Principal Platform Engineer

Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in McLean, VA. Our range of clients include innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting edge tech stack, and cloud native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Platform Engineer to support our customer and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers. 

About the role:

As a Principal Platform Engineer, you are responsible for the deployment, management, and maintenance of virtual and physical compute infrastructure to support Kubernetes platforms in cloud, on premises, and at the edge. Common tasks include designing, deploying, and maintaining physical and virtual infrastructure architectures to provide compute resources (i.e., CPU, RAM, storage, and GPU) to Kubernetes clusters; deploying, managing and maintaining physical and virtual compute resources (e.g., AWS EC2 and EBS resources in region, on Outposts rack, and on Snowball Edge); developing and deploying Linux and/or Windows servers; developing and maintaining storage arrays; deploying and maintaining Kubernetes CSI systems; and the creation and maintenance of automation scripts and pipelines.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 8 years of relevant hands-on experience
• Deploying, maintaining and monitoring AWS cloud compute resources, including EC2, EBS, and S3
• Experience deploying and managing storage arrays and/or distributed filesystems (e.g., SANs, Rook Ceph, etc.)
• Experience deploying infrastructure as code (IAC) (e.g., terraform, ansible, etc.) 
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
• Ability to obtain Security+ within 90 days of employment with Raft

Highly preferred:

• Experience managing compute resources for Kubernetes clusters (e.g., CSI solutions, ResourceQuotas, etc.)
• Experience hardening operating systems (e.g., applying DoD STIGs)
• Installing and maintaining physical compute infrastructure (e.g., blade servers, edge devices, etc.)
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
• AWS Certified Security Specialist
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator
• Local to Lexington, MA; Hampton, VA; or Reston, VA

Clearance Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance

Work Type:

• Hybrid - Hanscom AFB, MA
• May require up to 25% travel

Salary Range:

• $140,000 - $225,000
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:  

• Highly competitive salary 
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage 
• 401(k) and company match 
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays 
• Education & training benefits
• Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs 
• Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work 
• Team off-site in fun places! 
• Generous Referral Bonuses 
• And More!

Our Vision Statement:  

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.

Our Customer Obsession:

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.