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Defense UnicornsPlatform Engineer - FedD180/FedD181
Defense Unicorns is seeking a Platform Engineer to join its platform team in a remote capacity. The organization builds and delivers secure solutions for continuous software…
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About This Role
Defense Unicorns is seeking a Platform Engineer to join its platform team in a remote capacity. The organization builds and delivers secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery, helping public and private enterprises streamline software deployment without compromising security. This role is suited for a problem-solver who is motivated by building and improving systems that other teams rely on, working across infrastructure as code, automated deployments, monitoring, and CI/CD…
Job Description
Defense Unicorns is seeking a Platform Engineer to join its platform team in a remote capacity. The organization builds and delivers secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery, helping public and private enterprises streamline software deployment without compromising security. This role is suited for a problem-solver who is motivated by building and improving systems that other teams rely on, working across infrastructure as code, automated deployments, monitoring, and CI/CD pipelines.
As a Platform Engineer, you will focus on the development, maintenance, and reliability of a cloud-based platform environment. You will serve as a bridge between application teams and the platform, championing best practices and ensuring the environment remains secure, scalable, and reliable. Daily duties involve configuring Kubernetes clusters, managing containerized application deployments across cloud infrastructures like AWS, EKS, and RKE2, and optimizing CI/CD pipelines through tools such as GitLab CI. Additionally, you will handle certificate lifecycle operations, support user onboarding and access management with Keycloak, and contribute to the platform security posture by addressing container security and Iron Bank image compliance.
The position requires active participation in on-site or field travel about 5 to 10 percent of the time, as well as taking part in tier 2 on-call rotations to support platform incidents. The mid-level position offers a salary range of USD 123,250 to USD 166,750 per year alongside a comprehensive compensation and wellness package.
Responsibilities
- Build, maintain, and improve Kubernetes clusters and containerized application deployments across AWS, EKS, and RKE2
- Develop and manage infrastructure as code to provision and configure platform resources consistently
- Own and improve CI/CD pipelines, including GitLab CI configuration and automated deployment workflows
- Support identity and access management through Keycloak for user onboarding and role configuration
- Implement and maintain monitoring, alerting, and logging systems to track platform health
- Manage certificate lifecycle operations and public certificate renewals
- Contribute to platform security practices, Iron Bank image compliance, and ATO processes
- Collaborate with application teams to troubleshoot deployment issues and platform integration problems
- Write and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, architecture decision records, and operational standards
- Participate in on-call rotations and provide tier 2 incident support
- Mentor and support junior engineers through pairing and code reviews
Requirements
- Active Secret clearance to start
- Hands-on experience deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Kubernetes clusters and workloads
- Experience with infrastructure as code tools such as Terraform or Pulumi
- Proficiency with CI/CD tooling, particularly GitLab CI
- Working knowledge of Linux and Unix operating systems and command-line administration
- Experience with cloud platforms, preferably AWS components including EC2, EKS, IAM, S3, and VPC
- Familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and registry management
- Ability to read and write YAML fluently for Kubernetes manifests, CRDs, Helm charts, and pipeline configurations
- Possess or have the ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification such as Security+ CE
Qualifications
- Experience with UDS Core, Iron Bank, or Continuous Authority to Operate processes
- Familiarity with identity and access management platforms like Keycloak
- Experience with monitoring and observability tooling such as Prometheus, Grafana, or the ELK stack
- Proficiency in programming or scripting languages including Go, Python, or Bash
- Experience working in a DevSecOps model with secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation
- Familiarity with GitOps workflows and tools like Flux or ArgoCD
- Department of Defense experience working on a production ATO system
- Experience with distributed architectures and everything-as-code approaches
- AWS certifications related to platform or solutions architecture
Core Skills
Benefits
- 100 percent company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
- Health Savings Account
- Life insurance and disability insurance
- 401k retirement plan and company stock options
- Home office budget
- Flexible Time Off plus all federal holidays, one week for Thanksgiving, and two weeks for Christmas and New Year's
- Paid parental leave
- Reimbursement for approved trainings, subscriptions, and conferences including travel and lodging
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
What is the salary for the Platform Engineer role?
The mid-level Platform Engineer position offers a salary between USD 123,250 and USD 166,750 per year.
What are the clearance requirements for this position?
Applicants must possess an active Secret clearance to start.
Is travel required for this remote role?
Yes, travel expectations for this position are between 5 and 10 percent.
What certifications are required or expected?
Candidates must either possess or have the ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification, such as Security+ CE.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.