Platform Engineer - OpenShift / Container Platform

About PeratonPeraton 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 solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.About The RoleThe 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) clustersDesign and implement infrastructure-as-code provisioning using Terraform and Ansible for platform and VM orchestrationSupport the objective feasibility assessment of OpenShift versus Spectro Cloud, documenting licensing tradeoffs, operability, and long-term sustainability considerationsManage OpenShift cluster lifecycle including installation, upgrades, patching, scaling, and day-2 operationsDeploy and support core platform services including authoritative DNS (e.g., PowerDNS)Implement and enforce STIGs and cybersecurity compliance requirements on platform infrastructureMonitor platform health, performance, and capacity using observability tools; manage platform logging and alertingSupport OCONUS hardware bootstrap activities including physical hardware installation and configurationDocument platform architecture, configuration decisions, and operational proceduresTransition platform provisioning from manual/bare-metal installs toward a fully IaC-managed modelQualificationsRequired Qualifications:Minimum of 8 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 6 years with MS/MA5+ years of platform/systems engineering experience with hands-on Kubernetes-based container platform experienceUS CitizenshipActive DoD Secret clearanceDoD 8570/8140 compliant certificationHands-on experience deploying and administering OpenShift (or another enterprise Kubernetes distribution) on bare metalInfrastructure-as-code proficiency, specifically Terraform and Ansible, for provisioning and configuration managementWorking knowledge of virtualization/cloud orchestration platforms (Spectro Cloud, VMware, or equivalent)Understanding of container platform architecture: networking (CNI), storage (CSI), cluster security, and lifecycle managementAbility to document platform architecture, licensing tradeoffs, and operational considerationsStrong Linux administration skills (RHEL)Must have regular/recurring physical access to a DISA SIPR-accredited facilityPreferred Qualifications:Excellent verbal and written communication skillsExcellent writing and grammatical skillsExcellent organizational skills and attention to detailRed Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift AdministrationCertified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)HashiCorp Certified: Terraform AssociateExperience with GitOps workflows (e.g., ArgoCD, Flux) for platform configuration managementExperience bootstrapping platforms in disconnected or OCONUS environments including physical hardware installationDetailsTarget Salary Range: $112,000 - $179,000. 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.Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.Application Statements: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate's own.EEO:Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.