OpenShift Platform Engineer

Saalex is seeking an OpenShift Platform Engineer in Ridgecrest CA to lead the architecture, deployment, automation, and sustainment of Red Hat OpenShift platforms supporting classified Department of Defense environments. This position will serve as the technical lead for building and maintaining scalable OpenShift infrastructure, virtualization capabilities, and automation frameworks that support mission-critical systems. The selected candidate will design, implement, and optimize enterprise OpenShift environments while developing automated operational capabilities that simplify administration, improve security, and enable long-term platform sustainability. The ideal candidate is a hands-on OpenShift expert with strong experience in Kubernetes platforms, Linux systems engineering, Ansible automation, OpenShift Virtualization, and infrastructure modernization within secure or highly regulated environments.

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt Salary: $135,000 - $155,000 annually Work Location: Onsite - China Lake, CA

Essential Functions:

• Architect, deploy, administer, and optimize Red Hat OpenShift platforms supporting classified Department of Defense environments.
• Design and implement highly available OpenShift cluster architectures, including lifecycle management, upgrades, patching, and platform sustainment.
• Lead the deployment and administration of OpenShift Virtualization and virtual machine workloads hosted within OpenShift.
• Develop and maintain Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) workflows, Ansible playbooks, and Infrastructure-as-Code solutions supporting platform provisioning and administration.
• Design automation that streamlines routine operational activities and reduces administrative overhead.
• Implement and maintain OpenShift networking, storage, authentication, RBAC, and security controls.
• Support Kubernetes-based application hosting and container orchestration initiatives.
• Create comprehensive technical documentation, runbooks, system administration guides, and operational procedures.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex platform, virtualization, automation, and infrastructure issues.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, operations, and engineering teams to support secure platform operations.
• Support platform modernization and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure solutions meet performance, scalability, maintainability, compliance, and security requirements.
• Provide technical recommendations, architecture guidance, and implementation support for platform engineering initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience supporting enterprise Linux, Kubernetes, OpenShift, platform engineering, DevOps, cloud infrastructure, or related technical environments.
• Hands-on experience deploying, administering, and maintaining Red Hat OpenShift environments.
• Strong Kubernetes platform administration experience.
• Strong Linux systems administration experience, preferably supporting Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.
• Experience developing and maintaining Ansible playbooks and automation workflows.
• Experience with Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) or similar enterprise automation tools.
• Experience with OpenShift Virtualization, KubeVirt, VMware, or comparable virtualization technologies.
• Experience developing Infrastructure-as-Code and automated provisioning solutions.
• Experience creating technical documentation, operational procedures, and administration guides.
• Experience supporting secure, classified, government, or highly regulated computing environments.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience administering disconnected, air-gapped, or restricted OpenShift environments.
• Experience with Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management (ACM), OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF), or related OpenShift ecosystem technologies.
• Experience with GitLab, GitOps, ArgoCD, Terraform, or other modern automation and deployment frameworks.
• Experience supporting containerized application deployments and DevSecOps initiatives.
• Experience integrating GPU or accelerated-computing resources within Kubernetes or OpenShift environments.
• Experience supporting High Performance Computing (HPC) environments.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense research, engineering, testing, or weapons-development organizations.
• Experience working within NAVAIR, DoD, or other classified government environments.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Security Clearance:

• Active TS/SCI security clearance required. Requirements to obtain a clearance include US Citizenship, security investigation, etc.

Benefits

• Employer Paid Health Care Plans for Employees & Family
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Stock Option Benefit