Software Engineer (Kubernetes)

Job Title: Software Engineer (Kubernetes)

Job Description

This role focuses on designing, developing, and maintaining a Kubernetes-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution that supports a state-of-the-art digital ground station for transport and receive communications. You will contribute throughout an initial 12‑month prototyping phase and continue into implementation, maintenance, sustainment, and upgrades over subsequent years. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will ensure seamless integration, high performance, and reliability of the system while leveraging modern open source technologies and cloud-native practices.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.
• Design, develop, and maintain Kubernetes-based microservices using Python, Go, JavaScript, React, and other modern programming languages.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a React-based JavaScript frontend, ensuring a responsive and intuitive user experience.
• Leverage open source technologies to implement continuous deployment, event-driven automation, and efficient infrastructure management.
• Build, manage, and optimize CI/CD pipelines to support rapid, reliable, and repeatable software delivery.
• Write clean, well-documented, and testable code, and maintain code quality through code reviews, coding standards, and best practices.
• Optimize software components and microservices for maximum performance, scalability, reliability, and user experience.
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve issues related to Kubernetes clusters, containerized applications, and supporting infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain Kubernetes Operators and Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) to automate and extend platform capabilities.
• Create, customize, and maintain Kubernetes manifests and related configurations to support deployment and operations.
• Ensure that all software components adhere to applicable security and compliance standards.
• Stay current with industry best practices and emerging trends in software engineering, Linux, Kubernetes, containers, and related technologies, and apply them to improve the platform.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including systems engineers and other software engineers, to integrate signal processing, satellite, RF, and DSP-related capabilities into the platform.
• Participate in technical discussions, design reviews, and architecture sessions to shape the evolution of the PaaS solution.
• Support customer-focused activities such as technical deep dives, architecture discussions, and design reviews as needed.
• Contribute to technical documentation, including system designs, architecture diagrams, and user or deployment documentation for customer deliverables.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor"s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• At least 4 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and containerization technologies, specifically in building PaaS solutions.
• Proficiency in at least one of Python, C++, Go, or JavaScript, with a strong preference for Python, C++, and Go.
• Experience developing microservices-based architectures and working with modern software development practices.
• Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines for automated build, test, and deployment.
• Strong understanding of Linux environments and containerized application development.
• Experience working with Kubernetes clusters, including deployment, scaling, and troubleshooting containerized applications.
• Ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code and to participate effectively in code reviews.
• Active Secret security clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to diagnose complex issues in distributed systems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams and contribute across the full software development lifecycle.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience developing software architectures that enable and support digital signal processing (DSP), signal processing, satellite, and RF capabilities.
• Hands-on experience deploying and managing applications in Kubernetes, including writing and customizing Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts, and ArgoCD configurations.
• Practical experience with major cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, with a preference for AWS.
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform.
• Experience with event-driven automation and open source tools for continuous deployment and infrastructure management.
• working with containers and container orchestration in production environments.
• Experience creating technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and presentations for customers or stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to clearly communicate technical concepts, requirements, and system designs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience participating in customer meetings, technical deep dives, architecture discussions, and design reviews.
• Interest in working on defense-related projects that are closely connected to mission outcomes.
• Comfort working with modern frontend technologies, particularly React, for building or supporting user interfaces.

Work Environment

This position offers a hybrid work model, with two days per week onsite in Warrenton, VA, after an initial training period. During the first one to two months, you will be onsite full time to complete onboarding and training. The team works in an open office environment that feels similar to a commercial technology setting, using laptops and modern collaboration tools, and personal cell phones are permitted in the workspace. The office is located in a technology park that features nearby amenities such as a brewery, winery, and fitness options. The core program team consists of approximately 13 people, with a total extended team of about 25-30 including subcontractors, fostering a close-knit and collaborative culture. The organization primarily holds prime contracts, providing direct engagement with customers and greater control over the work. The culture emphasizes a fun, mission-focused environment, with a hybrid schedule and work that is closely tied to real-world defense missions. Engineers work with modern open source technologies and cloud-native tooling on a new project that is still early in its architecture, offering significant influence over technical direction. Compensation is structured so that employees are paid for the hours they actually work, rather than a fixed 40-hour assumption.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Warrenton, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $80.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Warrenton,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.