Kubernetes System Engineer

RedLine Performance Solutions•Aberdeen, MD

13h•$140,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

RedLine Performance Solutions (RedLine) has been in the HPC solutions engineering services business for over 26 years and is consistently determined to keep the "bar of excellence" quite high for new hires. This enables RedLine to accomplish what other firms cannot and promotes a high level of staff retention. We offer services ranging from full life cycle HPC systems engineering to remote managed services to HPC program analysis. We are looking for an Kubernetes System Engineer to join us. RedLine is looking for a Kubernetes System Engineer to join us. The successful candidate will be responsible for the architecture, operation, and maintenance of a critical High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Kubernetes infrastructure. This role requires a deep understanding of cloud-native technologies, robust security practices, and large-scale system administration to maintain a secure and reliable platform. An active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance is a requirement to apply, as are current Linux+ and Security+ (or equivalent) certifications. This position on-site at the customer location in Aberdeen, Maryland. Reloation may be considered. This full-time position offers a full benefits package including paid time off, 401k match, and health care benefits.

Requirements

Proven experience in systems administration, particularly in Linux-based environments
Extensive hands-on experience designing, building, and operating production Kubernetes clusters
Deep understanding of Kubernetes networking, security principles (RBAC, Network Policy, Pod Security Standards), and storage (CSI)
Strong knowledge of container runtimes (containers) and the full node lifecycle
Experience integrating applications and platforms with identity management systems like LDAP or FreeIPA
Familiarity with operating CI/CD pipelines and associated tools (e.g., GitLab, Artifactory, Harbor).
An active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance is a requirement to apply, as are current Linux+ and Security+ (or equivalent) certifications.

Nice To Haves

Specific experience with RKE2 is highly desirable
Experience working in secure, compliance-driven environments (e.g., CUI, DoD)
Knowledge of integrating Kubernetes with HPC schedulers (Slurm, PBS) and high-performance storage (Lustre, Weka)
Proficiency with observability stacks for monitoring, logging, and alerting
Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and configuration management tools
Demonstrated ability to design and test high-availability and disaster recovery plans.

Responsibilities

Kubernetes platform architecture and operations
Design, deploy, and operate highly available RKE2 Kubernetes clusters, including multi-control-plane environments with stable etcd quorum
Manage Kubernetes versioning upgrades and compatibility, along with cluster certificate authorities and trust chains
Oversee complete lifecycle of Kubernetes nodes (cordon, drain, replacement) and operate container runtimes like containerd
Tune kubelet behavior, manage resource pressure, and ensure consistent node configuration across all environments
Networking, security, and identity
Design and operate Kubernetes networking (CNI), implement network policies for workload isolation, and manage ingress controllers and DNS configurations
Implement and enforce security best practices, including RBAC, admission controls, pod security standards, secrets management, and audit logging
Perform routine systems administration and apply necessary STIGs and OS maintenance to ensure compliance for CUI-level operations
Integrate Kubernetes with enterprise identity services (LDAP/FreeIPA) and implement SSO with support for CAC/MFA
Data, CI/CD, and Reliability
Design and operate Kubernetes storage solutions using CSI drivers (Lustre, Weka), manage persistent volumes, and integrate S3 object storage
Operate and maintain CI/CD infrastructure, including GitLab and container registries (Harbor, Artifactory), to support developer workflows
Implement comprehensive monitoring, logging, and alerting. Lead incident response, perform capacity planning, and maintain operational runbooks
Architect for high availability, define RPO/RTO, and implement robust backup, restore, and failover procedures for all stateful services
Integrate Kubernetes workloads with HPC schedulers like Slurm/PBS and enable seamless, secure job submission and identity mapping between platforms.

Benefits

full benefits package including paid time off
401k match
health care benefits
Competitive salary band: $140,000 – $180,000/year dependent on experience and relocation needs
Medical, dental & vision coverage with substantial company contribution
Company funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA)
Paid time off (PTO) + 11 paid holidays
Company Match 100% immediately vested retirement savings (401k)
Employee wellness programs & gym discounts
Employee assistance & concierge services
Professional development resources