Senior Kubernetes Platform Engineer - On-Prem & Cloud

Xcel Engineering; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

XCEL Engineering is seeking a Kubernetes Platform Engineer to implement and maintain the infrastructure underpinning our on‑prem Kubernetes clusters. You will lead the technical direction of platform initiatives, evaluate technologies, and deliver a robust internal platform that powers development across the organization.

The role requires 8+ years as a platforms engineer with 5+ years Kubernetes experience, experience with on‑prem clusters, CIS security benchmarks, and strong scripting and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in computer science or closely related field with extensive relevant experience.
• DOE clearance required; US citizenship.
• 8+ years as a Platforms engineer; 5+ years Kubernetes experience.
• Experience administering Kubernetes on on-premises infrastructure (K3s/RKE2 or similar).
• Experience with cloud-managed Kubernetes (GKE/EKS).
• Strong Linux networking knowledge (iptables/nftables, DNS, TCP/IP).
• Experience with GitOps tools (ArgoCD/Flux) and scripting (Bash, Python, Go).
• Cilium CNI or equivalent production experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage full lifecycle of Kubernetes clusters on‑prem and in cloud (GKE/EKS).
• Implement security hardening based on CIS benchmarks and policies.
• Monitor and optimize cluster performance and resource use across multi‑tenant workloads.
• Configure BGP peering and network policies for secure multi‑tenant isolation.
• Develop platform tooling and automation to support developer productivity.

Skills

Kubernetes

Linux networking

Automation scripting

GitOps

Go

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

K3s/RKE2

GKE

EKS

ArgoCD or Flux

Bash

Python

Terraform/Ansible

Cilium CNI

Job description

XCEL Engineering is seeking a Kubernetes Platform Engineer to implement and maintain the infrastructure underpinning our on‑prem Kubernetes clusters. You will lead the technical direction of platform initiatives, evaluate technologies, and deliver a robust internal platform that powers development across the organization.

The role requires 8+ years as a platforms engineer with 5+ years Kubernetes experience, experience with on‑prem clusters, CIS security benchmarks, and strong scripting and