Azure Kubernetes Service Administrator

Utah State University, Space Dynamics Laboratory • North Logan, UT

40d • Onsite

About The Position

The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking a Systems Administrator with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) experience. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in cloud-native technologies within Microsoft Azure, container orchestration, and Linux system administration. The candidate will be responsible for managing, scaling, and optimizing AKS clusters, maintaining the underlying Linux systems, and ensuring our cloud infrastructure is secure, reliable, and high performing. This is an on-site, non-remote position for our North Logan, UT location.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience and a BS degree in a related technical field (e.g., IT, computer science, information systems, system engineering), or 10+ years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree
• 2+ years of experience managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Kubernetes clusters in production environments
• Demonstrated experience administering Linux systems (RHEL, Ubuntu) in enterprise or mission-critical environments
• Strong Linux security skills, including system hardening, patch management, and configuration management
• Experience with containerization tools such as Docker or Podman
• Experience managing Kubernetes and/or Azure identity and access management (IAM)
• Proficiency in one or more scripting languages (e.g., Bash, Python, PowerShell).
• Experience with automated deployment and infrastructure as code tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Terraform)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to document and communicate technical processes effectively
• Must be willing to travel, though not a normal expectation
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain US Government Security Clearance
• Valid CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) is required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire

Nice To Haves

• 10+ years of experience in Linux and cloud systems administration, or 15+ years in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Kubernetes clusters in production environments
• Certifications such as Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204), Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (AZ-305), or Azure DevOps Engineer (AZ-400)
• Experience implementing or maintaining container hardening standards (CIS, DoD STIG, or equivalent)
• Hands-on experience aligning AKS, Linux, or DevOps workflows with CMMC and NIST 800-171 security requirements (e.g., access control, logging, configuration management, vulnerability remediation)

Responsibilities

• Designs, deploys, and manages Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters for production and development environments
• Collaborates with development teams to containerize applications and manage workloads in AKS and Kubernetes environments
• Integrates AKS clusters with Azure services (e.g., Azure Monitor, Azure DevOps, Azure Networking) for observability, CI/CD, and governance
• Administers, configures, and maintains enterprise Linux systems
• Implements Linux system hardening, patch management, user and permission administration, and ensures compliance with DoD and organizational security standards
• Automates system provisioning and configuration using tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Terraform
• Monitors and troubleshoots system and cluster performance
• Implements infrastructure as code (IaC) and automation for scalability and repeatability
• Leads and assists in installation, configuration, and documentation of systems and components
• Participates in change management, system audits, and compliance efforts to maintain data integrity and operational readiness
• Works collaboratively with IT and engineering teams to improve system reliability, scalability, and efficiency
• Performs system maintenance while minimizing downtime and customer impact; provides after-hours maintenance or on-call support as needed

Benefits

• SDL offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package.
• SDL delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense.
• At SDL, we strive to uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees