Kubernetes Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Kubernetes Engineer (Technical and Cloud Computing Engineer Staff IV/V) to maintain on-premises and cloud-based Kubernetes clusters and support engineering teams. As part of a multidisciplinary infrastructure team, the role manages clusters used for technical analyses, including space-launch telemetry analysis, and collaborates with scientists and engineers on solutions for the space enterprise and critical national space assets. The position requires shared responsibility and ownership across a cross-functional team. The engineer manages Kubernetes environments on-premises and in AWS, with end-to-end responsibility for deployment, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, capacity planning, backups, and disaster recovery. The role includes maintaining high availability through frequent security patching, owning production AWS and Kubernetes services, independently resolving technical problems, supporting telemetry analysis during launch events, and assisting users running workloads and applications in Kubernetes. The role also provides Linux expertise, evaluates technologies, and automates operations with code. The selected candidate must work full-time on-site at the facility in El Segundo, California, or Chantilly, Virginia. After-hours support is required for Kubernetes infrastructure troubleshooting during launch events. The role requires the ability to maintain a Secret security clearance and obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, STEM, or IT, or equivalent experience.
- At least 5 years of increasingly responsible and relevant professional experience supporting a high-availability enterprise environment for Staff IV.
- At least 2 years of hands-on experience managing existing Kubernetes environments, including deployment, upgrades, patching, and backups.
- Full ownership and engineering responsibility for production AWS and Kubernetes services.
- Ability to identify and resolve engineering problems independently.
- Experience in Linux systems administration, including configuration, in an enterprise environment.
- Strong understanding of networking fundamentals.
- Experience automating repetitive tasks with scripting or DevOps tools.
- Ability to maintain a Secret security clearance and obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
- For Staff V: at least 7 years of increasingly responsible and relevant professional experience in AWS, Linux, and infrastructure as code.
- For Staff V: experience architecting and deploying secure AWS and/or Kubernetes environments from scratch.
- For Staff V: experience with performance tuning and capacity planning for AWS and/or Kubernetes environments.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certification.
- Experience deploying Kubernetes clusters using Rancher.
- Experience deploying or supporting persistent container storage on Kubernetes; Portworx is preferred.
- Experience in Linux performance tuning and security hardening for an enterprise DoD environment.
- Experience with VMware, Hyper-V, or Harvester.
- Experience with automated provisioning, configuration management, infrastructure as code, or GitOps tools such as ArgoCD, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Packer, Bash, Golang, or Python.
- Experience with Agile and Scrum.
- Current and active TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
Responsibilities
- Manage on-premises and AWS production Kubernetes environments, including deployment, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, capacity planning, backups, and disaster recovery.
- Frequently apply security patches across all layers of Kubernetes infrastructure while maintaining very high uptime.
- Own and provide engineering responsibility for production AWS and Kubernetes services.
- Independently identify and resolve problems across the Kubernetes stack.
- Ensure successful real-time analysis of telemetry data from space-launch partners, including SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin.
- Provide after-hours Kubernetes infrastructure troubleshooting during launch events.
- Support scientists and engineers running workloads and applications in Kubernetes.
- Provide Linux expertise and troubleshooting.
- Evaluate and test new products and technologies.
- Use code to enhance and automate operations.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation based on performance and the value contributed.
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
- 401(k) plan with a company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
- Relocation assistance.
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Education assistance programs.
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
