Sr Kubernetes Engineer

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer - Contract - Remote - $65.00 - $78.00/hr.

The final salary or hourly wage, as applicable, paid to each candidate/applicant for this position is ultimately dependent on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's/applicant's qualifications, skills, and level of experience as well as the geographical location of the position.

The end client is unable to sponsor or transfer visas for this position; all parties authorized to work in the US without sponsorship are encouraged to apply.

Our client is seeking a Sr Kubernetes Engineer for a Remote Opportunity.

Role Description

Development & Enforcement
Design, deploy, and operate GKE clusters, including private clusters with Shielded Nodes, Workload Identity, CMEK encryption, and custom node service accounts
Implement and enforce Policy Controller (Gatekeeper) constraints (e.g., no-public-IP, require-CMEK, enforce labeling and private networking)
Build and maintain Kubernetes RBAC frameworks aligned with enterprise IAM strategies
Develop and enforce GitOps workflows using Config Sync across clusters
Create and manage Helm charts and Kustomize overlays for consistent configuration delivery
Collaboration & Expertise
Partner with platform, security, and application teams to enable reliable Kubernetes workloads
Provide subject matter expertise on Kubernetes, GKE, and cloud-native architectures
Collaborate with DevOps and CI/CD teams on GitHub Actions and ARC runner implementations
Work cross-functionally to integrate Kubernetes with Google Cloud Platform services (IAM, Secret Manager, KMS, Artifact Registry)
Analysis & Configuration
Configure and manage Config Connector (KCC), including namespace isolation and project-level resource management
Operate Config Sync with RootSync/RepoSync configurations across multiple clusters
Implement External Secrets Operator (ESO) for secure secret management integration
Optimize node pools through machine type selection, autoscaling, taints/tolerations, and upgrade strategies
Design and configure networking policies using Calico/Cilium and GKE Dataplane V2
Operational Support
Monitor cluster health using Prometheus, Grafana, and Cloud Monitoring
Troubleshoot Kubernetes issues including pod failures, scheduling conflicts, networking, DNS, and storage
Perform cluster upgrades (control plane and node pools) with zero-downtime strategies
Manage GKE Fleet membership, Binary Authorization policies, and security bulletin responses
Ensure platform reliability, performance, and adherence to enterprise SLAs
Mentorship & Training
Mentor junior engineers on Kubernetes best practices and troubleshooting techniques
Provide guidance on GitOps, Helm, and Kustomize usage
Develop documentation, operational playbooks, and knowledge-sharing sessions
Support teams in adopting secure and scalable Kubernetes patterns
Innovation and Research
Evaluate emerging Kubernetes tools, features, and Google Cloud Platform capabilities
Explore improvements in workload scheduling, autoscaling, and cluster efficiency
Drive adoption of advanced capabilities such as Binary Authorization and image signing
Stay current with Kubernetes ecosystem advancements and industry best practices
Strategic Planning
Contribute to long-term platform architecture and multi-cluster strategy
Assess GKE Autopilot vs. Standard trade-offs for different workloads
Define roadmap improvements for scalability, cost optimization, and security posture
Align Kubernetes platform initiatives with broader organizational technology goals

Skills & Requirements

5-7 years of experience in Kubernetes engineering
3+ years of hands-on experience with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
Deep expertise in GKE features including private clusters, Workload Identity, Config Sync, Policy Controller, and Fleet management
Strong understanding of Kubernetes internals (API server, etcd, scheduler, kubelet, kube-proxy, CNI)
Experience with Config Connector (KCC) or Kubernetes-native Google Cloud Platform resource management
Hands-on experience with Actions Runner Controller (ARC) in Kubernetes
Proficiency in External Secrets Operator (ESO) configuration and operation
Experience with Helm, Kustomize, and GitOps workflows
Strong knowledge of Kubernetes networking, security, and RBAC
Experience with monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and Cloud Monitoring
Proven troubleshooting and operational excellence in production environments
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field OR equivalent practical experience may be considered in lieu of formal education
Advanced certifications in Kubernetes or cloud platforms (Google Cloud Platform) are highly desirable
Experience with Binary Authorization and container image signing
Familiarity with GKE Autopilot and Standard mode trade-offs
Experience managing Windows or specialized node pools (e.g., Android/iOS runners)
Kubernetes operator development experience (Go, controller-runtime)
Relevant certifications such as CKA or CKAD

Benefits/Other Compensation

This position is a contract/temporary role where Hays offers you the opportunity to enroll in full medical benefits, dental benefits, vision benefits, 401K and Life Insurance ($20,000 benefit).

Why Hays?

You will be working with a professional recruiter who has intimate knowledge of the industry and market trends. Your Hays recruiter will lead you through a thorough screening process in order to understand your skills, experience, needs, and drivers. You will also get support on resume writing, interview tips, and career planning, so when there's a position you really want, you're fully prepared to get it.

Nervous about an upcoming interview? Unsure how to write a new resume?

Visit the Hays Career Advice section to learn top tips to help you stand out from the crowd when job hunting.

Hays is committed to building a thriving culture of diversity that embraces people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better we serve our candidates, clients, and employees. We are an equal employment opportunity employer, and we comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, HIV-positive status, as well as any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. One of Hays' guiding principles is 'do the right thing'.
We also believe that actions speak louder than words.
In that regard, we train our staff on ensuring inclusivity throughout the entire recruitment process and counsel our clients on these principles. If you have any questions about Hays or any of our processes, please contact us.

In accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, Hays will attempt to reasonably accommodate those individuals unless doing so would create an undue hardship on the company. Any qualified applicant or consultant with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should call or text .

Drug testing may be required; please contact a recruiter for more information.

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