Principal Platform Engineer Job Id: 1249 Herndon, VA

Clarity Innovations, LLC; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarity Innovations, LLC is seeking a seasonedPlatform/Full Stack Engineer to lead design and deployment of cloud-native systems for national security missions. The role emphasizes Kubernetes, IaC, CI/CD, and DevSecOps with a strong bias for action in a high-trust startup-like environment.

The candidate will implement scalable architectures on AWS/Azure, automate pipelines, and ensure robust security posture including Zero Trust and FIPS.

Qualifications

• Mission-focused mindset with emphasis on cyber dominance to provide a technical advantage for the warfighter and others executing critical US national security objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of Kubernetes and cloud-based systems (AWS/Azure).
• Provision and manage infrastructure as code (IaC) using Terraform, Crossplane, or Ansible.
• Manage specialized environments using KIND to bridge development and operational deployment.
• Deploy and maintain AI workloads as appropriate to solve customer challenges.
• Identify bottlenecks and optimize specific features across the stack, from service latency to resource utilization.
• Deploy, manage, and maintain Kubernetes across development and production environments.
• Monitor and optimize workloads using Helm and Kustomize to deploy microservices at scale.
• Implement network policies, load balancing, and service discovery using Istio Service Mesh.
• Design and operate CI/CD pipelines to streamline code deployments and facilitate operational capabilities.
• Ensure infrastructure security through implementing FIPS encryption, Zero Trust principles, and robust identity management.
• Relentless Automation: Advocate for and implement robust automation to eliminate manual work and improve system reliability.
• Implement and monitor system availability and security, using Prometheus and Grafana.
• Troubleshoot and resolve production incidents to minimize downtime, relentlessly seeking automated long-term fixes.
• Manage recovery processes to ensure mission continuity.
• Understand high-level operational relevancy and business objectives of the technology you are implementing
• Contribute to sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.
• Promote automation practices across teams to enhance agility and performance.
• Knowledge Management: Create clear documentation and stay updated on latest industry trends to keep solutions cutting-edge.

Skills

Kubernetes

CI/CD

DevSecOps

Terraform

Crossplane

KIND

Helm

Istio

Prometheus

Grafana

Docker

Podman

Go

Python

AWS/Azure

Education

B.S. in Computer Engineering/CS/IT

Tools

Terraform

Crossplane

Ansible

KIND

Helm

Kustomize

Istio

Prometheus

Grafana

Docker

Podman

Job description

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Location: Herndon, VA (Hybrid, 3+ days in office)

Role

This position is part of a dynamic team at the forefront of implementing designs to support the next generation of cyber operations. This role requires technical versatility across the stack, from backend services to infrastructure. Above all, Engineers are driven by a “Whatever It Takes” mindset—executing in an expedient and pragmatic way while keeping the mission top-of-mind and making excellent engineering decisions to deliver successful outcomes correctly and on-time.

Responsibilities:

Lead the design of Kubernetes and cloud-based systems (AWS/Azure).

Provision and manage infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Terraform, Crossplane, or Ansible.

Manage specialized environments using tools like KIND to bridge the gap between development and operational deployment.

Deploy and maintain AI workloads as appropriate to solve customer challenges.

Identify bottlenecks and optimize specific features across the stack, from service latency to resource utilization.

Deploy, manage, and maintain Kubernetes across development and production environments.

Monitor and optimize workloads using Helm and Kustomize to deploy microservices at scale.

Implement network policies, load balancing, and service discovery using Istio Service Mesh.

DevSecOps & Automation

Design and operate CI/CD pipelines to streamline code deployments and facilitate operational capabilities.

Ensure infrastructure security through implementing FIPS encryption, Zero Trust principles, and robust identity management.

Relentless Automation: Advocate for and implement robust automation to eliminate manual work and improve system reliability.

Operations & Observability

Implement and monitor system availability and security, using Prometheus and Grafana.

Troubleshoot and resolve production incidents to minimize downtime, relentlessly seeking automated long-term fixes.

Manage recovery processes to ensure mission continuity.

Understand high-level operational relevancy and business objectives of the technology you are implementing

Contribute to sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.

Promote automation practices across teams to enhance agility and performance.

Knowledge Management: Create clear documentation and stay updated on latest industry trends to keep solutions cutting-edge.

Required Qualifications:

Mission-focused mindset with an emphasis on achieving cyber dominance to provide a technical advantage for the warfighter and others executing critical US national security objectives.

A bias for action, ownership, and the drive to see projects through to mission completion

Current Top Secret security clearance

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or a related technical discipline. (Degree requirement can be met with four years of hands‑on experience in an Engineering or similar full‑time position.)

More than 8 years of industry experience as a Platform Engineer, Full Stack Engineer or similar role

Proficient with container orchestration using Kubernetes in production environments

Experience with monitoring tools for Kubernetes environments, such as Prometheus

Experience working with Helm charts for packaging applications

Ability to collaborate as a team and execute independently

Thrives in a high‑trust/startup, adaptable team environment

Experience with CI/CD pipelines and CI/CD GitOps based deployments

Proficient in containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Podman)

Understanding of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools, such as Terraform

Expertise with both compiled and scripting languages (Go, Python, etc)

Preferred Qualifications:

SCI eligibility

Expertise in the Cyber Operations

Expertise with Istio for service mesh management

Experience with Rook-Ceph for storage

Experience with Kubernetes operators and custom resource definitions (CRDs)

Experience with DevSecOps practices and integrating security tools with Kubernetes

Experience with Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HITL)

Experience with OIDC (OpenID Connect) and KeyCloak

Familiarity with PLTR technologies, such as Foundry

Familiarity with Agile development practices and the Scaled Agile Framework

Familiarity with Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) utilities

Familiarity with VPN technologies such as IPSec, OpenVPN, and Wireguard

Familiarity with integrating with Cross Domain Solutions

Salary Range: $113,000 - $300,000

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.