DevOps Engineer

Alternative Experts LLC

$175K — $195K *
Technical Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active DoD 8140 (CWIP) certification prior to start
  • Extensive AWS infrastructure management experience using Terraform and IaC
  • Strong background in container orchestration with Kubernetes, Docker, and related technologies
  • Proven ability to develop and manage CI/CD pipelines with GitLab and Argo CD
  • Proficiency in scripting languages including Python and Ansible
  • Experience with systems analysis, design, and complex issue resolution
  • Effective team leadership experience in an Agile setting

Responsibilities

  • Architect and maintain AWS infrastructure, ensuring high availability
  • Develop Infrastructure as Code and automate infrastructure tasks with Terraform, Python, and Ansible
  • Install and manage Kubernetes environments, ensuring performance and uptime
  • Collaborate with development teams to enhance application reliability in a microservices context
  • Lead the creation and management of CI/CD pipelines for automated workflows
  • Oversee sprint planning, task management, and team coordination
  • Participate in Agile ceremonies to promote teamwork and alignment

Benefits

  • Full-time, contract position
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in a modernized operational system
  • Collaborative team environment with Agile practices
  • Engagement with diverse engineering and program stakeholders
  • Opportunity for professional growth in a senior role within DevOps
Full Job Description
Job Type

Full-time, Contract

Description

The DevOps Engineer (Development Lead) provides a reliable, highly available platform that orchestrates the microservices of a modernized operational system using cutting-edge technologies. The contractor leads sprint planning and team tasking, drives infrastructure technical direction, and owns CI/CD pipeline management and cloud infrastructure cost optimization.

This is a senior individual-contributor and team-lead role requiring strong Agile execution discipline, AWS architecture depth, and the ability to communicate and collaborate across engineering and program stakeholder communities.

Requirements

AWS Infrastructure Architecture & IaC
  • Architect, build, and maintain AWS infrastructure including EC2, Lambda, S3, SNS, SQS, EventBridge, Athena, and Step Functions using Terraform with auto-scaling
  • Develop Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and scripting to automate tasks, provision managed services, and build internal tooling using Python, Ansible, and Terraform
  • Apply AWS networking principles including VPCs, NAT gateways, and IP gateways to design secure, segmented environments
  • Evaluate infrastructure costs iteratively; recommend and implement cost-savings measures to reduce AWS service spend and maintenance burden

Containerization & Orchestration
  • Install, configure, performance-tune, and operate Kubernetes environments with focus on EKS, ECS, and/or Fargate
  • Manage containerized workloads using Docker and Docker Compose across the microservices architecture
  • Troubleshoot infrastructure issues and ensure system uptime and availability for mission-critical operational systems
  • Collaborate with development teams to optimize application performance and reliability in containerized environments

CI/CD Pipeline Management
  • Develop and manage GitLab CI/CD pipelines to automate build, test, and deployment processes
  • Implement and maintain Argo CD for GitOps-based continuous delivery workflows
  • Track ticket execution and drive technical direction of infrastructure to align with program and product needs
  • Perform high-level functional systems analysis, design, integration, documentation, cost analysis, and complex issue resolution

Agile Team Leadership & Sprint Execution
  • Decompose sprint priorities and generate tickets aligned with internal team priorities and program objectives
  • Manage team tasking and sprint workloads; keep the team on task and executing in an orchestrated manner
  • Participate in all Agile ceremonies: sprint planning, stand-ups, refinement, reviews, and retrospectives
  • Communicate and collaborate with engineers, product owners, and program stakeholders across the program

Required Qualifications
  • Current DoD 8140 (CWIP) certification - must be active prior to start
  • Extensive experience architecting and managing AWS infrastructure using Terraform and IaC practices
  • Strong background in containerization and orchestration: Kubernetes (EKS, ECS, Fargate), Docker, Docker Compose
  • Experience developing and managing GitLab CI/CD pipelines and Argo CD GitOps workflows
  • Proficiency in DevOps scripting languages: Python, Ansible, Terraform
  • Experience performing high-level systems analysis, design, integration, documentation, and cost analysis
  • Experience managing sprint workloads and driving team technical direction in an Agile environment
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills with engineers, product owners, and program stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

Two or more of the following:
  • AWS services depth: EC2, Lambda, S3, SNS, SQS, EventBridge, Athena, Step Functions with auto-scaling
  • AWS networking: VPCs, NAT gateways, IP gateways, and network segmentation design
  • GitLab CI/CD pipeline design and deployment automation
  • Application performance and reliability optimization in collaboration with development teams
  • Infrastructure troubleshooting and system uptime management for mission-critical environments
  • Kubernetes advanced operations with EKS, ECS, and/or Fargate focus
  • Cloud infrastructure cost optimization and AWS spend reduction strategies

Education and Clearance Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline
  • OR Master's degree and 10 years of professional experience
  • OR equivalent combined education and experience (12 or more years of professional experience)
  • Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph (FSP) - must be active prior to start
  • CI Polygraph within the last 7 years - must be active prior to start


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