DevOps Development Lead (Clearance Required)

Location: Fort Meade, MD (On-Site)

Clearance Required: Active Top Secret/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph (FSP); CI Polygraph within the last 7 years - must be active prior to start

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 and IaC

• Architect, build, and maintain AWS infrastructure including EC2, Lambda, S3, SNS, SQS, Event Bridge, 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 and 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 and 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

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent combined education and experience (12 or more years of professional experience; or 10 years with a related Master's degree).

Must Have (Required):

• 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

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

• 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

Nice to Have (2 or more of the following):

• AWS services depth: EC2, Lambda, S3, SNS, SQS, Event Bridge, 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

Your recruiter will be happy to walk you through your U.S.-specific benefits, which include:

• Healthcare Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.

• Time Off and Leave Policies: Generous paid time off (PTO), paid company holidays, generous parental and family leave.

• Protective Insurances: Life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and accident protection.

• Compensation and Rewards: Competitive salary structures, performance-based incentives, and merit-based compensation reviews.

• Retirement Plans: 401(k) plans with company matching.

Please note that benefits may vary by region, department and role. We encourage you to speak with your recruiter to learn more about the specific benefits available for your position.

About Kroll 

Join the global leader in risk and financial advisory solutions—Kroll. With a nearly century-long legacy, we blend trusted expertise with cutting-edge technology to navigate and redefine industry complexities. As a part of One Team, One Kroll, you'll contribute to a collaborative and empowering environment, propelling your career to new heights. Ready to build, protect, restore and maximize our clients’ value? Your journey begins with Kroll. 

In order to be considered for a position, you must formally apply via careers.kroll.com.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, race, religion, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, age or disability.

The current salary range for this position is $100,000 to $150,000

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