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# Principal Engineer, Kubernetes Storage (Trident) job in Morrisville

- **Company:** NetApp, Inc.
- **Location:** Morrisville, NC, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $227,800.0 - $338,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Cloud Engineering, Data as a Services, Data Structures, Software Debugging, Distributed Systems, Python (Programming Language), NetApp Applications, Data ONTAP (Server Appliance), Open Source Technology, Software Construction, Software Engineering, Kubernetes, Free and Open-Source Software, Trident
- **Published:** October 17, 2026
- **Apply:** https://jobs.diversity.com/career/2531400/principal-engineer-kubernetes-storage-trident-north-carolina-nc-morrisville

## About the Role

* 10+ years building software, or equivalent demonstrated impact
 * Strong production Go
 * Deep Kubernetes knowledge: architecture, APIs, controllers and operators, and how storage actually gets consumed
 * Real experience with persistent storage in Kubernetes (CSI, volume lifecycle, or comparable)
 * Solid fundamentals in distributed systems, data structures, and systems design
 * Hands-on with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
 * The ability to explain a design clearly to engineers, to PM, and to a frustrated customer
 * Comfort working in an Agile team

What helps

 * You've built or maintained a CSI driver or Kubernetes storage controller in production
 * Open-source contributions in Kubernetes, CSI, or CNCF projects
 * Python for tooling, test, and automation
 * Data protection on Kubernetes: snapshots, clones, backup, DR
 * Experience with ONTAP or other enterprise and cloud-native storage platforms
 * A track record leading technical work across teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical area of study: engineering disciplines

Master's degree in technical field such as engineering, software development, preferred with less additional experience stated above

## Description

* Lead architecture for Trident and the Kubernetes data services around it
 * Design and ship production Go, not just diagrams
 * Guide engineers through complex, cross-team technical work
 * Work directly with customers on escalations, requirements, and validation
 * Raise the bar on testing, debugging, and performance
 * Run PoCs and R&D on where Kubernetes storage is heading
 * Represent NetApp upstream and in the open-source community