Senior DevOps Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)

Striveworks; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Voluntary life, long-term disability,

HSA and FSA plans

401(k) plan

Unlimited PTO

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Striveworks, based in Tacoma, WA, seeks a Senior DevOps Engineer to keep our hybrid cloud platforms online across unclassified and CUI networks. You will build, automate, and maintain resilient systems that perform in demanding environments.

You’ll work directly with customers and cross‑functional teams, defining what to build, deploying it, and ensuring seamless, reliable operation across the stack.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on DevOps experience in containerized environments.
• Experience with Kubernetes microservices deployment and clustering.
• Strong scripting and automation skills (Python/Golang).
• Proficient in IaC with Terraform and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure).
• Security-conscious with US citizenship and active Secret (or higher) clearance.

Responsibilities

• Interface directly with customers and work across teams to define, build, deploy, and run tools and services.
• Maintain and improve reliability across hybrid, multi‑cloud environments and DOD networks.
• Debug complex Kubernetes clusters and automate day‑2 operations for uptime and performance.

Skills

Kubernetes

Container troubleshooting

Python

Golang

IaC

Terraform

AWS

Azure

Linux

Security clearance

Tools

Helm

Kustomize

Job description

“In 36 months, agentic AI systems will be an operating reality across major institutions. We intend to be central to it.” — Dr. Jim Rebesco, Cofounder and CEO, Striveworks

The government’s demand for AI is growing far faster than the systems required to support it. Fewer than 15% of federal AI programs have reached sustained production, despite billions of dollars invested. The models perform in testing, but they degrade in the real world. And when performance drops, trust goes with it.

Striveworks was built to solve that problem.

What you’ll build

Since 2018, we have delivered the most trusted AI systems operating in real-world use cases—providing a layer of assurance underneath hundreds of deployed models that monitors performance, manages drift, and sustains systems long after they leave the lab.

As a Senior DevOps Engineer, you are where the platform meets the mission. Our systems stay online and reliable in the field because of what you build, automate, and maintain. You will interface directly with customers and work across teams. You’ll define what needs to be built, deploy it, and keep it running across commercial, unclassified, CUI, and classified DOD networks. You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy the challenge of debugging complex Kubernetes clusters where connectivity is a luxury, not a given. You are someone who can navigate the unique constraints of local hardware today and write the automation that ensures seamless, reliable performance across the customer’s hybrid stack tomorrow.

What it’s like here

We lead with trust, treat each other with respect, and use candor consistently, kindly, and constructively. We care deeply about our work, and we find genuine satisfaction in doing it well. Above all, we take ownership—because we feel the weight of collective results personally. We are looking for people who share these values and are eager to put them into practice.

What we’re looking for

6+ years of direct, hands-on experience in:

• Microservices deployment in Kubernetes
• Diagnosing and resolving issues within containerized environments
• Helm Chart and Kustomizations development/deployment
• Python and/or Golang programming, or other general purpose programming languages
• Automation and IaC, e.g., Terraform
• Cloud infrastructure: AWS and Azure
• Managing and troubleshooting Linux systems, e.g., networking and bash scripting
• Active Secret (or above) US security clearance and US citizenship

The following isn’t required, but we’d love to see it:

• Familiarity with DOD networking, tools, infrastructure, security requirements, and policies
• Proficiency with US federal information system security policies, including STIGs, NIST SP 800-171, NIST SP 800-53, CMMC, and ICD 503
• Experience with software deployments to on-premises and cloud-based unclassified, CUI, and classified networks within the DOD
• Experience with DevSecOps/DevOps and CI/CD for the administration and deployment of GPU-enabled servers
• Experience deploying or maintaining CNCF projects
• Experience with NAS and SAN technologies
• Experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native applications and services in DDIL impact environments

You will be remote or hybrid/on site at our customer sites at Joint Base Lewis-McChord In Tacoma, WA. If remote, you must be located in the Pacific or Mountain time zone. You will be expected to travel up to 25% of the time.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $185,000–$230,000/year. Striveworks’ total compensation package includes a competitive base salary, equity grants, and cash bonuses.

Benefits include:

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Voluntary life, long-term disability, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• HSA and FSA (including dependent care FSA) plans
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid parental leave

Ready to build systems that work for a mission that matters? Let’s talk.

Striveworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, social or ethnic origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factors. Striveworks will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact People Operations at [e-mail].

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Striveworks is a participating employer in the E-Verify program.