Kubernetes Platform Engineer - Senior

Peraton•Washington, DC

1d•$135,000 - $216,000

About The Position

Senior Kubernetes Platform Engineer - Team Lead Position Summary The Senior Kubernetes Platform Engineer will lead an AWS EKS-based multi-tenant platform. This role provides technical leadership, manages Kubernetes platform architecture, and ensures stability, scalability, and security for mission-critical workloads. The Senior Engineer oversees day-to-day platform operations, directs automation efforts, and serves as the escalation point for complex technical issues.

Requirements

BS/BA, 8+ years of work experience, with:
5-7 years in Kubernetes operations with AWS EKS in production.
Must have hands-on experience with Cilium and Karpenter.
Proven leadership in multi-tenant Kubernetes environments.
Expertise in Helm, Terraform, ArgoCD, AWS IAM/RBAC, Cilium, and ECR.
Experience with platform-level security and FedRAMP/NIST compliance.
Strong scripting skills (Bash, Python, Go).
Excellent oral and written communications skills
Ability to work nights and/or weekends for patching or deployments.
Ability to obtain a public trust clearance

Nice To Haves

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or equivalent experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead Kubernetes cluster administration (EKS) including provisioning, upgrades, node group management, and patching.
Architect and optimize platform infrastructure, ensuring scalability and adherence to security baselines.
Oversee creation and maintenance of Kubernetes IaC (Helm charts, Terraform modules) for tenant onboarding and environment configuration.
Manage and patch Kubernetes-layer tooling (Cilium, Karpenter) and associated open-source components.
Own platform network configuration (DNS, firewall services/TIC 3.0, VPN/tunnels).
Direct base image automation, distribution, and security incident response.
Implement and maintain load balancer configurations (public & ingress, TIC 3.0 compliance).
Drives development of golden paths and developer self-service capabilities.
Lead contingency planning and disaster recovery strategies, including backup/restore procedures and incident communications.
Produce and maintain platform documentation (POAMs, SOPs, security SOPs, management plans).
Mentor junior platform engineers and coordinate work across Cloud Ops, App Support, and Automation teams.