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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Cyber Systems Engineer - **Company:** Northrop Grumman - **Location:** Huntsville, AL, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $96,300.0 - $144,500.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Kubernetes Security, Computing Platforms, Systems Engineering, Bash Shell, Cyber Security, Computer Networks, Linux, Disaster Recovery, Python (Programming Language), PostgreSQL, Linux System Administration, Role-Based Access Control, Ansible, Prometheus, SAP (Applications), Software Deployment, Data Logging, Data Storage Management, Grafana, SC Clearance, Gitlab-ci, Kubernetes, Infrastructure Automation Frameworks, Rancher, Terraform, Docker, Jenkins - **Published:** September 23, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9188349/principal-cyber-systems-engineer ## About the Role * Master's degree with 0 years of experience; OR a Bachelor's degree with 2 years of relevant experience; OR an Associate's degree with 4 years of relevant experience; OR a High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience is required * Candidates must meet the U.S. Government 8140 requirements for IAT Level II (i.e., Security+ CE) * Candidates must be able to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance (at a minimum). * Basic knowledge of Kubernetes concepts and experience using kubectl to interact with clusters and workloads * Familiarity with container runtimes such as Containerd, Docker, or Podman * Familiarity with Linux system administration in a production, development, or lab environment * Ability to troubleshoot basic platform and workload issues related to performance, resource allocation, and configuration * Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document procedures and share knowledge with team members, * Master's degree with 3 years of experience; OR a Bachelor's degree with 5 years of relevant experience; OR an Associates degree with 7 years of relevant experience; OR a High School Diploma/GED with 9 years of relevant experience is required * Meet all the Basic Qualifications for a Cyber Systems Engineer - Kubernetes and have the additional skills below: * Proficiency with kubectl and Helm for application deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting * Strong understanding of Kubernetes core constructs and networking concepts, including Pods, Services, Ingress, Egress, and CNI concepts * Advanced Knowledge of container runtimes such as Containerd, Docker, or Podman * Thorough understanding of Linux systems in production environments * Ability to diagnose and resolve platform and workload issues related to performance, resource allocation, scheduling, and configuration * Understanding of Kubernetes security concepts, including RBAC, Pod Security Standards, and secure configuration practices * Working knowledge of cluster provisioning, automation, or configuration management tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Helm, Bash, or Python Preferred Qualifications: * Current Secret Clearance or Top Secret, SAP/SAR access, SCI access, and/or a Polygraph * Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification * Technical understanding of CI/CD pipelines that deploy to Kubernetes environments, such as Jenkins or GitLab CI * Familiarity with Rancher and Kubernetes distributions such as RKE2 or K3s * Hands-on experience administering Kubernetes clusters in production environments * Advanced Proficiency with kubectl and Helm for deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting * Working knowledge of cluster provisioning and automation tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Bash, or Python * Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools such as Prometheus and Grafana * Understanding of Kubernetes security concepts, including RBAC and Pod Security Standards * Exposure to persistent storage and stateful workloads in Kubernetes environments, including Longhorn, PostgreSQL, or similar technologies ## Description * Deploy, configure, and maintain Kubernetes clusters and supporting platform components within classified computing environments. * Administer and troubleshoot container runtimes such as Containerd, Docker, or Podman to support secure and reliable containerized workloads. * Support cluster networking operations, including Services, Pods, Ingress, Egress, and core CNI concepts, to ensure reliable application connectivity and communication. * Monitor cluster health, performance, and resource utilization, and diagnose issues related to CPU, memory, limits, requests, and workload scheduling. * Support and improve CI/CD pipelines that deploy to Kubernetes environments using tools such as Jenkins and GitLab CI. * Support persistent storage and stateful workloads in Kubernetes, including storage management, data protection, and disaster recovery capabilities. * Implement and maintain monitoring and logging capabilities using platform tools such as Prometheus and Grafana to improve system observability and operational awareness. * Troubleshoot platform, application, and infrastructure issues across Linux-based environments and coordinate resolution with engineering and mission partners. * Document platform architecture, standard operating procedures, troubleshooting steps, and implementation activities, and share knowledge across teams to support long-term sustainment. * Participate in system hardening, patching, and lifecycle maintenance activities to maintain platform stability, compliance, and operational readiness in classified environments. Note: Due to the classified nature of the work being performed, this position does not offer any virtual or telecommute working options. 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