Systems Engineer - Kubernetes Implementation (Ground-Up Build) with Security Clearance

Description We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Systems Engineer to lead the ground-up design and implementation of a custom Kubernetes-compatible container orchestration platform. This is a rare opportunity to build a next-generation system from first principles, rethinking Kubernetes' core concepts to fit the unique needs of our architecture, scale, and performance requirements. In this role, you'll be a foundational member of a specialized team responsible for designing and developing key components of a distributed systems stack including scheduling, networking, service discovery, container runtime integration, and security.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and implement a lightweight, performant Kubernetes-compatible control plane and supporting components.
• Design and build core systems including the scheduler, controller manager, API server, and etcd-like state store.
• Develop a custom container runtime interface or integrate with existing runtimes (e.g., containerd, CRI-O).
• Implement cluster networking, load balancing, and service discovery mechanisms.
• Ensure robust authentication, RBAC, auditing, and security policy enforcement.
• Integrate observability tooling for metrics, logging, and tracing.
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure the platform supports internal use cases at scale.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code and documentation.
• Stay on top of CNCF developments and industry trends to guide future design decisions.

Requirements TS / SCI w / Polygraph Clearance Required Bachelor's of Science Degree + 18-20+ years of applicable experience.