GPS - Cloud Platform Engineer

The opportunity

This is an onsite opportunity in Crystal City, VA Area.

We are looking for a Cloud Platform Engineer with strong networking skills.

You will be responsible for delivery of cloud infrastructure and network solution designs for key initiatives hosted in government cloud (Azure Government) platforms supporting large and complex projects. You are expected to have strong design and hands-on development experience on Azure cloud and infrastructure automation and CI/CD for enterprise.  You are expected to bridge organizations where core capabilities are developed and support evolution of cloud capabilities in Azure Gov without technical debt.  You will be expected to fully understand business and user requirements, ensuring design specifications are meeting the business requirements.  You will also support junior engineers and work in a collaborative environment, exercising your creativity and innovation.

You will holistically evaluate the network architecture and apply technical expertise to understand the business impact of a technical component, recommending and implementing new solutions to meet business requirements.

Your key responsibilities

• Design and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for scalable and secure cloud environments using Bicep, and ARM templates
• Engineer and automate platform solutions to meet and exceed expectations of Product Managers (involve and participate, architecture and security of the platform)
• Build and deploy (CI/CD) using tools such as Azure DevOps Server, Ansible CLI).
• Design, deploy, scale and automate Microsoft Azure Government Network
• Actively participate in the design and network design reviews, defining essential details related to network implementation (e.g., connectivity, routing, filtering, protocols, DNS engineering), and sharing best practices in identifying and implementing solutions
• Ensuring relevant technical strategies, policies, standards, and practices are applied correctly across networks and network components
• Working with the vendors to assess vendor products, understand vendor’s delivery models and assist in implementing them 
• Package and deploy containerized applications using Kubernetes (AKS) and Docker.
• Implement application code packaging, deployment strategies, and container orchestration
• Develop and manage base container images and support hardened OS images (e.g., Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG))
• Proactively evolve and apply DevSecOps methodologies, standards and leading practices
• Independently research and remediate/troubleshoot day-to-day issues.
• Apply modern development standards/principles, global product-specific guidelines, security standards, usability design standards, as appropriate
• Ensure quality through use of manual and automated controls.
• A desire to automate everything and the wisdom to know when not to
• Identify, communicate and mitigate Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Decisions throughout full lifecycle
• Using critical thinking, consider the art of the possible, compare various options based on feasibility and impact, propose impactful plans and roadmaps that balance tactical and strategic needs

Skills and attributes for success

• Advanced understanding of Azure/Azure Gov (Gateways, Firewalls, Network Security Groups, vWAN, vNets, etc.) architecture and components with specialized awareness of network services
• Excellent IP and internet networking fundamentals
• Advanced-level understanding of core networking technologies including: L2/L3 networking (OSPF, BGP, VLAN); firewalls; Azure/AWS network technologies (VNet, ExpressRoute, virtual network gateways)
• Ability to analyze complex networking domains and write reusable code that simplifies and abstracts the underlying systems
• Knowledge and/or experience on Zscalar or Palo Alto network services
• Knowledge and/or experience on private and public DNS services
• Design, implementation and administration experience of containerized application implementations using Azure Kubernetes Services and other PaaS services.
• Proficient in scripting and programming languages (e.g., PowerShell, Python, JavaScript)
• Ability to design and improve infrastructure (IaC) and application development processes
• Advanced knowledge of concepts of load balancing, WAFs cloud networking, security, and automation as associated with this space
• Highly analytical network troubleshooting skills utilizing packet capture/analysis packages such as Wireshark, etc.
• Knowledge of SIPR (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network) and NIPR (Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network) secure communication networks
• Follow all best practices and procedures as established by the company
• Experience with claims-based authentication (SAML/OAuth/OIDC) and RBAC.
• Delivery using modern methodologies, including SAFe Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
• Can document and design various processes; can update existing processes
• Can improve practices for infrastructure development and application development

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or equivalent work experience
• More than 5 years in an engineering role using service and hosting solutions such as private/public cloud IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS platforms
• Ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret security clearance level.
• 5+ years functional knowledge of programming scripting and data science languages such as, PowerShell
• 5+ years CI/CD delivery using code management, configuration management and automation tools such as Bicep, Azure DevOps Server, Ansible, ARM Templates etc.
• Experience with hardened OS images such as Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) images
• Experience with containerization and container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes and Docker
• Windows Server Administration: You need to be proficient in managing Windows servers to create, manage and deploy Group Policy Objects via Ansible CLI.
• Knowledge/experience with Linux server administration
• Significant relevant proven experience required, demonstrating solid understanding of relevant software infrastructure platforms (depending on specialism) and understanding of applicable standards
• Strong knowledge of cloud security controls including tenant isolation, encryption at rest, encryption in transit, key management, vulnerability assessments, application firewalls, SIEM, etc.
• Delivery using modern methodologies especially SAFe Agile, Iterative, etc.
• Experienced with Development frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban
• Communicate fluently in English, both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills to give as a leading member of global, distributed teams passionate about delivering quality solutions
• Demonstrate excellent engineering & automation skills in the context of cloud based global delivery using continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD)
• Rapidly learn new and emerging technologies with ability to rapidly define engineering standards and produce automation code

Ideally, you’ll also have

Experience and knowledge in:

• Source control Management (git)
• Azure cloud experience/knowledge
• Scripting (PowerShell or Python)
• Azure DevOps Pipelines
• Agile methodology
• Ansible/Bicep
• Azure Policy
• Azure multi-tenant Knowledge
• Experience with JWICS (Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System)
• Strong knowledge of full stack development, including front-end, back-end, and database technologies.
• Advanced knowledge of Linux and Windows server administration (Global Policy Objects)

Certifications:

• AZ400 Certified Preferred
• Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
• Certified Kubernetes Networking Specialist (CKNS)
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

What we look for

• A self-starter, independent-thinker, curious and creative person with ambition and passion
• History of continuous learning and continuous progression