Platform Engineer (FedD200/ FedD201/ FedD202)

Summary

Defense Unicorns delivers secure, cloud-native software delivery and continuous integration and delivery solutions for mission-focused customers. The Platform Engineer will support Navy application teams by integrating, packaging, securing, deploying, and operating software across the Unicorn Delivery Service and Kubernetes environments. The role focuses on application and platform collaboration, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, Kubernetes, observability, security, and process automation.

Responsibilities

• You will serve as a crucial link between applications, either custom development, COTS, or OSS, and the Navy platform environment, advocating best practices and facilitating communication between application teams and platform teams
• Innovate and Solve Problems: Evaluate and weigh different methods for solving complex technical problems; identify innovative solutions
• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Solve technical problems that span 2-3 knowledge domains, showcasing a broad understanding of diverse technological landscapes. Demonstrate expert knowledge in 1-2 key technologies such as full-stack application development, CI/CD, GitOps, Kubernetes, Tofu, AWS, Go, or others, contributing to the team's technical excellence
• Influence the Strategic Vision: Contribute to the strategic planning that aligns technological advancements with the mission objectives
• Exhibit strong programming skills and deep familiarity with Linux/Unix operating systems
• Implement infrastructure as code and contribute to the build/maintenance of kubernetes clusters on various distributions (i.e EKS & RKE2)
• Apply extensive experience with cloud native technology deployments, emphasizing secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation
• Build relationships with external teams and collaborate with other platform teams

Skills

• Professional experience developing, deploying, supporting, or operating production applications or platform environments
• Hands-on experience with cloud-native technologies, containers, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or Kubernetes-based environments
• Strong Linux/Unix skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues across application and platform layers
• Experience working with application architectures, source code, APIs, containers, runtime dependencies, or deployment requirements
• Experience with YAML-based configuration such as Kubernetes manifests, Helm configuration, CRDs, or CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with security practices related to applications, APIs, containers, cloud infrastructure, or vulnerability remediation
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and adapt to unfamiliar technologies and ambiguous technical problems
• Ability to collaborate effectively with application, platform, and external teams
• Eligible to apply for and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
• Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification
• Deep expertise in one or more areas such as full-stack application development, Kubernetes, GitOps, CI/CD, Tofu, AWS, Go, or related technologies
• Production experience with Kubernetes, including environments using EKS, RKE2, or similar distributions
• Experience designing, implementing, integrating, or troubleshooting APIs and backend services
• Experience with one or more modern application stacks such as C#/.NET, Python/FastAPI, React, Vue, or NGINX-hosted applications
• Experience with Helm, GitOps, observability, distributed architectures, security automation, or everything-as-code practices
• Experience mentoring and developing other engineers through pairing, technical guidance, or code reviews
• Active U.S. government security clearance and/or current DoD 8570 IAT II certification
• Department of Defense experience, particularly supporting a production Authority to Operate (ATO) system
• Experience with UDS Core, Iron Bank, and/or C-ATO processes

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Professional experience developing, deploying, supporting, or operating production applications or platform environments
• Hands-on experience with cloud-native technologies, containers, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or Kubernetes-based environments
• Strong Linux/Unix skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues across application and platform layers
• Experience working with application architectures, source code, APIs, containers, runtime dependencies, or deployment requirements
• Experience with YAML-based configuration such as Kubernetes manifests, Helm configuration, CRDs, or CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with security practices related to applications, APIs, containers, cloud infrastructure, or vulnerability remediation
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and adapt to unfamiliar technologies and ambiguous technical problems
• Ability to collaborate effectively with application, platform, and external teams
• Eligible to apply for and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
• Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification

Nice to Haves

• Deep expertise in one or more areas such as full-stack application development, Kubernetes, GitOps, CI/CD, Tofu, AWS, Go, or related technologies
• Production experience with Kubernetes, including environments using EKS, RKE2, or similar distributions
• Experience designing, implementing, integrating, or troubleshooting APIs and backend services
• Experience with one or more modern application stacks such as C#/.NET, Python/FastAPI, React, Vue, or NGINX-hosted applications
• Experience with Helm, GitOps, observability, distributed architectures, security automation, or everything-as-code practices
• Experience mentoring and developing other engineers through pairing, technical guidance, or code reviews
• Active U.S. government security clearance and/or current DoD 8570 IAT II certification
• Department of Defense experience, particularly supporting a production Authority to Operate (ATO) system
• Experience with UDS Core, Iron Bank, and/or C-ATO processes

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Medical/Dental/Vision premiums are 100% Company Paid
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company Stock Options
• Home Office Budget
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) for all full-time Unicorns
• Federal Holidays for all full-time Unicorns
• One week off for Thanksgiving for all full-time Unicorns
• Two weeks off for Christmas and New Year's for all full-time Unicorns
• Paid Parental Leave
• Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
• Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)
• Remote work in the USA