TSA - Senior Kubernetes Engineer

cFocus Software Incorporated•Springfield, VA

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Kubernetes Engineer to support mission-critical systems for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This role will lead the design, development, modernization, and innovation of secure, scalable, cloud-native infrastructure solutions supporting TSA’s operational and enterprise environments. The ideal candidate is a subject matter expert in Kubernetes architecture and engineering, with deep experience designing secure containerized platforms in highly regulated federal environments.

Requirements

8+ years of IT engineering experience, with 5+ years focused on Kubernetes.
Demonstrated experience supporting federal government or DHS/TSA environments.
Strong expertise in: Kubernetes cluster design and administration
Containerization (Docker/OCI)
CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines
Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.)
Cloud platforms (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, etc.)
Experience implementing secure architectures in compliance with NIST 800-53.
Ability to obtain or maintain a Public Trust or higher clearance.

Nice To Haves

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS).
AWS/Azure cloud certifications.
Experience with service mesh technologies (Istio, Linkerd).
Experience supporting TSA or DHS programs.
Active DHS/TSA clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and architecture of enterprise Kubernetes platforms supporting TSA mission systems.
Develop secure, scalable, and highly available container orchestration solutions.
Architect hybrid and cloud-native solutions (AWS, Azure, or other FedRAMP-authorized environments).
Design multi-cluster, multi-tenant Kubernetes environments aligned with Zero Trust principles.
Establish infrastructure-as-code (IaC) standards using Terraform, Helm, or similar tools.
Build, configure, and optimize Kubernetes clusters (EKS, AKS, OpenShift, Rancher, etc.).
Develop CI/CD pipelines integrating container security scanning and automated deployments.
Implement GitOps workflows using tools such as ArgoCD or Flux.
Engineer resilient microservices-based architectures.
Automate infrastructure provisioning and cluster lifecycle management.
Implement Kubernetes security best practices (RBAC, Network Policies, Pod Security Standards).
Integrate container security tools (e.g., Aqua, Prisma, Twistlock, Anchore).
Ensure compliance with DHS/TSA cybersecurity requirements, including FISMA and NIST frameworks.
Support Authority to Operate (ATO) documentation and security audits.
Drive container modernization initiatives for legacy TSA applications.
Evaluate and implement emerging cloud-native technologies.
Optimize performance, observability, and cost-efficiency of Kubernetes environments.
Introduce DevSecOps best practices across the program.
Serve as technical lead and advisor to government stakeholders.
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical oversight.
Collaborate with cybersecurity, cloud, and application development teams.
Contribute to technical proposals and architecture reviews.