Platform Engineer

Job ID: 6323
Date Posted: February 5, 2026

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking a mid- to senior-level Platform Engineer to design and engineer platforms within a complex on-prem and hybrid infrastructure environment. The Platform Engineer is responsible for engineering the Kubernetes platform that underpins application delivery. This role owns the design, security, scalability, and evolution of platform environments and enables application teams to deploy workloads consistently and safely.

This position is onsite, non-remote in our North Logan, UT location.

Key Responsibilities

• Engineers (designs and builds) Kubernetes clusters in Azure and AWS environments (AKS/EKS)
• Builds, automates, and evolves infrastructure using cloud native solutions or infrastructure as code (Terraform, Helm, or equivalent)
• Defines cluster architecture, node pool strategy, networking, and identity integration
• Engineers upgrade, scaling, and resilience strategies for platforms
• Designs Kubernetes security models including RBAC, network policies, and secrets management
• Defines standards for ingress, egress, service exposure, and workload isolation
• Engineers platform observability patterns, including metrics, logs, and traces for Kubernetes environments
• Produces platform documentation and transition artifacts for administrator teams
• Designs and validates failure, recovery, and isolation strategies for Kubernetes workloads and clusters
• Contributes to platform standards, reference architectures, and technical decision-making processes
• Provides after-hours and on-call support as required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience in infrastructure, platform, or systems engineering roles, including at least 3 years in a DevOps/Kubernetes platform engineering capacity
• Strong AKS/EKS expertise including networking, identity, and cluster lifecycle design
• Deep understanding of Kubernetes primitives and operational failure modes
• Strong Linux and container runtime knowledge
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• Must be able to travel as needed
• Valid CompTIA Security+ certification (or equivalent) is required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire

• 5+ years of hands-on experience engineering Kubernetes platforms in production
• Azure/AWS networking and identity expertise
• GitOps-based Kubernetes management
• Service mesh experience
• Experience designing Kubernetes platforms in regulated environments

• $91,000 - $138,000
  • Salary commensurate based on education and relevant experience

This range serves as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as role, level, location, market conditions, and individual qualifications, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range displayed in the job advertisement reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries across all US locations. Specific salary details for a candidate's preferred location can be provided by the recruiter or HR manager during the hiring process.

Why Join SDL?
*SDL offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. Visit our Benefits Page to learn more about what we offer.

SDL delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense. Join our team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

At SDL, we strive to uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.

The application window for this position is expected to remain open for approximately 14 days; however, it may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.

For questions, assistance, or accommodation with the application process or the DoD SkillBridge program, please contact employment@sdl.usu.edu.