Platform Engineer Senior Principal

Type of Requisition: Regular Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Top Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret/SCI Public Trust/Other Required: None Job Family: IT Infrastructure and Operations Job Qualifications: Skills: AWS Cloud Computing, Cloud Engineering, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Platform, DevOps Certifications: None Experience: 7 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required: Yes Job Description: OUR IMPACT Own your opportunity to support one of the largest government organizations in the nation. Make an impact by advancing the Department of War mission through secure, reliable, and scalable cloud platforms that enable mission teams to operate more effectively. OUR COMPANY Iron EagleX (IEX), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), delivers agile IT and intelligence solutions. Combining small-team flexibility with global scale, IEX leverages emerging technologies to provide innovative, user-focused solutions that empower organizations and end users to operate smarter, faster, and more securely in dynamic environments. JOB DESCRIPTION Iron EagleX is seeking an experienced Platform Engineer Sr Principal to lead the architecture, implementation, and continuous improvement of secure, scalable cloud-native platforms. This position requires extensive experience with Amazon Web Services, Kubernetes, cloud networking, infrastructure automation, DevSecOps, and Site Reliability Engineering. The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority across multiple projects, establish platform engineering standards, and help development teams deliver secure and reliable applications more efficiently. MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT We are seeking a senior Platform Engineering professional who will work closely with software engineers, infrastructure teams, cybersecurity personnel, program leadership, and government stakeholders to modernize enterprise platforms and improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of mission-critical systems. The Platform Engineer Sr Principal will provide technical leadership throughout the full service lifecycle, from architecture and development through deployment, monitoring, incident response, optimization, and continuous improvement. JOB DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO • Serve as the technical authority for Platform Engineering, DevOps, and DevSecOps architecture across multiple projects. • Lead the design, implementation, modernization, and continuous improvement of secure, scalable, and highly available cloud-native platforms. • Design and operate enterprise Kubernetes platforms supporting multiple applications, teams, and deployment environments. • Architect secure AWS solutions with an emphasis on cloud networking, routing, load balancing, ingress, identity management, resiliency, and zero-trust principles. • Capture, analyze, and implement customer requirements while ensuring alignment with mission objectives, program priorities, security requirements, and performance expectations. • Engage throughout the full lifecycle of platform services, including design, development, deployment, operations, monitoring, incident response, and optimization. • Design, implement, and maintain enterprise CI/CD pipelines using GitLab or similar technologies and industry-recognized best practices. • Define, establish, document, and maintain DevSecOps standards, processes, governance, and security controls throughout the software development lifecycle. • Design and implement Infrastructure as Code solutions using Terraform, Crossplane, and comparable technologies. • Standardize the creation, deployment, configuration, and lifecycle management of Helm charts, Kustomize overlays, and Kubernetes-based applications. • Develop and implement automated testing frameworks, deployment validation processes, and release strategies that improve platform reliability and reduce operational risk. • Monitor platform availability, performance, scalability, capacity, and security while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement. • Apply Site Reliability Engineering principles to improve system resilience, reduce operational toil, and increase service availability. • Troubleshoot complex infrastructure, networking, security, and application issues while providing root cause analysis and implementing durable corrective actions. • Conduct architecture reviews, infrastructure reviews, code reviews, and technical design sessions. • Review and validate application architectures, infrastructure designs, deployment patterns, and technical implementation plans. • Onboard application development teams to standardized cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes deployment patterns, and operational processes. • Develop automation and platform capabilities using Python, Bash, or similar scripting and programming languages. • Mentor developers and junior engineers while providing technical leadership across cross-functional engineering teams. • Collaborate with government stakeholders, program leadership, product owners, cybersecurity teams, and engineering personnel to develop technical roadmaps and modernization strategies. REQUIRED SKILLS • Ten or more years of progressive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise DevOps, DevSecOps, Platform Engineering, or cloud environments. • Five or more years of experience designing and deploying secure, highly available, cloud-native solutions in Amazon Web Services. • Two or more years of software development experience, preferably supporting production or customer-facing systems. • Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead, architect, or subject matter expert for enterprise software development, Platform Engineering, infrastructure automation, or cloud modernization initiatives. • Extensive experience designing, deploying, administering, and troubleshooting enterprise Kubernetes platforms. • Extensive experience with Docker, Helm, Kustomize, container security, vulnerability scanning, image management, and container hardening. • Strong knowledge of AWS networking, including Virtual Private Clouds, subnets, routing, load balancing, DNS, ingress, security groups, network access controls, and connectivity troubleshooting. • Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, Crossplane, or comparable technologies. • Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using GitLab or similar technologies. • Experience applying DevSecOps practices throughout the software development lifecycle. • Experience supporting highly available enterprise applications in AWS production environments. • Experience developing automation using Python, Bash, or similar scripting languages. • Experience reviewing and validating software code, application architectures, Kubernetes configurations, cloud infrastructure, and technical designs. • Strong knowledge of Agile software development methodologies. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED • Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance • Experience: Ten or more years of related DevOps, DevSecOps, cloud engineering, infrastructure automation, or Platform Engineering experience • Cloud experience: Five or more years designing and deploying cloud-native solutions in AWS • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline; an equivalent combination of education, certifications, and relevant professional experience may be considered • Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role GDIT IS YOUR PLACE At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do. • Growth: AI-powered career tools that identify career steps and learning opportunities • Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals • Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401(k) with company match, competitive pay, and paid time off • Community: An award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY Explore a career at Iron EagleX and GDIT, and you will find opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your commitment to the mission, engineering excellence, innovation, and delivering results. #iexpriority #iexjobs Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans The likely salary range for this position is $185,300 - $250,700. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Travel Required: 10-25% Telecommuting Options: Onsite Work Location: USA VA Crystal City Additional Work Locations: Total Rewards at GDIT: Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.     Our Identity Verification Process: As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.     About Our Work: We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development. Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on our career opportunities and events at gdit.com/tc. Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans