Platform DevOps Engineer

Agile Defense; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Agile Defense is seeking a Platform DevOps Engineer to lead secure, cloud-native platforms supporting mission-critical applications. You will drive DevSecOps practices, mentor teams, and collaborate with government stakeholders to deliver automated, scalable solutions.

Required: Active TS/SCI clearance, 10+ years in DevOps/DevSecOps, strong AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform experience. You will design CI/CD pipelines, IaC, and secure SDLC processes.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Ten or more years of progressive experience in DevOps/DevSecOps environments.
• Five or more years deploying cloud-native solutions in AWS.
• Strong experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines (GitLab or similar).
• Extensive Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, Kustomize, container security experience.
• Solid IaC skills with Terraform or similar.
• Experience with secure SDLC practices and Agile methodologies.
• Ability to mentor engineers and work with government stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for DevOps/DevSecOps across projects.
• Lead design, implementation, and improvement of secure, scalable cloud-native platforms.
• Oversee full service lifecycle from design through deployment and operation.
• Capture customer requirements, align with project goals and performance metrics.
• Design, implement, and maintain enterprise CI/CD pipelines.
• Establish DevSecOps standards and governance across SDLC.
• Develop Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform/CrossPlane.
• Standardize Kubernetes deployments with Helm/Kustomize.
• Develop automated tests and deployment strategies to improve reliability.
• Monitor performance, availability, security, and scalability; optimize as needed.
• Mentor developers and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

DevOps

DevSecOps

AWS

Kubernetes

Docker

Helm

Kustomize

Terraform

Python

CrossPlane

GitLab

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/IS

Tools

GitLab

Kubernetes

KeyCloak

Docker

Helm

Kustomize

Terraform

CI/CD

Python

CrossPlane

AWS

Job description

About Agile Defense

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation’s most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Requisition #: 1714

Job Title: Platform DevOps Engineer

Location: Arlington, VA

Clearance Level: Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with the ability to obtain or maintain TS/SCI eligibility

Job Description

Agile Defense is seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Platform DevOps Engineer to serve as the technical leader for the design, implementation, and sustainment of secure, scalable cloud-native platforms supporting mission-critical applications. The SME will provide technical leadership across the software development lifecycle, establish DevSecOps best practices, guide infrastructure modernization efforts, and mentor engineering teams. This individual will work closely with government stakeholders, architects, developers, cybersecurity professionals, and program leadership to deliver resilient, automated, and cloud-first solutions.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for DevOps and DevSecOps architecture across multiple projects.
• Continuously improve Developer Experience on the cloud platform
  • Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of secure, scalable cloud-native platforms.
• Engage in and improve the full lifecycle of services—from design and development through deployment, operations, monitoring, and optimization.
• Capture and execute customer requirements while ensuring alignment with project objectives and performance metrics.
• Design, implement, and maintain enterprise CI/CD pipelines using industry best practices.
• Define, establish, and maintain DevSecOps standards, processes, and governance across the software development lifecycle.
  • Design and implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using tools such as Terraform and Crossplane.
• Standardize the creation, deployment, and management of Helm charts and Kubernetes-based application deployments.
• Develop and implement automated testing frameworks and deployment strategies to improve reliability and reduce operational risk.
• Monitor platform performance, availability, scalability, and security while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical design sessions.
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure and application issues while providing root cause analysis and long-term solutions.
• Mentor developers and junior engineers and provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve efficiency, security, and scalability.
• Collaborate directly with government stakeholders and program leadership to develop technical roadmaps and modernization strategies.
• Support proposal development, technical solutioning, and architecture planning efforts as required.

Education and Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related STEM field or equivalent combination of education, certifications, and experience.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in DevOps, DevSecOps, cloud engineering, and platform engineering, with demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead or Subject Matter Expert supporting enterprise-scale environments.

Years of Experience

10+ years

Required Skills

Position Requirements

• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with the ability to obtain or maintain TS/SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field; or equivalent combination of education, certifications, and experience.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise DevOps and DevSecOps environments.
• Five (5) or more years of experience designing and deploying cloud-native solutions within Amazon Web Services (AWS).
  • **Two (2) or more years**of experience in software development, ideally maintaining customer facing systems
  • Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead or Subject Matter Expert on enterprise software development or cloud modernization efforts.
  • Demonstrated experience onboarding developers and application teams to a mature infrastructure
• Extensive experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines using GitLab or similar technologies.
• Extensive experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, Kustomize, container security, vulnerability scanning, and container hardening.
• Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform or comparable technologies.
• Experience implementing secure DevSecOps practices throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Strong knowledge of Agile software development methodologies.
• Experience reviewing and validating software code, application architectures, and infrastructure designs.
• Experience developing automation using Python, Bash, or similar scripting languages.
• Experience deploying and maintaining highly available enterprise applications in AWS.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve complex technical issues.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with engineering teams, program leadership, and government stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Required Technical Experience

• Git and GitLab
• Kubernetes
• KeyCloak
  • Docker
• Helm
• Kustomize
• Terraform
• CI/CD pipeline development
• Python
• CrossPlane
• AWS cloud services

Preferred Skills

Desired or Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience supporting large-scale DoD cloud modernization initiatives.
• Experience deploying enterprise applications in AWS production environments.
• Experience designing enterprise Kubernetes platforms.
• Experience with Platform Engineering and Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs).
• Experience implementing Zero Trust architectures.
• Experience with Keycloak, Redis, CrossPlane, and AWS Load Balancing.
• Experience with Apache Airflow and enterprise ETL pipelines.
• Experience with Jira.
• Experience with Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, Prometheus, Grafana, or similar observability platforms.
• Experience with Amazon Linux.
• Strong proficiency in Python, Bash, JavaScript, and TypeScript.

Working Conditions

General Office Environment

Our Core Values

Employees of Agile Defense are our number one priority, and the importance we place on our culture here is fundamental. Our culture is alive and evolving, but it always stays true to its roots. Here, you are valued as a family member, and we believe that we can accomplish great things together. Agile Defense has been highly successful in the past few years due to our employees and the culture we create together.

What makes us Agile? We call it the 6Hs, the values that define our culture and guide everything we do. Together, these values infuse vibrancy, integrity, and a tireless work ethic into advancing the most important national security and critical civilian missions. It’s how we show up every day. It’s who we are.

• Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
• Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
• Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication, ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
• Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
• Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
• Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities