Lead Software Engineer (Kubernetes)

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

About the role

As a Lead Software Engineer in our Foundational Infrastructure Group, you will help re-architect the platform on public clouds to allow for frequent, predictable, and high-impact changes. You will ensure that our world-class infrastructure is always available, responsive, and capable of meeting the diverse needs of a dynamic and high-powered development team. You will work as part of an agile and global team to transform our architecture to a modern services architecture that makes it easy for feature teams to leverage microservices and containerization technologies.

This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster collaboration and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Coach junior engineers and drive projects to impact
• Review architecture and designs from team members, identify problems, and suggest better practices
• Conduct code reviews focusing on elegance, performance, maintainability, and security
• Work with DevOps, Release Engineering, and CI/CD trends
• Maintain and evolve infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform)
• Address networking and information security in the cloud (e.g., VPN, compliance)
• Automate aspects of the development lifecycle to achieve continuous delivery
• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Identify dependencies between teams, communicate blockers, and escalate as needed
• Lead responses to severe issues, minimizing customer pain and communicating solutions clearly

Requirements

• Expertise in AWS or other cloud infrastructures (Azure, Google Cloud) and Infrastructure-as-Code tools
• Expertise in the Kubernetes ecosystem (e.g., Cilium, Istio, Knative, Keda)
• Familiarity with DevOps, Release Engineering, and CI/CD
• Familiarity with networking and information security in the cloud
• Interest in automating every aspect of the development lifecycle
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience designing, building, and architecting software in an enterprise software or SaaS/PaaS environment
• Fluency in at least one programming language, such as Python, Golang, or Java
• At least 5 years of experience working in the Kubernetes ecosystem
• Bachelor’s in Computer Science or Engineering, or equivalent experience

Tools and Resources

• Cutting-edge technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, GitLab, and Prometheus to design and build new infrastructure features
• Engineering IndieTime: dedicated time to build whatever you want with whomever you want
• Annual hackathons to inspire innovation and creativity
• Autonomous agile teams with a sense of community and accomplishment

Training and Development

• Department-specific training during onboarding
• Dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program for new hires
• Leadership program for new and aspiring managers
• Appian University: specialized department training
• Skills-based training and tuition reimbursement for advancing education

Community

• Inclusive culture rooted in respect from day one
• Eight employee-led affinity groups for networking and outreach activities

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible time off and paid parental leave
• Wellness dollars and flexible spending accounts
• Health savings account contributions
• Employee referral bonus program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Family-forming benefits

Pay

Base Salary Range: $150,000 USD - $300,000 USD. Actual compensation will depend on relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market conditions. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance.