Software Engineer II
The Software Engineer II at Confidential Client supports mission-critical Intelligence Community programs by developing and automating containerized application workflows and infrastructure in a classified SCIF environment. This role involves designing deployment pipelines, managing Kubernetes-native applications, and collaborating across teams to ensure scalable, secure, and reliable software delivery while emphasizing automation, documentation, and continuous improvement.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Data Infrastructure and Analytics.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Overview
Confidential Client is seeking a motivated Software Engineer II to join a mission-critical program in Virginia. This is an on-site role working in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and requires TS/SCI clearance (or willingness to obtain and complete a polygraph where required). The role focuses on containerized application workflows, Kubernetes-native deployments, GitOps-driven CI/CD, and infrastructure automation in classified environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to design and development of deployment pipelines and Helm charts for containerized applications in classified Kubernetes environments.
- Implement and test deployment patterns, secrets management, and ConfigMap lifecycle handling.
- Build and maintain GitOps workflows and CI/CD pipeline configurations (ArgoCD, Fleet, or similar).
- Integrate microservices across backend, frontend, and infrastructure components to ensure interoperability.
- Debug and troubleshoot containerized deployments; analyze logs, events, and metrics to resolve failures.
- Implement and validate infrastructure-as-code components and Docker/Kubernetes-based automation.
- Apply Linux systems fundamentals to support container runtime and host-level operations.
- Follow engineering standards: participate in code reviews, unit testing, documentation, and reusable templates.
- Collaborate with senior engineers in architecture and tooling decisions; identify and automate repetitive operational tasks.
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of software engineering experience with demonstrated progression, including hands-on work with containerized application development or infrastructure automation.
- Comfortable coding in Go, Python, and/or TypeScript in production or classified program contexts.
- Hands-on experience with Kubernetes manifests, Helm chart development, and Docker container operations.
- Familiar with GitOps workflows and CI/CD tools such as ArgoCD or Fleet.
- Working knowledge of infrastructure-as-code concepts and Linux system operations fundamentals.
- Demonstrated debugging and troubleshooting experience in containerized environments (logs, metrics, events).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to produce clear technical documentation.
- DoD 8140/8570 IAT Level II compliance (e.g., Security+, CASP+, or equivalent).
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or related technical field — or equivalent experience (an additional 4+ years of relevant experience in lieu of degree).
Desired / Helpful Skills
- Familiarity with Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) or operator patterns (kubebuilder or similar).
- Experience with event-driven architectures (Kafka, message queues, pub/sub).
- Exposure to Terraform or Ansible for infrastructure provisioning.
- Experience with secrets management solutions such as HashiCorp Vault or Kubernetes-native sealed secrets.
- Prior experience in classified DoD or Intelligence Community environments.
- Familiarity with Rancher Government Solutions, OpenShift, or air-gapped deployments.
- Observability tooling experience: Prometheus, Grafana, or EFK/ELK logging stacks.
Location, Clearance & Work Environment
- Work location: On-site in Virginia (role requires presence in a SCIF environment).
- Clearance: TS/SCI required (candidates willing to obtain polygraph where applicable will be considered).
- Employment type: Full-time.
Compensation & Benefits
- Pay range (provided by the client): $155,000 — $165,000 per year. Actual offer will depend on experience, education, and skills.
- Confidential Client offers competitive benefits designed to support employees; specific offerings will be shared during the hiring process.
What We Value
- Strong emphasis on automation, documentation, and code reusability.
- Collaborative mindset and willingness to learn from senior teammates.
- Attention to security, compliance, and repeatable processes in classified environments.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
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