Kubernetes Platform Engineer

MartinFed; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MartinFed is looking for a qualified Kubernetes Platform Engineer to manage and maintain the infrastructure of their on-premises Kubernetes clusters. The position involves scaling, reliability, and maintainability of the platform, leading technical direction, and integrating key technologies. Candidates should have a Bachelor's Degree in computer science, a minimum of 8 years of experience, and be able to obtain a DOE clearance. Strong Linux networking and GitOps skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years as a Platforms engineer and at least 5 years of Kubernetes experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy 'Q' clearance is required.
• Demonstrated experience administering Kubernetes on on-premises infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of Kubernetes clusters including upgrades and security patching.
• Troubleshoot cluster-level issues including resource constraints.
• Implement and maintain cluster security hardening.

Skills

Kubernetes Administration

Linux Networking Fundamentals

GitOps methodologies

Scripting and Automation

Cilium CNI

Education

Bachelor's Degree in computer science or related field

Tools

K3s

RKE2

GKE

EKS

GitHub

GitLab

Job description

Job Overview

XCEL Engineering is seeking a qualified applicant for a Kubernetes Platform Engineer. As a Platform Engineer, you will implement, and maintain the infrastructure underpinning our on-premises Kubernetes clusters, with a strong focus on scalability, reliability, and maintainability. You will lead the technical direction of our platform engineering initiatives, evaluate and integrate key technologies, and deliver a robust internal platform that powers development across the organization.

Essential Functions

Cluster Operations & Administration

• Manage the full lifecycle of Kubernetes clusters (on-premises K3s/RKE2, GKE, and EKS), including upgrades, security patching, scaling, and capacity planning
• Troubleshoot cluster-level issues including control plane problems, node failures, and resource constraints
• Implement and maintain cluster security hardening based on CIS benchmarks and organizational security policies
• Manage etcd cluster health, backup procedures, and disaster recovery capabilities
• Monitor cluster performance and optimize resource utilization across multi-tenant workloads
• Coordinate with datacenter operations team for physical infrastructure changes and maintenance windows

Networking & Cilium CNI

• Implement, configure, and maintain Cilium CNI across on-premises and cloud Kubernetes environments
• Design and enforce network policies to achieve secure multi-tenant isolation
• Troubleshoot complex pod networking issues including DNS resolution, service discovery, and connectivity problems
• Configure and maintain BGP peering with physical network infrastructure for on-premises integration
• Work with network engineering team on firewall rules, VLANs, IPv6 networking, and network architecture

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in computer science or closely related field and a minimum of 8 years as a Platforms engineer. At least 5 years of Kubernetes experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" clearance is required. This requires US Citizenship
• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated experience administering Kubernetes on on-premises infrastructure (K3s, RKE2, or similar bare-metal distributions)
• Experience with cloud-managed Kubernetes (GKE and/or EKS)
• Strong understanding of Linux networking fundamentals: iptables/nftables, routing tables, DNS, TCP/IP stack, network troubleshooting
• Experience with GitOps methodologies and tools such as ArgoCD or Flux
• Proficiency in scripting and automation: Bash, Python, Go
• Cilium CNI or equivalent production experience
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and communicate technical concepts clearly
• Understanding of Kubernetes security best practices including Pod Security Standards, RBAC, and secrets management
• GCP (Google Cloud Platform) and/or AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud platform experience

Desired Qualifications

• Go programming experience for operator maintenance and platform tooling development
• CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) or CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist) certification
• Background in BGP routing protocols and network engineering concepts
• IPv6 networking experience
• Infrastructure as Code experience with Terraform or Ansible
• Experience with internal developer platform (IDP) tools such as Backstage or similar
• Experience with service mesh technologies (Istio, Linkerd)
• Excellent understanding of code review and familiarity with GitHub and GitLab workflows

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions

• Inside office environment
• Working on a computer for long periods of time
• May involve long period of sitting at a desk
• The work environment is fast-paced and sometimes involves extreme deadline pressures

Xcel Engineering is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, protected Veteran Status, genetics or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Xcel Engineering's current openings as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by calling 855.212.1810. Thank you for your interest in Xcel Engineering.

All positions at Xcel Engineering, Inc. are contingent upon passing both a background check and drug screening prior to a start date and are subject to random drug screenings during the employment period. In addition, Xcel Engineering is an E-Verify employer.