Senior DevOps Engineer
Columbia, MDDevOps Engineer (Senior-Level)
Location: Columbia, MD
Employment Type: Full-time
Experience Level: Senior (12+ years)
Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI with polygraph required
Position Overview
The selected candidate will support the design, implementation, and maintenance of cloud-native infrastructure and automated software delivery pipelines within a secure, mission-focused environment. This role requires a proactive DevOps Engineer capable of bridging development and operations to enable scalable, resilient systems and efficient deployment workflows.
The position emphasizes infrastructure automation, continuous integration and delivery, and collaboration with development teams to enhance system reliability and developer productivity.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure Automation
- Design, implement, and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using Terraform
- Develop scalable, modular, and maintainable infrastructure architectures
- Manage infrastructure lifecycle, including provisioning, updates, and decommissioning
Pipeline Engineering
- Architect, implement, and optimize CI/CD pipelines using Git-based platforms (e.g., GitLab)
- Ensure pipelines are secure, efficient, and support rapid, reliable software delivery
- Troubleshoot and resolve pipeline performance and reliability issues
Cloud-Native Operations
- Deploy, manage, and scale cloud-native applications and environments
- Support containerized workloads using technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
- Maintain system performance, availability, and security within cloud environments
Developer Enablement
- Collaborate with software engineering teams to streamline deployment processes
- Identify and resolve bottlenecks in development and release workflows
- Promote and enforce DevOps best practices and operational standards
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (or additional experience in lieu of degree)
- Demonstrated experience designing and managing production-grade infrastructure using Terraform, including:
- State management
- Modular architecture design
- Extensive experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using Git-based platforms (e.g., GitLab)
- Strong knowledge of cloud-native technologies, including:
- Containerization (Docker)
- Orchestration (Kubernetes)
- Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS or equivalent)
- Solid understanding of Linux systems administration
- Experience with cloud networking and security principles
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with OpenAPI specifications and generating or managing SDKs
- Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, or tool development
- Experience building internal developer tools or automation frameworks
- Familiarity with observability practices, including monitoring, logging, and alerting systems
Desired Attributes
- Ability to operate effectively in a secure, mission-driven environment
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Effective communication and collaboration across technical teams
- High level of ownership and accountability
- Commitment to system reliability, scalability, and security
Benefits & Total Compensation
Compensation & Retirement
- Highly competitive base salary
- Performance-based bonus opportunities
- Employee referral bonus program (up to $10,000 per referral)
- 401(k) and Roth retirement plans with up to 10% profit-sharing contribution
Paid Time Off & Leave
- 25 days of paid time off annually
- PTO buy-back program
- 11 paid holidays annually (with flexible scheduling options)
- 3 additional paid site closure days per year
- Paid bereavement leave
- Paid parental leave:
- 8 weeks childbirth leave for birthing parent
- 4 weeks bonding leave for all parents (birth or adoption)
Health & Insurance
- 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (medical, dependent care, limited purpose)
- Company-paid basic life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Education & Professional Development
- Unlimited company-funded training courses and industry conferences
- Education assistance and continuing education support
- Up to 5 paid training days per year
Additional Benefits
- Company-provided apparel
- Regular company-sponsored events, including family-friendly gatherings and social events
- Annual holiday celebration
Benefits are subject to change based on contract and organizational policies.
Additional Information
- This position requires work to be performed on-site in a secure environment
- Candidates must maintain an active security clearance
- U.S. citizenship may be required based on contract requirements
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability.