Lead Software Engineer – DevOps Architect | TS/SCI with Poly | Palm Bay, FL

Lead Software Engineer – DevOps Architect (TS/SCI with Poly)

📍 Location: Palm Bay, FL (100% Onsite)
🏢 Industry: Aerospace & Defense
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🗓️ Work Schedule: 9/80 Schedule (Every Other Friday Off)
🔒 Security Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph
🚫 Visa Sponsorship: Not Available
🚚 Relocation Assistance: Available
✈️ Interview Travel: Reimbursed
💰 Compensation: $140,000 – $180,000 Base Salary

Overview

A leading aerospace and defense organization is seeking a Lead Software Engineer – DevOps Architect to lead the design, modernization, and long-term evolution of a containerized microservices platform supporting mission-critical applications.

This is a highly technical architecture role focused on DevOps engineering, containerization, CI/CD, infrastructure automation, and platform modernization. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across architecture, implementation, and engineering best practices while partnering closely with software engineering, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and program stakeholders.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced DevOps Architect, Platform Architect, Software Architect, or Cloud Infrastructure Architect who enjoys designing scalable, secure, and resilient distributed systems.

Key Responsibilities

DevOps & Platform Architecture

• Lead the architecture and design of Docker-based microservices platforms.

• Develop scalable, secure, and resilient distributed system architectures.

• Define platform roadmaps and long-term modernization strategies.

• Establish architecture standards and engineering best practices.

Containerization & Orchestration

• Design and implement containerized application environments.

• Drive technical decisions around container orchestration platforms.

• Improve platform scalability, availability, and operational resilience.

• Guide platform standardization across engineering teams.

CI/CD & Infrastructure Automation

• Design modern CI/CD pipelines and deployment strategies.

• Drive Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation initiatives.

• Improve build, release, deployment, and monitoring processes.

• Promote DevOps best practices across the software lifecycle.

Software Architecture

• Produce detailed architectural designs and interface specifications.

• Define deployment models and technical design documentation.

• Support API integration and service-to-service communication.

• Evaluate architecture tradeoffs and recommend improvements.

Technical Leadership

• Lead architecture and design reviews.

• Mentor engineering teams and provide technical guidance.

• Identify technical risks and mitigation strategies.

• Collaborate with software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and program leadership.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree with 9+ years of relevant experience

OR

• Master's Degree with 7+ years of relevant experience

OR

• 13+ years of related experience in lieu of a degree

Security Clearance

✔ Active TS/SCI with Polygraph (Required)

Required Technical Expertise

DevOps & Platform Engineering

• DevOps Architecture

• Platform Engineering

• Distributed Systems Architecture

• Microservices Architecture

• Docker

CI/CD & Automation

• Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Configuration Management

• Automated Deployments

Container Technologies

• Docker

• Kubernetes

• OpenShift (or similar orchestration platforms)

Software Architecture

• API Design

• Service-to-Service Communication

• Distributed Systems

• Platform Modernization

Security & Reliability

• Secure Platform Engineering

• Scalability & Performance Optimization

• System Reliability & Observability

• Infrastructure Resilience

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with:

• Kubernetes

• OpenShift

• Docker Enterprise

• Infrastructure Automation

• Platform Modernization

• Enterprise DevOps

• Cloud-Native Platforms

• Large-Scale Distributed Systems

Strong experience producing:

• Architecture documentation

• Technical design artifacts

• Interface specifications

• Engineering decision records

Must-Have Skills

Architecture

• Docker-Based Architecture

• Microservices

• Distributed Systems

• Platform Engineering

DevOps

• CI/CD Pipelines

• Infrastructure as Code

• Configuration Management

• Deployment Automation

Leadership

• Technical Leadership

• Architecture Reviews

• Engineering Mentorship

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Infrastructure

• Kubernetes / OpenShift

• API Integration

• Secure Platform Engineering

• Monitoring & Observability

Screening Questions

1. Do you currently hold an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph?

2. How many years of experience do you have in DevOps engineering, software architecture, or platform architecture?

3. Have you designed and implemented Docker-based microservices architectures?

4. What experience do you have with container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes or OpenShift?

5. Have you designed and implemented enterprise CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code solutions?

6. Have you produced detailed architectural documentation, technical designs, and deployment models?

7. Do you have experience designing secure distributed systems, APIs, and service-to-service communication patterns?

8. Have you led architecture reviews, mentored engineering teams, and driven technical direction?

9. What tools or technologies have you used for infrastructure automation and configuration management?

10. Are you able to work onsite full-time in Palm Bay, Florida?

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold an active TS/SCI with Polygraph.

• Be an experienced DevOps or Platform Architect with deep expertise in distributed systems.

• Have extensive experience designing Docker-based microservices platforms.

• Possess strong Kubernetes or OpenShift experience.

• Be comfortable defining enterprise architecture standards and long-term technology roadmaps.

• Thrive in highly collaborative engineering environments.

• Demonstrate strong mentoring, communication, and technical leadership skills.

• Balance hands-on engineering with strategic architectural decision-making.

Candidate Snapshot

Requirement

Details

Clearance

Active TS/SCI with Polygraph

Experience

10–15+ Years

Architecture

DevOps, Platform & Microservices

Containerization

Docker

Orchestration

Kubernetes / OpenShift

DevOps

CI/CD, IaC, Configuration Management

Software

API Design, Distributed Systems

Location

Palm Bay, FL

Work Arrangement

100% Onsite

Schedule

9/80 (Every Other Friday Off)

Compensation

$140K – $180K

Relocation

Available

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

• Deep expertise in DevOps architecture and distributed systems.

• Strong experience designing Docker-based microservices platforms.

• Ability to architect scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions.

• Proven success implementing CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and automation strategies.

• Strong technical leadership with experience mentoring engineering teams.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of presenting architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Ability to drive platform modernization while ensuring operational reliability and long-term maintainability.