Lead DevOps Engineer - Kubernetes Deployments & GitOps

Primary Responsibilities

• Build and operate Kubernetes deployment capabilities using ArgoCD and/or Flux, establishing GitOps standards for repo structure, promotion workflows, and environment consistency
• Engineer and maintain deployment automation/tooling (CI/CD pipelines, scripting, deployment platforms), converting repeat manual work into durable automation
• Administer and govern source control ecosystems (Git, GitLab, GitHub), including security controls, branch protections, and operational hygiene aligned to platform needs
• Run sprint releases and release governance: cut release branches on schedule, coordinate merges, enforce approval controls (including late merges), trigger rebuilds for impacted pipelines, and execute releases aligned to CHG approvals with clear status communication
• Own reliability of non-prod and production delivery environments: keep release environments healthy, respond to operational issues impacting delivery, and coordinate environment refresh/restore activities
• Adopt enterprise-approved AI tools and drive AI adoption within the team to improve speed, quality, and consistency of engineering delivery
• Lead, coach, and manage performance for a medium-sized engineering team; build capability through mentoring/training while maintaining accountability for outcomes
• Persistently partner effectively with internal stakeholders (developers, leadership, infrastructure/ops) and external stakeholders (vendors/partners) to deliver results and manage dependencies

Required Qualifications

• Hands-on experience deploying and operating workloads on Kubernetes, including production-grade deployment and troubleshooting practices
• Practical experience with GitOps tooling (ArgoCD and/or Flux) and Git-centered delivery workflows
• Proficiency in modern source control and delivery ecosystems: Git, and enterprise platforms such as GitHub and/or GitLab
• Demonstrated ability to build/maintain CI/CD automation and handle necessary manual steps while systematically converting them into automation over time
• Demonstrated leadership as a hands-on technical lead, including team guidance, mentoring/coaching, and day-to-day delivery ownership
• Demonstrated ability to execute and govern releases (branching/release coordination, approvals, and rebuild discipline) in a multi-team environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead a medium-sized team including performance tracking, coaching, and performance management
• Experience deploying into Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and working familiarity with Azure (identity, networking, security, monitoring/observability)
• Solid scripting skills (e.g., PowerShell/Python or similar) for pipeline/tooling automation and operational efficiency
• Solid communication and stakeholder management skills across engineering, operations, and leadership audiences

Preferred Requirements

• CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) certification
• Cloud certifications (Azure and/or AWS)
• Experience deploying/operating in a highly regulated environment (e.g., government contract constraints, sensitive data, strict access requirements, formal change control)
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code such as Terraform
• Experience managing vendor relationships and driving SLA-oriented outcomes in partnership with operations and security/governance stakeholders
• Experience hiring and building teams in Kubernetes/GitOps/DevOps domains (interviewing, selection, onboarding)