Principal Kubernetes Platform Engineer (9994)

We are seeking a Tech Lead – Kubernetes Platform Engineer to lead platform development for our Edge Kubernetes Platform, supporting both connected and air-gapped deployments. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you will define architecture, guide implementation, and ensure secure, scalable, and reliable delivery of Kubernetes-based platforms. You will serve as the go-to expert for Kubernetes, Rancher Gov stack, and GitOps practices, while leading a team to deliver enterprise-grade infrastructure solutions.

Key Responsibilities:
• End-to-End Ownership: Lead the full lifecycle of the platform – from architecture and design through deployment, upgrades, and long-term operations.
• Kubernetes Leadership: Provide technical direction and deep hands-on expertise in upstream Kubernetes and RKE2, ensuring stability, security, and availability.
• Rancher Gov Stack: Architect and manage Rancher for multi-cluster management, including policy enforcement, compliance, and workload orchestration.
• GitOps & Automation: Implement and scale GitOps pipelines using Fleet and ArgoCD for consistent, auditable, and automated operations.
• OCI Bundle Orchestration: Manage packaging, distribution, and lifecycle of application bundles in OCI-compliant registries for edge environments.
• Helm Expertise: Build, optimize, and maintain Helm charts for application packaging and upgrade automation.
• Security & Networking: Enforce security best practices, network segmentation, and zero-trust principles throughout platform design.
• Upgrade Strategy: Define and execute robust cluster and platform upgrade strategies to ensure long-term stability and security.
• Collaboration & Leadership: Partner with product, security, and engineering teams; mentor junior engineers; and establish technical standards.
• Documentation & Communication: Create clear documentation of architectures and processes while effectively communicating to technical and non-technical audiences.

Qualifications:
• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure or platform engineering, including 5+ years focused on Kubernetes.
• Deep hands-on expertise with upstream Kubernetes, RKE2, and Rancher Gov stack.
• Proven experience implementing GitOps workflows with Fleet and/or ArgoCD.
• Strong knowledge of OCI bundle management, Helm packaging, and orchestration pipelines.
• Expertise in secure infrastructure design, networking, and segmentation strategies.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams or initiatives delivering end-to-end platform solutions.
• Solid background in CI/CD, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and Linux systems.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to influence across teams.

Nice to Have:
• Experience building edge or air-gapped.
• Familiarity with service meshes such as Istio or Linkerd.
• Exposure to observability stacks (Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, ELK).
• Contributions to open-source Kubernetes or GitOps ecosystems.