Platform Architect

Tyto Athene is searching for a Platform Architect to support the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), Operational Command and Control Acquisition Delta (Kobayashi Maru). This position will lead the architecting, engineering, and evolution of a secure hybrid cloud platform that enables continuous software delivery for mission-critical space operations. You will define platform standards, architect Azure and Kubernetes-based services, and establish reusable platform capabilities that enable multiple software teams to securely build, deploy, and operate applications across classified and unclassified environments.

The role emphasizes Platform Engineering through automation, Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, observability, and developer self-service. You will collaborate with software, cybersecurity, networking, and infrastructure teams to deliver a scalable Internal Developer Platform (IDP) that improves developer productivity while maintaining enterprise security and operational excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and evolution of a hybrid cloud platform using Azure, Kubernetes, and cloud-native technologies.
• Define reusable platform services, reference architectures, engineering standards, and governance that deploy consistently across multiple classification levels.
• Architect and manage multi-cluster Kubernetes platforms supporting development, test, staging, production, and classified environments.
• Establish Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Bicep), GitOps, and automated platform provisioning.
• Design landing zones, network topology, identity, and governance for a Microsoft Azure environment, including hybrid connectivity patterns such as dedicated private circuits, private service endpoints, centralized firewall inspection, and hub-and-spoke WAN architectures.
• Develop secure platform capabilities including identity integration, secrets management, policy enforcement, observability, and SRE practices.
• Define SLOs, monitoring, logging, alerting, and incident response processes.
• Provide technical leadership, conduct architecture reviews, and drive platform modernization.

Required:

• 5+ years architecting enterprise cloud platforms and 5+ years hands-on building them, using Azure, Kubernetes, and cloud-native technologies, including platforms designed to operate at multiple classification levels.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, STEM, or related discipline.
• Current CKA, CKS, or CKAD certification, or equivalent; Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) a plus.
• Azure (including Azure Government): Landing Zones, VNets, ExpressRoute, Azure Firewall, Application Gateway, Front Door, Private Link, Azure Arc, Entra ID, Azure Monitor.
• Kubernetes: AKS, Helm, Kustomize, Argo CD, cert-manager, service mesh, container registries (Harbor/Nexus), cluster lifecycle management.
• Automation: Terraform, Bicep, GitLab CI/CD.
• Observability: Prometheus, Grafana, Log Analytics, monitoring and alerting.
• Security: Zero Trust, RBAC, Vault, External Secrets Operator (ESO), Keycloak, NIST, CIS Benchmarks, FedRAMP/DoD compliance.
• Path-to-production: CI/CD, vulnerability scanning, CDS (L2H, H2L).

Clearance:

• Active Secret clearance

Location:

• This is a remote position with a preference of the candidate residing in Colorado Springs, Colorado OR El Segundo, CA

Compensation:

• Compensation is unique to each candidate and relative to the skills and experience they bring to the position. The salary range for this position is typically between $150,000-$162,000. This does not guarantee a specific salary as compensation is based upon multiple factors such as education, experience, certifications, and other requirements, and may fall outside of the above-stated range.

Benefits:

•  Highlights of our benefits include Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k) match, Paid Time Off, STD/LTD/Life Insurance, Referral Bonuses, professional development reimbursement, and parental leave.