DevOps Engineer

The DevOps Engineer (Development Lead) provides a reliable highly available platform that orchestrates the microservices of a modernized operational system using cutting-edge technologies. The contractor leads sprint planning and team tasking drives infrastructure technical direction and owns CI/CD pipeline management and cloud infrastructure cost optimization.

This is a senior individual-contributor and team-lead role requiring strong Agile execution discipline AWS architecture depth and the ability to communicate and collaborate across engineering and program stakeholder communities.

Key Responsibilities

AWS Infrastructure Architecture & IaC

• Architect build and maintain AWS infrastructure including EC2 Lambda S3 SNS SQS EventBridge Athena and Step Functions using Terraform with auto-scaling.
• Develop Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and scripting to automate tasks provision managed services and build internal tooling using Python Ansible and Terraform.
• Apply AWS networking principles including VPCs NAT gateways and IP gateways to design secure segmented environments.
• Evaluate infrastructure costs iteratively; recommend and implement cost-savings measures to reduce AWS service spend and maintenance burden.

Containerization & Orchestration

• Install configure performance-tune and operate Kubernetes environments with focus on EKS ECS and/or Fargate.
• Manage containerized workloads using Docker and Docker Compose across the microservices architecture.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure issues and ensure system uptime and availability for mission-critical operational systems.
• Collaborate with development teams to optimize application performance and reliability in containerized environments.

CI/CD Pipeline Management

• Develop and manage GitLab CI/CD pipelines to automate build test and deployment processes.
• Implement and maintain Argo CD for GitOps-based continuous delivery workflows.
• Track ticket execution and drive technical direction of infrastructure to align with program and product needs.
• Perform high-level functional systems analysis design integration documentation cost analysis and complex issue resolution

Agile Team Leadership & Sprint Execution

• Decompose sprint priorities and generate tickets aligned with internal team priorities and program objectives.
• Manage team tasking and sprint workloads; keep the team on task and executing in an orchestrated manner.
• Participate in all Agile ceremonies: sprint planning stand-ups refinement reviews and retrospectives.
• Communicate and collaborate with engineers product owners and program stakeholders across the program.

• Extensive experience architecting and managing AWS infrastructure using Terraform and IaC practices
• Strong background in containerization and orchestration: Kubernetes (EKS ECS Fargate) Docker Docker Compose
• Experience developing and managing GitLab CI/CD pipelines and Argo CD GitOps workflows
• Proficiency in DevOps scripting languages: Python Ansible Terraform
• Experience performing high-level systems analysis design integration documentation and cost analysis
• Experience managing sprint workloads and driving team technical direction in an Agile environment
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with engineers product owners and program stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

Two or more of the following:

• AWS services depth: EC2 Lambda S3 SNS SQS EventBridge Athena Step Functions with auto-scaling
• AWS networking: VPCs NAT gateways IP gateways and network segmentation design
• GitLab CI/CD pipeline design and deployment automation
• Application performance and reliability optimization in collaboration with development teams
• Infrastructure troubleshooting and system uptime management for mission-critical environments
• Kubernetes advanced operations with EKS ECS and/or Fargate focus
• Cloud infrastructure cost optimization and AWS spend reduction strategies

Certification

• Current DoD 8140 (CWIP) certification must be active prior to start

Education

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college in a related discipline
• OR Masters degree and 10 years of professional experience
• OR equivalent combi
  ned education and experience (12 or more years of professional experience)

Clearance Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph (FSP) must be active prior to start
• CI Polygraph within the last 7 years must be active prior to start

About Us. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Marshall VA ALEX - Alternative Experts LLC (ALEX) is an ISO 9001:2015-certified Women Owned Small Business thats changing the way government does business by delivering a powerful industry-leading array of core services to help its clients achieve mission-critical objectives. ALEX provides a variety of benefits designed to help meet the needs of our employees. See a summary of ALEXs Employee Benefits for more information.

ALEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity age national origin protected veteran status or disability. Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.

In order to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act we reasonably believe the pay range for this position is between $175000 - $195000. Multiple factors are taken into account with any offer of employment by ALEX including experience education and skills.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to allow employees to meet the essential functions of the job unless those accommodations cause undue hardships to the employer. To request a reasonable accommodation contact the Human Resources Department at