Kubernetes Engineer (Mid–Senior) | DoD Platform Engineering

Rackner is hiring mid- and senior-level Kubernetes Engineers to build, extend, and operate cloud-native platforms supporting federal missions. The role focuses on developing reusable Kubernetes platform capabilities, integrating and securing platform components, and improving automation, reliability, and operations.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and operate secure, resilient Kubernetes platforms
• Develop and extend platform capabilities using Go
• Build, maintain, and operate reusable Helm-based deployment patterns
• Work within established platforms and shared codebases to understand dependencies and improve existing capabilities
• Integrate Kubernetes components, cloud services, infrastructure, security controls, and delivery tooling into reliable end-to-end platforms
• Improve platform delivery through GitOps, CI/CD, automation, and Infrastructure as Code
• Troubleshoot complex issues across Kubernetes, Linux, networking, cloud infrastructure, and application/platform boundaries
• Evaluate technical tradeoffs and contribute to platform architecture and lifecycle decisions
• Partner with software, cloud, security, and platform engineers to solve cross-system technical problems
• Strengthen platform reliability, maintainability, security, and operational readiness
• Senior engineers may also guide broader technical decisions, lead implementation efforts, influence platform direction, and support the growth of other engineers while remaining hands-on

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Ability to Obtain a DoD Secret Clearance
• Deep hands-on background building, operating, extending, or improving Kubernetes environments
• Strong proficiency with Helm and Kubernetes deployment patterns
• Hands-on ability to write and maintain Go code
• Strong knowledge of the broader Kubernetes ecosystem
• Experience working across multiple platform components and technical dependencies
• Ability to understand and contribute to established platforms, shared repositories, or existing engineering systems
• Solid understanding of Linux, networking, containers, and Kubernetes architecture
• Familiarity with cloud Kubernetes environments such as AWS/EKS, Azure/AKS, GCP/GKE, OCI, or similar
• Ability to independently diagnose complex technical problems and work through ambiguity
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance
• Mid-level engineers will generally bring roughly 3–5 years of relevant engineering experience
• Senior engineers will typically bring 5–7+ years with broader platform ownership, technical decision-making, architecture, or engineering influence
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Istio or other service-mesh technologies
• Kubernetes Operators, Controllers, CRDs, or Admission Controllers
• Experience contributing to shared, internal, or open-source codebases
• Edge, air-gapped, disconnected, or otherwise constrained deployment environments
• Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, and platform automation
• Production platforms supporting multiple engineering teams or end users
• DoD, federal, regulated, or security-focused engineering environments