Platform Engineer (FedD200/ FedD201/ FedD202)

defenseunicorns; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

defenseunicorns seeks a Platform Engineer to join the Navy Delivery team, bridging application development, DevOps, and security. You’ll package, deploy, and operate software on the Unicorn Delivery Service (UDS) and Kubernetes environments, translating needs into repeatable deployment artifacts.

The role emphasizes secure, reliable deployment with exposure to React/Vue/NGINX front-ends and .NET/Python services, plus build/run of Kubernetes and Helm configurations. Travel 4–12 times/year.

Qualifications

• Professional experience deploying or operating production applications or platform environments.
• Hands-on experience with cloud-native technologies, containers, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or Kubernetes-based environments.
• Strong Linux/Unix skills and ability to troubleshoot across application and platform layers.
• Experience with application architectures, source code, APIs, containers, runtime dependencies, or deployment requirements.
• Experience with YAML-based configuration such as Kubernetes manifests, Helm, CRDs, or CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with security practices related to applications, APIs, containers, cloud infrastructure, or vulnerability remediation.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently with unfamiliar tech.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a link between applications and the Navy platform environment, promoting best practices.
• Collaborate with application teams to translate needs into repeatable deployment artifacts and processes.
• Innovate and solve complex problems across 2–3 knowledge domains.
• Demonstrate expertise in 1–2 key technologies such as full-stack development, CI/CD, Kubernetes, or cloud platforms.
• Contribute to strategic planning and align tech advances with mission objectives.
• Exhibit strong programming skills and Linux/Unix proficiency.
• Implement infrastructure as code and help build/maintain Kubernetes clusters across distributions (e.g., EKS, RKE2).
• Apply secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation; collaborate with external teams.
• Travel 4–12 times per year.

Skills

CI/CD

Kubernetes

Linux

Security

Cloud-native

Tools

Helm

YAML

Terraform

Job description

Role Description

We are seeking a talented Platform Engineer to join the Navy Delivery team. This role sits at the intersection of platform engineering, application development, DevOps, and application security. The ideal candidate will help application development teams successfully integrate, package, secure, deploy, and operate their software on the Unicorn Delivery Service (UDS) and Kubernetes-based environments. The successful candidate will understand both sides of the application/platform boundary. They should be comfortable working with application source code, APIs, containers, CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes resources, Helm charts, and production runtime concerns. They will collaborate directly with application teams to understand how their software is built and operated, translate those needs into repeatable deployment artifacts and processes, and identify issues across application and platform layers. Experience developing or supporting modern web applications and APIs is particularly valuable. Current application teams use technologies including React, Vue, NGINX-hosted static assets, C#/.NET services, and Python/FastAPI services. Direct experience with every technology is not expected; we are looking for engineers who can quickly understand unfamiliar application architectures and help teams adapt them for secure, reliable deployment. As a Platform Engineer within our organization, you will join a team of dedicated unicorns focused on advancing freedom and independence globally. Our teams work across different technical baselines depending on the engagement. Although our products primarily operate at the platform layer, delivering successful outcomes for our Heroes also requires us to work closely with application teams on CI/CD components, runner deployments and maintenance, UDS packaging, Kubernetes and Helm configuration, application observability, security controls, and process automation.

Responsibilities

You will serve as a crucial link between applications, either custom development, COTS, or OSS, and the Navy platform environment, advocating best practices and facilitating communication between application teams and platform teams.

In this position, you will be expected to:

• Innovate and Solve Problems: Evaluate and weigh different methods for solving complex technical problems; identify innovative solutions.
• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Solve technical problems that span 2-3 knowledge domains, showcasing a broad understanding of diverse technological landscapes. Demonstrate expert knowledge in 1-2 key technologies such as full-stack application development, CI/CD, GitOps, Kubernetes, Tofu, AWS, Go, or others, contributing to the team's technical excellence.
• Influence the Strategic Vision: Contribute to the strategic planning that aligns technological advancements with the mission objectives.
• Exhibit strong programming skills and deep familiarity with Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Implement infrastructure as code and contribute to the build/maintenance of kubernetes clusters on various distributions (i.e EKS & RKE2).
• Apply extensive experience with cloud native technology deployments, emphasizing secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation.
• Build relationships with external teams and collaborate with other platform teams.
• Travel Expectations: 4-12 times per year.

The listed responsibilities are not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the organization. We are seeking a dynamic individual who is able to adapt and take on new responsibilities as they arise.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Professional experience developing, deploying, supporting, or operating production applications or platform environments.
• Hands‑on experience with cloud‑native technologies, containers, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or Kubernetes‑based environments.
• Strong Linux/Unix skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues across application and platform layers.
• Experience working with application architectures, source code, APIs, containers, runtime dependencies, or deployment requirements.
• Experience with YAML‑based configuration such as Kubernetes manifests, Helm configuration, CRDs, or CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with security practices related to applications, APIs, containers, cloud infrastructure, or vulnerability remediation.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to work independently and adapt to unfamiliar technologies and ambiguous technical problems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with application, platform, and external teams.
• Eligible to apply for and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Deep expertise in one or more areas such as full‑stack application development, Kubernetes, GitOps, CI/CD, Tofu, AWS, Go, or related technologies.