This position requires US citizenship.
This position requires an active security clearance.
This position requires the candidate to be located in the greater Colorado Springs, CO area.

The ideal candidate:

• Has 5+ years of experience supporting air-gapped Kubernetes-based deployments (AWS EKS preferred).
• Has relevant experience deploying workloads to Kubernetes, and using common Kubernetes tools (Helm, Kubectl, etc.).
• Create and deploy Helm charts to K8s.
• Experience with decomposing requirements and writing Infrastructure-as-Code modules from scratch (Terraform preferred).
• Comfortable managing Infrastructure as Code repositories with git.
• Experience with building, maintaining, and troubleshooting CI/CD environments and pipelines (Gitlab, Jenkins, Argo, Container Registries, and testing tools including SonarQube and Prisma Cloud).
• Experience in working with and troubleshooting air-gapped network deployments, ideally on Kubernetes.
• At least a moderate level understanding of containerized and microservice-based architectures (Docker, containerd, Kubernetes, ECS, EKS, etc.).
• Experience in delivering Identity Management services (Keycloak preferred).
• Basic understanding of cloud networking concepts and technologies to include VPC Peering, Transit Gateways, NATs, IPSec VPNs, WAFs, etc.
• Functional understanding of Linux and shell scripting
• Experience with decomposing security requirements and automating system hardening to satisfy STIG, SRG, and RMF requirements.
• Be comfortable operating in environments subject to regulatory, compliance, and risk-based security requirements.
• Have an active Top Secret Clearance and be clearable to TS/SCI; preference for active TS/SCI clearance.
• Be eager to learn new technologies and expand roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, to work with development teams, technical staff, and project leads in order to rapidly resolve technical issues.

At Skyward Federal we make a difference by challenging the status quo. We solve problems others aren't or can't. Our solutions provide meaningful impact to ongoing missions. Skyward is a start-up, so expect to be challenged not only by the gnarly problems we take on as a company, but with tasks outside this job description and outside your current skill set.

Skyward knows that our special sauce is our people and we pride ourselves on creating a culture that allows individuals and teams to contribute and shine. As a team we value a willingness to tackle challenging and ambitious projects through collaboration, finding a way to “yes”, and strong communication. Another thing about our team, we like to drink lots of coffee.

Skyward offers competitive benefits:

• 10% 401K match–fully vested on day one;
• 100% company-paid premiums for comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents;
• 100% company-paid premiums for short and long term disability insurance;
• 100% company-paid life insurance policy;
• 4 weeks of paid time off accrued annually;
• 11 federal holidays, plus a bonus “Skyward Holiday” here and there;
• Unlimited sick leave events–paid time off is for travel, projects, fun, not being miserable;
• Annual educational and training budget;
• Awesome equipment (MacBook Pro and more), plus a home office set-up budget;
• Our most popular benefit is a monthly coffee budget–we weren't exaggerating when we said we drink lots of coffee.

Office hours are flexible with most work performed remotely with a geographically dispersed team. This position will need to go into the office in Colorado Springs, CO as needed–likely once to twice a week for a few hours.

Some travel may be required on an as needed basis, but not often. Must be a US citizen.