Principal Kubernetes Solutions Architect

About this role

At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the limitless potential of technology and ingenuity for clients across defense, national security, public safety, civilian, and military health organizations.

Join Accenture Federal Services, a technology company within global Accenture. Recognized as a Glassdoor Top 100 Best Place to Work, we offer a collaborative and caring community where you feel like you belong and are empowered to grow, learn and thrive through hands-on experience, certifications, industry training and more.

Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward!

About the Role: AFS is searching for Principal Kubernetes Solutions Architect to drive the design, deployment, and automation of Kubernetes-based platforms. This leadership role focuses on architecting secure, scalable, and highly available container orchestration environments to support business-critical workloads. The ideal candidate excels at building robust Kubernetes clusters and enabling development teams to maximize platform capabilities.

As a recognized expert in Kubernetes, you will leverage your deep experience in cluster management, security, and scaling to deliver resilient containerized solutions. Your advanced skills in Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native automation will empower development teams to efficiently utilize self-service Kubernetes platforms.

While the primary focus is Kubernetes, expertise with hybrid and private cloud environments such as VMware vSphere or OpenShift further distinguishes candidates.

Responsibilities:

• Architect, build, and maintain Kubernetes clusters with an emphasis on scalability, reliability, and security, utilizing best practices for cluster lifecycle management.

• Manage core Kubernetes services, including networking, storage, workload scheduling, and RBAC for access control.

• Oversee containerized workloads, ensuring high availability, efficient scaling, and robust security for multi-tenant environments.

• Architect, build, and maintain Kubernetes clusters with a strong focus on scalability, reliability, and security, applying best practices for cluster lifecycle management while overseeing core Kubernetes services including networking, storage, workload scheduling, and RBAC for access control.

• Design, implement, and manage Kubernetes Operators to automate operational tasks and lifecycle management of complex applications. Leverage both custom-built and existing Operators to streamline deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of workloads, ensuring consistency and reliability across environments.

• Drive Infrastructure as Code (IaC) initiatives using tools like Terraform to automate Kubernetes resource provisioning.

• Design, implement, and optimize CI/CD pipelines for containerized applications, embedding security controls throughout the pipeline.

• Build custom automation tools and scripts (Python, Go, Bash) to enhance Kubernetes operations and minimize manual tasks, leveraging APIs for integration.

• Serve as the Kubernetes subject-matter expert, mentoring development teams and guiding optimal use of container orchestration technologies.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to assess new Kubernetes-native solutions and recommend enhancements to platform efficiency and capabilities.

• Promote best practices in Git workflows and the use of AI tools to accelerate the development and troubleshooting of container-based applications.

• Break down large projects into actionable tasks for junior team members.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 10 years of relevant experience in any of the following:

• Advanced proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC), especially Terraform, including, but not limited to targeted applies, imports, and complex module usage.

• Significant experience architecting, deploying, and managing Kubernetes clusters (Amazon EKS or equivalent).

• Strong command of Kubernetes RBAC, security policies, and best practices.

• Demonstrated experience designing, building, and maintaining automated CI/CD pipelines for containerized workloads.

• Thorough understanding of Kubernetes networking, Linux/Unix systems, and platform security.

• Proficiency with Git and GitOps workflows for Kubernetes resource management.

• Must hold and maintain DoD 8140 certifications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with VMware vSphere or OpenShift in hybrid or private cloud contexts.

• Proven experience building custom Kubernetes operators.

• Familiarity with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible).

• Exposure to public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and DevOps methodologies.

• Advanced programming skills in Python, Go, or JavaScript/TypeScript.

• Understanding of authentication protocols including OIDC, OAuth2, LDAP, and SAML.

• Contributions to open-source Kubernetes or DevOps projects.

Relevant certifications:

• Kubernetes certifications such as Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS), and Kubestronaut.

Clearance

An active TS/SCI federal security clearance is required

As required by local law, Accenture Federal Services provides reasonable ranges of compensation for hired roles based on labor costs in the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia, and the city of Cleveland . The base pay range for this position in these locations is shown below. Compensation for roles at Accenture Federal Services varies depending on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Accenture Federal Services offers a wide v

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