

• Hold and maintain DoD 8570/8140 certifications.
• Have 8 years of experience and a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional background, with extensive work in Kubernetes and container orchestration.
• Be advanced in Infrastructure as Code, especially Terraform, including targeted applies, imports, and complex module usage.
• Have significant experience architecting, deploying, and managing Kubernetes clusters, such as Amazon EKS or an equivalent.
• Have a strong command of Kubernetes RBAC, security policies, and best practices.
• Understand Kubernetes networking, Linux/Unix systems, and platform security thoroughly.
• Be proficient with Git and GitOps workflows for managing Kubernetes resources.
• Preferred: Experience with VMware vSphere or OpenShift in hybrid or private cloud settings.
• Preferred: Proven record designing, building, and maintaining automated CI/CD pipelines for containerized workloads.
• Preferred: Proven experience building custom Kubernetes operators.
• Preferred: Familiarity with configuration management tools such as Ansible.
• Preferred: Exposure to public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and DevOps methodologies.
• Preferred: Advanced programming skills in Python, Go, or JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Preferred: Understanding of authentication protocols including OIDC, OAuth2, LDAP, and SAML.
• Preferred: Contributions to open-source Kubernetes or DevOps projects.
• Preferred: Relevant certifications such as Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS), and Kubestronaut.

Conditions

Up to 25% temporary duty (TDY) travel outside the continental US (OCONUS).

An active TS/SCI clearance is required.

The pay range of $120,400 to $234,700 USD applies in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Actual pay depends on factors such as office location, role, skill set, and experience.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, with no fixed deadline.

The company is committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace for all people.

Benefits

• A wide variety of benefits is offered.
• A collaborative community where you can grow and learn through hands-on work, certifications, and industry training.