Apex Systems · 1 week ago
IT - Systems Engineer V (SME)
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$80/hr - $90/hr
10+ years expApex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. They are seeking a Senior Kubernetes Platform Engineer to lead and optimize an AWS EKS-based multi-tenant platform for a federal program, ensuring platform stability, scalability, and security for mission-critical workloads.
Human ResourcesInformation TechnologyRecruiting
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead Kubernetes cluster administration (EKS) including provisioning, upgrades, node group management, and patching
Architect and optimize platform infrastructure for scalability and security compliance
Oversee creation and maintenance of Kubernetes IaC (Helm charts, Terraform modules) for tenant onboarding and environment configuration
Manage and patch Kubernetes-layer tooling (Cilium, Karpenter) and associated open-source components
Own platform network configuration (DNS, firewall services/TIC 3.0, VPN/tunnels)
Direct base image automation, distribution, and security incident response
Implement and maintain load balancer configurations (public & ingress, TIC 3.0 compliance)
Drive development of golden paths and developer self-service capabilities
Lead contingency planning and disaster recovery strategies, including backup/restore procedures and incident communications
Produce and maintain platform documentation (POAMs, SOPs, security SOPs, management plans)
Mentor junior platform engineers and coordinate work across Cloud Ops, App Support, and Automation teams
Qualification
Required
BS/BA degree and 10 years of work experience, including: + 5–7 years in Kubernetes operations with AWS EKS in production
Hands-on experience with Cilium and Karpenter
Proven leadership in multi-tenant Kubernetes environments
Expertise in Helm, Terraform, ArgoCD, AWS IAM/RBAC, Cilium, and ECR
Experience with platform-level security and FedRAMP/NIST compliance
Strong scripting skills (Bash, Python, Go)
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or equivalent experience preferred
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to work nights/weekends for patching or deployments
Ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance
Preferred
Experience designing automation workflows and CI/CD integration
Familiarity with AWS EKS best practices and enterprise-scale Kubernetes architecture
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Disability
Other insurance plans
ESPP (employee stock purchase program)
401K program
HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan)
SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions
Corporate discount savings program
Other discounts
On-demand training program
Access to certification prep
Library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure
Certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA
Dedicated customer service team for our Consultants
Certified Career Coach
Company
Apex Systems
Apex Systems, a division of On Assignment, provides organizations with IT staffing solutions to address gaps in their current workforce.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Roger Wahman
Chief Technology Officer - SVP
Andrea Schiola
Global Head of Technology Partnerships, SVP, Principal
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