Kubernetes Subject Matter Expert; SME; Cloud Engineer

Job Title: Kubernetes Subject Matter Expert (SME) (Cloud Engineer
3) – 25803

Location: St. Louis, MO

Requisition Number: 25803 |
Employment Type: Full Time |
Salary Range: $97,097 – $140,000 |
Travel: 0–10% |
Security Clearance: TS/SCI |
Experience Level: Senior HI

Mission Technologies, a division of HII, delivers all-domain expertise and advanced technologies to mission partners worldwide. We are leading the next evolution of national defense with advanced solutions in AI, cybersecurity, and unmanned systems.

We are seeking a highly skilled Kubernetes Subject Matter Expert to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of Kubernetes-based solutions in hybrid and data center environments. The ideal candidate will have deep experience with Kubernetes internals, infrastructure as code, Kyverno, and Crossplane.

• Architect, deploy, and maintain production‑grade Kubernetes clusters in data center and hybrid cloud environments.
• Advise on and implement Crossplane to manage cloud‑native infrastructure using Kubernetes APIs.
• Lead the design and enforcement of policy as code using Kyverno, aligning with security, compliance, and governance requirements.
• Collaborate with Dev Ops, platform engineering, and security teams to integrate Kubernetes into broader CI/CD workflows.
• Define and document best practices, operational runbooks, and onboarding materials.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in Kubernetes environments.
• Provide mentorship and training to engineering teams on Kubernetes tooling and patterns.
• Evaluate and implement open‑source and commercial Kubernetes extensions.

• 5+ years of experience with Kubernetes in production environments.
• Proven experience implementing Kyverno policies for governance and compliance.
• Hands‑on experience with Crossplane for infrastructure orchestration.
• Expertise in Linux systems administration and networking.
• Proficient with Helm and Git Ops tools such as ArgoCD or Flux.
• Experience deploying Kubernetes on bare‑metal or VMs in a data‑center setting (e.g., Open Shift).
• Familiarity with Kubernetes security (RBAC, Pod Security Standards, admission controllers).
• Experience with observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Loki).
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.

• Experience with Open Shift and its policy engine (e.g., Gatekeeper or Kyverno).
• Contributions to open‑source Kubernetes projects or SIGs.
• Kubernetes certifications (CKA, CKAD, or CKS).
• Familiarity with infrastructure platforms such as AWS, Oracle, GCP, or Azure via Crossplane providers.

• Adequate visual acuity and manual dexterity for meeting the requirements of the job.

Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; 401(k) retirement plan; tuition reimbursement; and additional benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off, and early‑childhood and post‑secondary education scholarships.

We build the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space, and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople, AI/ML experts, engineers, and scientists. HII is a values‑driven organization committed to employee safety and well‑being.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

For reasonable accommodations, contact or call 1‑844‑849‑8463 (press #3).