Kubernetes SME – Senior

Are you looking for an exciting role at a company that prioritizes the personal growth of its employees? At Vertekal, the development and well-being of both you and your family are crucial to our success and our commitment to serving our customers.
Our mission is to build, defend, and evolve technology capabilities for United States National Security.

As a Senior Kubernetes SME at Vertekal, you'll architect, secure, and optimize enterprise container orchestration platforms that support operational and mission‑critical workloads for U.S. national security customers. You will serve as the technical authority for Kubernetes, enabling resilient, scalable, and compliant platforms across multi‑cluster, multi‑environment deployments. Your deep cloud‑native expertise will drive automation, reliability, observability, security, and performance across Vertekal's container ecosystems.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field (Master's preferred)
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph eligibility
• 10+ years of experience in IT engineering, with 5+ years focused on Kubernetes
• Expertise with Kubernetes (EKS, GKE, AKS), container runtimes, and operator frameworks
• Deep knowledge of cloud architectures (AWS preferred), networking, RBAC, service mesh, and cluster security
• Proficiency with Helm, Git Ops, Terraform/Terragrunt, and automation pipelines
• Familiarity with DoD/IC security requirements, container hardening, and STIG/SRG compliance
• Strong ability to lead platform design, mentor engineers, and drive cross‑team alignment

• Architect, deploy, and secure enterprise Kubernetes environments across AWS and on‑prem platforms
• Lead cluster lifecycle management, including provisioning, upgrades, scaling, and policy enforcement
• Implement Git Ops workflows, IaC modules, and automation frameworks for repeatable deployments
• Integrate logging, monitoring, and observability tools (ELK, Prometheus, Grafana, Open Telemetry)
• Define best practices for container security, network segmentation, RBAC, and zero‑trust controls
• Troubleshoot complex K8s issues affecting availability, performance, or mission operations
• Collaborate with Dev Ops, cyber, and software engineering teams to support platform adoption and modernization initiatives
• Provide technical leadership during design reviews, migration events, and operational readiness testing

On Site - Chantilly, VA

20–40% above market rates

Achieve personalized and company‑wide strategic goals each year to receive an annual bonus

Generous PTO plus all federal holidays

Immediate, fully vested 401(k) contributions from day one

Apply today!