Kubernetes SME – Senior

Vertekal LLC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20–40% above market rates

Generous PTO

Annual Growth Bonus

Immediate 401(k) contributions

Job summary

A technology solutions provider is looking for a Senior Kubernetes SME in Chantilly, VA. You will architect and optimize Kubernetes platforms supporting U.S. national security. Ideal candidates should have over 10 years of IT experience, including 5 in Kubernetes, and possess active TS/SCI clearance. The role offers a competitive salary above market rates, generous PTO, and immediate 401(k) contributions from day one.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph eligibility.
• 10+ years of experience in IT engineering, with 5+ focused on Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with DoD/IC security requirements.
• Deep knowledge of cloud architectures (AWS preferred) and cluster security.
• Proficiency with Helm, GitOps, Terraform/Terragrunt, and automation pipelines.
• Familiarity with DoD/IC security requirements, container hardening, and STIG/SRG.
• Strong ability to lead platform design, mentor engineers, and drive cross‑team alignment.

Responsibilities

• Architect, deploy, and secure enterprise Kubernetes environments.
• Lead cluster lifecycle management and policy enforcement.
• Collaborate with DevOps and cyber teams.
• Integrate logging, monitoring, and observability tools (ELK, Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry).
• Define best practices for container security, network segmentation, RBAC, and zero‑trust controls.
• Troubleshoot complex K8s issues affecting availability, performance, or mission operations.
• Collaborate with DevOps, cyber, and software engineering teams to support platform adoption and modernization initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership during design reviews, migration events, and operational readiness testing.

Skills

Kubernetes expertise

Cloud architectures (AWS preferred)

Automation pipelines

Leadership and mentoring

Cloud architectures (AWS)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Helm

GitOps

Terraform/Terragrunt

ELK

Prometheus

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting role at a company that prioritizes the personal growth of its employees? At Vertekal, the development and well-being of both you and your family are crucial to our success and our commitment to serving our customers. Our mission is to build, defend, and evolve technology capabilities for United States National Security.

Job Description

As a Senior Kubernetes SME at Vertekal, you'll architect, secure, and optimize enterprise container orchestration platforms that support operational and mission‑critical workloads for U.S. national security customers. You will serve as the technical authority for Kubernetes, enabling resilient, scalable, and compliant platforms across multi‑cluster, multi‑environment deployments. Your deep cloud‑native expertise will drive automation, reliability, observability, security, and performance across Vertekal's container ecosystems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field (Master's preferred)
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph eligibility
• 10+ years of experience in IT engineering, with 5+ years focused on Kubernetes
• Expertise with Kubernetes (EKS, GKE, AKS), container runtimes, and operator frameworks
• Deep knowledge of cloud architectures (AWS preferred), networking, RBAC, service mesh, and cluster security
• Proficiency with Helm, GitOps, Terraform/Terragrunt, and automation pipelines
• Familiarity with DoD/IC security requirements, container hardening, and STIG/SRG compliance
• Strong ability to lead platform design, mentor engineers, and drive cross‑team alignment

Responsibilities

• Architect, deploy, and secure enterprise Kubernetes environments across AWS and on‑prem platforms
• Lead cluster lifecycle management, including provisioning, upgrades, scaling, and policy enforcement
• Implement GitOps workflows, IaC modules, and automation frameworks for repeatable deployments
• Integrate logging, monitoring, and observability tools (ELK, Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry)
• Define best practices for container security, network segmentation, RBAC, and zero‑trust controls
• Troubleshoot complex K8s issues affecting availability, performance, or mission operations
• Collaborate with DevOps, cyber, and software engineering teams to support platform adoption and modernization initiatives
• Provide technical leadership during design reviews, migration events, and operational readiness testing

Work Location

On Site - Chantilly, VA

Compensation

20–40% above market rates

Annual Growth Bonus

Achieve personalized and company‑wide strategic goals each year to receive an annual bonus

Time Off

Generous PTO plus all federal holidays

Retirement

Immediate, fully vested 401(k) contributions from day one

Apply today!