Lead DevOps Engineer - Kubernetes Deployments & GitOps

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

2d•Remote

About The Position

This is an opportunity to invent the future of health care by joining a mission focused on health programs integrated across the entire continuum of care. OSIT has initiated a multi-year modernization program to update and enhance enterprise technology systems. The Lead DevOps Engineer will be a hands-on technical leader accountable for designing, building, and operating Kubernetes deployment platforms using GitOps practices to deliver reliable releases across multiple environments. This role owns end-to-end delivery for assigned services, coordinating across development, QA, and operations. The position drives security, governance, and compliance for the delivery platform, ensuring standardized, repeatable, and auditable deployment processes. The Lead DevOps Engineer will also lead and mentor a medium-sized engineering team, setting technical direction while remaining deeply engaged in implementation and operational execution.

Requirements

Hands-on experience deploying and operating workloads on Kubernetes, including production-grade deployment and troubleshooting practices
Practical experience with GitOps tooling (ArgoCD and/or Flux) and Git-centered delivery workflows
Proficiency in modern source control and delivery ecosystems: Git, and enterprise platforms such as GitHub and/or GitLab
Demonstrated ability to build/maintain CI/CD automation and handle necessary manual steps while systematically converting them into automation over time
Demonstrated leadership as a hands-on technical lead, including team guidance, mentoring/coaching, and day-to-day delivery ownership
Proven ability to execute and govern releases (branching/release coordination, approvals, and rebuild discipline) in a multi-team environment
Demonstrated ability to lead a medium-sized team including performance tracking, coaching, and performance management
Experience deploying into Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and working familiarity with Azure (identity, networking, security, monitoring/observability). Similar experience with AWS is acceptable
Solid scripting skills (e.g., PowerShell/Python or similar) for pipeline/tooling automation and operational efficiency
United States Citizenship
Ability to obtain favorable adjudication following submission of Department of Defense eQuip Form SF86

Nice To Haves

CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) certification
Cloud certifications (Azure and/or AWS)
Experience deploying/operating in a highly regulated environment (e.g., government contract constraints, sensitive data, strict access requirements, formal change control)
Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code such as Terraform
Experience managing vendor relationships and driving SLA-oriented outcomes in partnership with operations and security/governance stakeholders
Experience hiring and building teams in Kubernetes/GitOps/DevOps domains (interviewing, selection, onboarding)
Solid communication and stakeholder management skills across engineering, operations, and leadership audiences

Responsibilities

Build and operate Kubernetes deployment capabilities using ArgoCD and/or Flux, establishing GitOps standards for repo structure, promotion workflows, and environment consistency
Engineer and maintain deployment automation/tooling (CI/CD pipelines, scripting, deployment platforms), converting repeat manual work into durable automation
Administer and govern source control ecosystems (Git, GitLab, GitHub), including security controls, branch protections, and operational hygiene aligned to platform needs
Run sprint releases and release governance: cut release branches on schedule, coordinate merges, enforce approval controls, trigger rebuilds for impacted pipelines, and execute releases aligned to CHG approvals with clear status communication
Own reliability of non-prod and production delivery environments: keep release environments healthy, respond to operational issues impacting delivery, and coordinate environment refresh/restore activities
Lead secure delivery practices, including secrets management for certificates/credentials/keys and disciplined rotation practices integrated into deployment operations
Adopt enterprise-approved AI tools and drive AI adoption within the team to improve speed, quality, and consistency of engineering delivery
Lead, coach, and manage performance for a medium-sized engineering team; build capability through mentoring/training while maintaining accountability for outcomes
Partner effectively with internal stakeholders (developers, leadership, infrastructure/ops) and external stakeholders (vendors/partners) to deliver results and manage dependencies