Sr. Kubernetes DevOps Engineer

LOCATION: Bulverde, Texas

HOURS: Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm, but availability to work nontraditional or weekend hours as needed is required.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Sr. Kubernetes DevOps Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing robust DevOps pipelines and Kubernetes infrastructure to support the development and deployment of our software applications. Your role will involve automating processes, ensuring system reliability, and optimizing application delivery in a containerized environment.

1. 1. Kubernetes Infrastructure:

• Design, deploy, and maintain Kubernetes clusters in various environments (on-premises, cloud, hybrid) to support containerized applications.
• Configure and manage Kubernetes resources, including pods, services, deployments, and namespaces.

• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI to automate the build, test, and deployment processes.
• Integrate Kubernetes deployments into the CI/CD workflow for continuous delivery.

• Containerize applications using Docker and create Docker images for deployment.
• Manage container repositories and registries.

• Utilize IaC tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation to automate the provisioning and management of infrastructure components, including Kubernetes clusters.

• Champion DevOps best practices, including collaboration between development and operations teams, to streamline workflows and improve deployment efficiency.
• Implement version control strategies and best practices to ensure code and configuration consistency.

• Set up monitoring and alerting systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana) for Kubernetes clusters and applications.
• Implement centralized logging solutions (e.g., ELK stack) for effective troubleshooting and analysis.

• Implement and advocate for security best practices for Kubernetes and containerized environments, including RBAC, network policies, and image scanning.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and security standards.

• Optimize Kubernetes clusters for performance, scalability, and resource utilization.
• Troubleshoot and resolve performance-related issues.

• Document DevOps and Kubernetes processes, best practices, and procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation for the entire DevOps and Kubernetes infrastructure.

• Stay updated with the latest Kubernetes and DevOps trends, tools, and best practices.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies to enhance the DevOps ecosystem.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• We run Kubernetes on-premise.  We require at least 2 years of experience working with on-premise Kubernetes administration.  
• Cluster Setup and Management: kubeadm, Kubepray, Rancher
• Networking and Ingress Controllers (Traefik and Nginx)
• Certificate Management – Cert-Manager 
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Proven track record as a DevOps Engineer with a strong focus on Kubernetes and containerized environments.
• Proficiency in container orchestration and management using Kubernetes, including experience with Helm charts and Kubernetes Operators.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI, including expertise in creating and maintaining pipelines.
• Solid knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) principles and experience with tools like Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation for automating infrastructure provisioning.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and the ability to deploy, manage, and optimize Kubernetes clusters in these environments.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for creating custom automation scripts and tooling.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues in a DevOps context.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Relevant certifications, such as Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), or DevOps-related certifications, are highly desirable and demonstrate your expertise in these areas.

Nice to haves:

• Infrastructure Management and Monitoring – A nice to have would be someone who has done some infrastructure management (Persistent Volumes, RAID configurations, SAN/NAS).  While not required, the def shows they have experience with on-prem deployments
• CI/CD Automation  - Argo CD (What we use), Jenkins (What our developers use) and Gitlab.  Cloud-focused Dev-Ops would also have this experience.
• Infrastructure as Code – You will see a ton of Terraform as this is used with cloud providers.  Ansible would be more relevant for our infrastructure.

The Kubernetes DevOps Engineer plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency, scalability, and reliability of software delivery pipelines and containerized applications. This role demands expertise in both Kubernetes and DevOps practices, making it essential for modern software development and deployment.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and short/long-term disability insurance
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Competitive compensation and opportunities for advancement
• Retirement plan with employer contribution match
• Welcoming, family-style corporate culture uniquely suited to fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and motivated individuals
• One of San Antonio’s “Best Places to Work” for nine consecutive years