Senior Platform Engineer

Who we are:

Raft (https://goraft.tech) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in Reston, VA. Our range of clients include innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting edge tech stack, and cloud native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the role:
As a Platform Engineer, you are responsible for actively developing and implementing end-to-end cluster and application lifecycle, ensuring processes are both secure and efficient. Collaborate with clients, designing and implementing Kubernetes or Docker solutions.

Take part in building CI/CD pipelines, ensuring a smooth software update process. Furthermore, actively participate in the application of GitOps principles for software delivery.

What we are looking for:

• 3-5 years of hands-on experience with Kubernetes or other container orchestration platforms • Lead in developing and implementing end-to-end cluster and application lifecycles
• Strong experience with cloud technologies
• Deep understanding of Agile, DevOps, and DevSecOps methodologies
• Advanced networking experience
• Experience with managing Service-Mesh, like Istio
• In-depth knowledge of version control systems like GitLab
• Extensive experience in software systems development through CI/CD pipelines
• Exceptional problem-solving capabilities
• Dedicated to automation, system efficiency, and security
• Experience in setting up and integrating enterprise-grade cloud-based services
• Proficiency with Log Management and Analytics tools
• Ability to oversee CI/CD pipelines using cloud services and automation tools
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and microservices
• Obtain a Security+ certification within 90 days of employment with Raft
• BS in Engineering, Computer Science, or technical degree or industry experience equivalent. 

Highly preferred:

• Proven experience creating observability capabilities in tools like Grafana, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry or similar
• Proficiency in writing custom Helm Charts
• Certifications such as CKA or AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• Experience with DoD environments Clearance Requirements:
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance

Clearance Requirements:  

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. SECRET Security Clearance 

Work Type:  

• Remote with up to 10% travel 
  

What we will offer you:  

• Highly competitive salary 
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage 
• 401(k) and company match 
• Unlimited PTO + 11 paid holidays 
• Education & training benefits 
• Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs 
• Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work 
• Team off-site in fun places! 
• Generous Referral Bonuses 
• And More!

Our Vision Statement:  

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.

Our Customer Obsession:

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.