TSA - Senior Kubernetes Engineer

Springfield, VA
Full Time
GTSS - TSA Enterprise GIS Portal
Experienced

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.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Design

  • 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.

Engineering & Development

  • 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.

Security & Compliance

  • 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.

Innovation & Modernization

  • 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.

Collaboration & Leadership

  • 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.

Required Qualifications

  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 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.
Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*