Platform Engineer Senior Principal

General Dynamics Information Technology•USA VA Crystal City - 2521 S Clark St (VAC119), VA

6d•$185,300 - $250,700•Hybrid

About The Position

Iron EagleX is seeking an experienced Platform Engineer Sr Principal to lead the architecture, implementation, and continuous improvement of secure, scalable cloud-native platforms. This position requires extensive experience with Amazon Web Services, Kubernetes, cloud networking, infrastructure automation, DevSecOps, and Site Reliability Engineering. The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority across multiple projects, establish platform engineering standards, and help development teams deliver secure and reliable applications more efficiently. Experience with software development, customer-facing applications, and Internal Developer Platforms is highly desirable. We are seeking a senior Platform Engineering professional who will work closely with software engineers, infrastructure teams, cybersecurity personnel, program leadership, and government stakeholders to modernize enterprise platforms and improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of mission-critical systems. The Platform Engineer Sr Principal will provide technical leadership throughout the full service lifecycle, from architecture and development through deployment, monitoring, incident response, optimization, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Ten or more years of progressive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise DevOps, DevSecOps, Platform Engineering, or cloud environments.
Five or more years of experience designing and deploying secure, highly available, cloud-native solutions in Amazon Web Services.
Two or more years of software development experience, preferably supporting production or customer-facing systems.
Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead, architect, or subject matter expert for enterprise software development, Platform Engineering, infrastructure automation, or cloud modernization initiatives.
Extensive experience designing, deploying, administering, and troubleshooting enterprise Kubernetes platforms.
Extensive experience with Docker, Helm, Kustomize, container security, vulnerability scanning, image management, and container hardening.
Strong knowledge of AWS networking, including Virtual Private Clouds, subnets, routing, load balancing, DNS, ingress, security groups, network access controls, and connectivity troubleshooting.
Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, Crossplane, or comparable technologies.
Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using GitLab or similar technologies.
Experience applying DevSecOps practices throughout the software development lifecycle.
Experience supporting highly available enterprise applications in AWS production environments.
Experience implementing monitoring, logging, alerting, observability, incident response, root cause analysis, and reliability engineering practices.
Experience developing automation using Python, Bash, or similar scripting languages.
Experience reviewing and validating software code, application architectures, Kubernetes configurations, cloud infrastructure, and technical designs.
Experience onboarding developers and application teams to mature cloud platforms and standardized deployment processes.
Strong knowledge of Agile software development methodologies.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve complex infrastructure, application, networking, and security issues.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to engineers, program leadership, cybersecurity personnel, and government stakeholders.
Amazon Web Services
Kubernetes
AWS cloud networking and load balancing
Git and GitLab
Docker
Helm
Kustomize
Terraform
Crossplane
CI/CD pipeline development
Python
Bash
Keycloak or comparable identity and access management technologies
Container security and vulnerability management
Monitoring, observability, and Site Reliability Engineering practices
Active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI eligibility
Ten or more years of related DevOps, DevSecOps, cloud engineering, infrastructure automation, or Platform Engineering experience
Five or more years designing and deploying cloud-native solutions in AWS
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline; an equivalent combination of education, certifications, and relevant professional experience may be considered
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture and engineering efforts across multiple applications, platforms, or project teams
Ability to operate in classified environments and support secure, mission-critical production systems
Only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role

Nice To Haves

Experience with software development, customer-facing applications, and Internal Developer Platforms is highly desirable.
Supporting large-scale Department of War cloud modernization initiatives.
Holding an active TS/SCI clearance.
Designing and operating enterprise Kubernetes platforms supporting multiple applications and development teams.
Building or administering Internal Developer Platforms that improve developer productivity and application delivery.
Implementing Site Reliability Engineering practices, service-level objectives, error budgets, capacity planning, and operational automation.
Designing zero-trust architectures and integrating identity and access management solutions such as Keycloak.
Implementing AWS networking solutions using load balancers, ingress controllers, routing, private connectivity, DNS, and network security controls.
Supporting enterprise applications in AWS production environments.
Developing software or maintaining customer-facing applications.
Developing automation and services using Python, Bash, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
Working with Apache Airflow and enterprise data or ETL pipelines.
Operating Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, Prometheus, Grafana, or similar observability and data platforms.
Administering Amazon Linux environments.
Working with Jira and Agile development teams.
Supporting proposal development, customer technical exchanges, architecture planning, and modernization roadmaps.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical authority for Platform Engineering, DevOps, and DevSecOps architecture across multiple projects.
Lead the design, implementation, modernization, and continuous improvement of secure, scalable, and highly available cloud-native platforms.
Design and operate enterprise Kubernetes platforms supporting multiple applications, teams, and deployment environments.
Architect secure AWS solutions with an emphasis on cloud networking, routing, load balancing, ingress, identity management, resiliency, and zero-trust principles.
Capture, analyze, and implement customer requirements while ensuring alignment with mission objectives, program priorities, security requirements, and performance expectations.
Engage throughout the full lifecycle of platform services, including design, development, deployment, operations, monitoring, incident response, and optimization.
Design, implement, and maintain enterprise CI/CD pipelines using GitLab or similar technologies and industry-recognized best practices.
Define, establish, document, and maintain DevSecOps standards, processes, governance, and security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.
Design and implement Infrastructure as Code solutions using Terraform, Crossplane, and comparable technologies.
Standardize the creation, deployment, configuration, and lifecycle management of Helm charts, Kustomize overlays, and Kubernetes-based applications.
Develop and implement automated testing frameworks, deployment validation processes, and release strategies that improve platform reliability and reduce operational risk.
Establish and support platform observability using metrics, logs, dashboards, alerting, tracing, and service-level objectives.
Monitor platform availability, performance, scalability, capacity, and security while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement.
Apply Site Reliability Engineering principles to improve system resilience, reduce operational toil, and increase service availability.
Troubleshoot complex infrastructure, networking, security, and application issues while providing root cause analysis and implementing durable corrective actions.
Conduct architecture reviews, infrastructure reviews, code reviews, and technical design sessions.
Review and validate application architectures, infrastructure designs, deployment patterns, and technical implementation plans.
Onboard application development teams to standardized cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes deployment patterns, and operational processes.
Develop automation and platform capabilities using Python, Bash, or similar scripting and programming languages.
Mentor developers and junior engineers while providing technical leadership across cross-functional engineering teams.
Collaborate with government stakeholders, program leadership, product owners, cybersecurity teams, and engineering personnel to develop technical roadmaps and modernization strategies.
Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve security, reliability, developer experience, performance, and scalability.
Support proposal development, technical solutioning, architecture planning, and customer-facing technical discussions as required.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages
401(k) with company match
Competitive pay
Paid time off
Variety of medical plan options
Dental plan options
Vision plan
401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match.
Full flex work weeks where possible
Variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
Short and long-term disability benefits
Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available.