Position Introduction/Key Duties Cimarron is seeking a Platform Engineer to help build, operate, and modernize the OpenShift and Kubernetes platform that hosts next-generation mission applications. In this role, you will containerize and deploy mission software, modernize CI/CD pipelines, support telemetry and machine learning workloads, and work alongside experienced NASA platform engineers to enhance platform capabilities through automation, documentation, and operational excellence.
You will design, implement, and maintain GitOps-driven deployment workflows and infrastructure automation practices, while supporting platform reliability through proactive monitoring, observability, performance tuning, incident response, and root-cause analysis. The position also includes developing and maintaining dashboards, logging, metrics, alerting, and operational reporting capabilities to ensure a secure, scalable, and resilient platform environment.
Your work will directly support the software, data, and infrastructure technologies that enable NASA flight controllers, engineers, and mission support personnel to monitor, analyze, and operate human spaceflight missions and future exploration systems.
This is a hybrid position based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.
Key Duties:
- Containerize, package and deploy mission applications (on-premises and cloud) on an OpenShift/Kubernetes cluster, applying best practices for container security, dependency management, resource planning and lifecycle operations.
- Design, build and refine automated CI/CD pipelines in GitLab CI, including pipeline modernization, reproducible artifacts and a multi-tenant runner strategy aligned with GitOps and DevSecOps practices.
- Work alongside senior NASA platform engineers to share day-to-day cluster operations, upgrades and troubleshooting.
- Write runbooks, architecture and configuration documentation, and infrastructure-as-code so the platform can be operated reliably by more than one person.
- Deploy and operate the MQTT telemetry bridge and its supporting services and provide GPU and model-serving capacity for machine learning engineers.
- Contribute designs for modular, scalable, loosely coupled architectures and prototypes for future missions with other NASA organizations.
- Provide OpenShift, Kubernetes and containerization expertise to NASA teams, and follow NASA and JSC standards for software development and IT security.
Required/Desired Skills, Experience, and Education
Required Skills, Experience, and Education:
- Due to facility security requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for consideration at this time.
- Ability to complete a pre-employment background check and drug screening, which will include but is not limited to testing for marijuana use.
- 3 or more years of software or systems engineering experience, including 2 or more years of DevOps or platform engineering and 1 or more years operating Red Hat OpenShift or Kubernetes in production.
- Hands-on experience deploying, upgrading and troubleshooting OpenShift/Kubernetes clusters and workloads.
- Experience building GitLab CI pipelines and operating GitLab Runners.
- Scripting and infrastructure-as-code skills (for example Ansible, Helm, Kustomize, Terraform) and Linux administration.
- Working knowledge of container security and DevSecOps practices.
- A collaborative style: you document what you build and enjoy working with, and learn from, more senior engineers.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field.
Desired Skills, Experience and Education:
- Red Hat certifications (EX280/EX288) or CKA/CKAD.
- Experience with GitOps tooling such as Argo CD, bare metal OpenShift builds and GPU workloads on OpenShift.
- Experience with hybrid on-premises and cloud infrastructure.
- Keycloak or other identity provider experience.
- Prior NASA, federal or other mission-critical systems experience.
Business Profile:
Cimarron is a global solutions company with a strategic partnering approach to satisfying customer-driven requirements. We ensure customer success with a modern approach and experienced leadership. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Cimarron is fueled by highly skilled employees, developing new innovative technologies, and delivering superior products and services. We believe in recognizing employees' worth by offering competitive salaries and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) contributions, educational reimbursement, and much more. From company communication through Company-wide information meetings led by our President and CEO, to an Awards program designed to recognize our amazing employees and their accomplishments, you will not only feel like you are a part of a team, you will be a valued member of the Cimarron family. Cimarron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.