Senior DevSecOps / Platform Security Engineer (AWS + Kubernetes)

Red Cell Partners

2h•Remote

About The Position

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. DEFCON AI is a modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) company that provides cutting-edge technology solutions for generating operationally relevant insights for the next generation of logistics and mobility decision making. It is an AI-driven software incorporating an intelligent agent within a simulation environment, defining how logistics disruptions are handled. The team consists of mission-focused AI Engineers, mobility, and logistics experts leveraging big data and cutting-edge technology to develop solutions for addressing national challenges in logistics and mobility. The role is for a senior, hands-on DevSecOps/Platform Security Engineer to build and operate production security controls across the AWS and Kubernetes platform. This involves designing and implementing guardrails for secure delivery, covering CI/CD security automation, software supply chain controls, and Kubernetes policy enforcement, while partnering with Platform/SRE and Security/GRC.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in DevOps/SRE/Platform Engineering and/or Security Engineering with a strong automation and delivery focus.
Hands-on experience securing AWS environments: IAM (least privilege), network controls, encryption (KMS), and centralized logging/detection.
Strong Kubernetes security experience (EKS or equivalent): RBAC, workload hardening, and policy enforcement via admission control.
Experience integrating security into CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows (SAST, SCA, secrets scanning, container scanning, IaC scanning).
Infrastructure as Code proficiency (Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK, or Pulumi) and ability to embed guardrails into IaC workflows.
Proficiency scripting/coding (e.g., Python, Go, Bash) to build integrations, automations, and internal tooling.
Able to communicate risk and tradeoffs clearly and pragmatically to engineers; improves signal-to-noise rather than adding friction.
Possess keen analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with the capability to understand complex software challenges and collaborate toward viable solutions.
Skilled in distilling technical complexities into comprehensible terms for varied audiences.
Resilience and adaptability in the face of an ever-changing tech landscape, with a knack for rapidly integrating new technologies and methodologies.
An understanding and hands-on experience with agile development methodologies and version control tools.
Demonstrated adaptability in the fast-paced tech landscape, continually embracing and integrating new technologies and methodologies.
A commitment to perpetually update one's skill set, staying aligned with the latest in technology trends and best practices.
Candidates with 6+ years of relevant experience will be considered regardless of their academic pedigree.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Kubernetes policy-as-code tooling (OPA/Gatekeeper, Kyverno) and secure workload identity patterns (OIDC/IRSA).
Experience with software supply chain security: SBOM generation and management, signing/verification (e.g., cosign), and provenance concepts.
Experience building ‘golden paths’ or internal developer platforms that improve both delivery velocity and security outcomes.
Familiarity with regulated delivery expectations (NIST SP 800-171/CMMC) and evidence-driven control implementation.

Responsibilities

CI/CD security automation and developer-facing security workflows (SAST/SCA, secrets scanning, IaC scanning, container scanning).
Software supply chain controls (SBOM, artifact/image signing and verification, provenance and promotion workflows).
Kubernetes policy enforcement and admission controls (policy-as-code) that encode platform security guardrails.
Co-own AWS security guardrails with Platform/SRE (IAM patterns, logging and detection, network and encryption baselines).
Partner with Security/GRC on control interpretation and evidence needs; implements controls in engineering systems and pipelines.
Design, build, and maintain CI/CD security controls that scale across repositories and teams (reusable pipeline components, templates, and standards).
Implement Kubernetes security architecture and guardrails (RBAC hardening, workload security baselines, admission policies, network policies, and safe multi-tenant patterns as applicable).
Improve container security end-to-end: base-image strategy, vulnerability scanning, registry controls, image signing, and promotion workflows.
Operationalize vulnerability management with risk-based prioritization, measurable remediation SLAs, and dashboards/metrics (MTTR, exposure trends, top recurring root causes).
Drive developer enablement: clear documentation, lightweight design reviews/threat modeling for high-impact changes, office hours, and high-signal guidance embedded in tooling.
Ship code and infrastructure, not just recommendations.
Own reliability and outcomes for the controls built.
Respond to incidents and on-call rotation related to platform security controls and pipeline reliability (scope aligned with Platform/SRE).
Support delivery into regulated environments and work closely with Security/GRC to implement engineering-owned controls and produce audit-ready evidence.
Help translate requirements (for example, NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC expectations) into practical, automated guardrails within CI/CD, AWS, and Kubernetes.

Benefits

A fully remote, results-based environment.
Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package.
100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval.
Flexible work environment where you manage your work day.
14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave.
Salary range: $175,000-$215,000.
Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement with strong performance as the firm grows.
Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind.
Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through Crux.