Senior Platform Engineer - OpenShift / Container Platform

Peraton; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton seeks a Senior Platform Engineer to lead the stand-up and operations of a bare-metal OpenShift/container platform across multiple US locations. The role emphasizes infrastructure-as-code, lifecycle management, and secure, compliant platform operations.

Candidates should have deep Kubernetes/OpenShift expertise, strong Terraform/Ansible experience, and US citizenship with DoD security clearance. The position may include occasional telework with travel to key sites.

Qualifications

• Minimum general work experience aligned with the role requirements.
• Hands-on experience deploying and administering OpenShift or enterprise Kubernetes on bare metal.
• IaC proficiency with Terraform and Ansible for provisioning and configuration management.

Responsibilities

• Stand up, operate, and upgrade a bare-metal OpenShift container platform.
• Design infrastructure-as-code provisioning for platform and VM orchestration using Terraform and Ansible.
• Monitor platform health and enforce cybersecurity and STIGs on the platform infrastructure.
• Document architecture, decisions, and operational procedures.

Skills

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Terraform

Ansible

Linux (RHEL)

Security clearance

US Citizenship

Education

BS/BA in a related field

MS/MA

PhD

Tools

Spectro Cloud

VMware

GitOps (ArgoCD/Flux)

Job description

Senior Platform Engineer - OpenShift / Container Platform

Job Locations

US | US-OK-Tinker AFB | US-AL-MAFB-Gunter Annex | US-VA-Arlington | US-UT-Hill AFB | US-TX-Lackland AFB | US-PA-Chambersburg | US-OH-Columbus | US-MD-Fort Meade

Responsibilities

The Platform Engineer will stand up and operate a bare-metal container platform (OpenShift), support a feasibility assessment of OpenShift versus Spectro Cloud, and drive the transition toward infrastructure-as-code managed provisioning using Terraform and Ansible. This individual will work in a bare-metal-first environment while actively reducing reliance on manual installs over time, and will support core platform services and OCONUS bootstrap activities.

This role is flexible for occasional telework however, candidates must be within 50 miles to one of the following work locations: Oklahoma City, OK, Montgomery, AL, Ogden, UT, San Antonio, TX, Mechanicsburg, PA, Chambersburg, PA, Arlington, VA, Ft. Meade, MD, Columbus, OH.

Other Responsibilities Include:

• Install, configure, and operate bare-metal OpenShift (or equivalent enterprise Kubernetes distribution) clusters
• Design and implement infrastructure-as-code provisioning using Terraform and Ansible for platform and VM orchestration
• Support the objective feasibility assessment of OpenShift versus Spectro Cloud, documenting licensing tradeoffs, operability, and long-term sustainability considerations
• Manage OpenShift cluster lifecycle including installation, upgrades, patching, scaling, and day-2 operations
• Deploy and support core platform services including authoritative DNS (e.g., PowerDNS)
• Implement and enforce STIGs and cybersecurity compliance requirements on platform infrastructure
• Monitor platform health, performance, and capacity using observability tools; manage platform logging and alerting
• Support OCONUS hardware bootstrap activities including physical hardware installation and configuration
• Document platform architecture, configuration decisions, and operational procedures
• Transition platform provisioning from manual/bare-metal installs toward a fully IaC-managed model

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum general work experience of 12 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with Ph.D.
• 5+ years of platform/systems engineering experience with hands-on Kubernetes-based container platform experience
• US Citizenship
• Active DoD Secret clearance
• DoD 8570/8140 compliant certification
• Hands-on experience deploying and administering OpenShift (or another enterprise Kubernetes distribution) on bare metal
• Infrastructure-as-code proficiency, specifically Terraform and Ansible, for provisioning and configuration management
• Working knowledge of virtualization/cloud orchestration platforms (Spectro Cloud, VMware, or equivalent)
• Understanding of container platform architecture: networking (CNI), storage (CSI), cluster security, and lifecycle management
• Ability to document platform architecture, licensing tradeoffs, and operational considerations
• Strong Linux administration skills (RHEL)
• Must have regular/recurring physical access to a DISA SIPR-accredited facility

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent writing and grammatical skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
• HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
• Experience with GitOps workflows (e.g., ArgoCD, Flux) for platform configuration management
• Experience bootstrapping platforms in disconnected or OCONUS environments including physical hardware installation

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.