Red Hat OpenShift Cloud Engineer SME with Security Clearance

Job Description Everforth ECS is seeking a Red Hat OpenShift Cloud Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to work Hybrid remote/onsite supporting Fairfax, VA and/or Springfield, VA customer locations. Regular SCIF/onsite support is expected approximately 3-4 days per week, with additional onsite support as required for critical deployments, maintenance, or operational issues. Note: This position is contingent upon additional funding. Everforth ECS is seeking a Red Hat OpenShift Cloud Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a large DoD program operating across AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, classified cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. The SME will serve as a technical authority for the architecture, deployment, administration, optimization, security, sustainment, and troubleshooting of Red Hat OpenShift environments across multiple classification levels. The successful candidate will coordinate with cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, Program and Project Management, Customer, and Partner teams. This is a hands-on SME role for an engineer capable of owning production OpenShift clusters, resolving complex platform failures, establishing technical standards, mentoring other engineers, and advising leadership on architecture, risk, and technical tradeoffs. Responsibilities include: * Architect, plan, deploy, administer, upgrade, optimize, and sustain Red Hat OpenShift environments across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid infrastructure and applicable DoD impact/classification levels. * Own OpenShift cluster lifecycle activities including installation, configuration, upgrades, patching, backup/restore, certificate management, operators, security, networking, storage, performance, and capacity management. * Serve as the senior escalation point for production OpenShift failures and perform root cause analysis across contr ol plane and worker nodes, operators, networking, storage, ingress, DNS, authentication/RBAC, certificates, registries, workload, resource constraints, and cluster health/performance. * Support onboarding of customer and partner/vendor teams and coordinate with Program/Project Management and engineering teams to ensure appropriate resources, dependencies, and operational support. * Implement and troubleshoot OpenShift/Kubernetes networking to include Services, Routes/Ingress, DNS, network policies, load balancing, and integration with enterprise networking and firewalls. * Integrate and troubleshoot persistent storage using Storage Classes, Persistent Volumes/Claims, and enterprise/cloud storage platforms. * Automate OpenShift/Kubernetes infrastructure and application configuration using Infrastructure as Code, configuration management, Helm, and GitOps methodologies. * Integrate OpenShift with enterprise CI/CD pipelines, container registries, artifact repositories, security scanning, and GitOps workflows. * Maintain security compliance and execute remediation, patching, vulnerability management, and POA&&M activities required to sustain applicable ATOs. * Develop architecture, configuration, operating, troubleshooting, and knowledge transfer documentation; cross train engineers and establish repeatable platform standards and procedures. * Advise Government customers, project management, engineering teams, and leadership on OpenShift architecture, migrations, platform operations, technical risks, tradeoffs, and recommended solutions. * Support OpenShift platforms hosting AI/ML, data intensive, and other mission requirements/lines of effort as required. * Track relevant platform and industry developments and contribute to solutioning, capture, and proposal activities as needed. Required Skills Required Skills: * Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent directly relevant experience , subject contractual labor category requirements. * Must posses an active TS security clearance and be eligible and willing to obtain SCI access and a CI polygraph * 7+ years of responsible and relevant infrastructure/platform engineering experience, including substantial hands on Kubernetes experiences and at least 3+ years of hands on production Red Hat OpenShift engineering/administration experience. * Expertise designing, deploying, administering, upgrading, and troubleshooting Red Hat OpenShift clusters in production environments. * Demonstrated experience operating OpenShift across enterprise cloud, on-premises, and/or hybrid infrastructure environments. * Expertise with Kubernetes architecture, deployment, administration, workload management, and troubleshooting. * Strong Linux systems administration experience with RHEL and Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS). * Hands on experience with OpenShift/Kubernetes environments using Infrastructure as Code, configuration management, Helm, and/or GitOps methodologies. * Experience implementing security hardening, vulnerability remediation, patching, and configuration compliance in regulated or DoD environments. * Strong understanding of cloud infrastructure and experience deploying or operating OpenShift/Kubernetes within AWS, Azure, or comparable enterprise cloud environmetns. * Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot complex production platform issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop actional technical recommendations. * Demonstrated ability to serve as a technical escalation point person, mentor engineers, establish platform standards, and communicate technical risks and tradeoffs to customers and leadership. * Strong customer focus and strong written, verbal, analytical and problem solving skills. * DOD 8570-01M certification: IAM Level I or better (e.g., Security+). Salary: $175,000-210,000 Desired Skills Desired Skills: * Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph * Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator, Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration, RHCE, or comparable Red Hat certification. * Experience deploying/managing Red Hat OpenShift clusters in multiple configurations (bare metal, hybrid, multi-cloud, air-gapped). * Experience with Ansible, Terraform, Helm, Argo CD/OpenShift GitOps, and GitLab CI/CD. * Experience with enterprise container registries such as Red Hat Quay, Harbor, GitLab Container Registry, AWS ECR, or comparable platforms. * Experience with RMF, STIGs, POA&&M remediation, ATO sustainment, and security requirements for containerized platforms. * Experience with OpenShift Data Foundation, NFS, cloud native storage, or comparable enterprise storage platforms. * Experience supporting GPU enabled Kubernetes/OpenShift environments, including GPU operators/drivers, resource scheduling, and containerized AI/ML workloads. * Experience working within classified cloud environments and across multiple DoD impact/classification levels. * Familiarity with standard CI/CD, GitOps, and DevSecOps operations, with a focus on Red Hat OpenShift processes and procedures * Experience working within common cloud management consoles (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI). * Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) experience: Proficiency with Ansible, Terraform, Help, GitOps workflows * Demonstrated ability to think strategically about business, product and technical challenges. * Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with team members to achieve common goals. * Ability to effectively communicate impacts to Senior Leadership, regarding changes in concise language. * Process improvement focused and the ability to drive efficiencies in the process. * Able to assist with other activities as needed to support the team. #EverforthECS1 ECS Federal LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis any characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local jurisdiction law. is the federal segment of , a $4B global organization with over 10,000 employees. Our nearly 3,500 professionals deliver advanced technology solutions in data and AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise transformation, serving defense, intelligence, and federal civilian agencies. Our work powers mission-critical outcomes, strengthens technology partnerships, and creates meaningful opportunities for our people. We are defined by a commitment to excellence in delivery, a culture of innovation, and an environment where talent can thrive and grow. We value: * Attracting and developing top talent and high-performing teams * Fostering a culture that is engaging, accountable, and mission-driven Meet the challenge. Make a difference with Everforth ECS!