Lead Platform Engineering Architect
GDIT· enterprise· Defense IT· Oct 13, 2026 · 15d ago
Lackland Afb, TX
Hybrid
Full-time
Lead
$140K–$190K
10+ years exp
Job description
Type of Requisition:
Pipeline
Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
Top Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
Top Secret/SCI
Public Trust/Other Required:
None
Job Family:
IT Infrastructure and Operations
Job Qualifications:
Skills:
Cloud Platform, Hybrid Clouds, Platform Development, System Platform Certifications:
None Experience:
10 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required:
Yes
Job Description:
Lead Platform Engineering Architect :
Join GDIT’s mission‑driven team supporting the Department of Defense as we help unify the Air Force’s cyber defense to outpace threats with shared insight, faster decisions, and stronger mission protection.
MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT:
The Lead Platform Engineering SME leads the hybrid cloud and on-premises platform engineering effort underpinning all applications and services.
The Lead Platform Engineer designs, builds, and manages baselines that are highly available, secure, and scalable (e.g., the PMO-prescribed Kubernetes distribution and Operating System(s)) across hybrid cloud and on-premises infrastructures.
This role configures, integrates, hardens, and manages Kubernetes environments, including precise allocation of resources, namespaces, pod specifications, helm charts, and orchestration logic while adhering to best practices, and integrates DoW Iron Bank hardened containers and certificates to field applications as the foundational baseline for all platform services.
The role also governs disaster recovery and patching strategy, as designing, sustaining, and governing the enterprise Disaster Recovery, Backup Solution, and Business Continuity strategy for the globally dispersed, hybrid environment, defining strict Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) for diverse data types and mission-critical systems.
Technical acumen required: Expert AWS architecture and multi-cloud/hybrid infrastructure design, Kubernetes administration at scale, Infrastructure as Code / Configuration as Code (IaC/CaC) practices, software-defined networking (SDN/SD-WAN), and System Integration Lab (SIL) operations.
Must be fluent in installing, configuring, integrating, and sustaining the Enterprise Hybrid Network Infrastructure, including advanced routing and switching, SDN, SD-WAN architectures, and network segmentation. Daily SCIF access reflects continuous hands-on platform build, patch validation, and infrastructure management Review Boards, and Change Control Boards.
Daily SCIF access reflects the need for sustained hands-on engagement with classified architecture baselines and JCWA integration data.
This role is central to the win theme of tested resilience and continuity, validating patch and updating execution in the SIL to reduce exposure windows.
Priority Technical Skill Sets:
Deep expertise in designing, hardening, and operating Kubernetes environments at enterprise scale.
Experience implementing DevSecOps CI/CD pipelines, IaC/CaC (e.g., Terraform, Ansible), and automated security gates.
Strong mastery of hybrid network engineering (SDN, SD‑WAN, routing/switching, NAC, OOB management).
Ability to integrate Iron Bank hardened containers, manage OS baselines, and operate boundary security systems (NGFW, IDS/IPS).
Skilled in platform-level testing, system update orchestration, virtualization ecosystems, and SIL operations.
QUALIFICATIONS - WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED:
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 10–12 years in platform engineering; 5 years Kubernetes and container orchestration; 5 years hybrid cloud (AWS/Azure/on‑prem) architecture.
• Security Clearance Level: Top Secret with SCI eligibility
• Certification: AWS Certified Solutions Architect-Professional
• Location: San Antonio Region, TX
• US citizenship required
Why Join GDIT
· Own the architecture of a flagship cyber modernization effort
· Work alongside elite cyber, platform, and software engineering teams
· Shape enterprise‑scale solutions that directly strengthen national defense
· Innovate at the intersection of MBSE, Zero Trust, cloud, and mission systems
GDIT IS YOUR PLACE:
• 401K with company match.
• Comprehensive health and wellness packages.
• Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career.
• Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications.
• Cutting-edge technology you can learn from.
• Rest and recharge with paid vacation and holidays.
Community : Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY Explore a career in program management at GDIT and you’ll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your passion for the mission and delivering results.
The likely salary range for this position is $140,250 - $189,750. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Travel Required:
Less than 10%
T elecommuting Options:
Onsite
Work Location:
USA TX Lackland AFB
Additional Work Locations:
Total Rewards at GDIT:
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.
Our Identity Verification Process:
As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.
About Our Work:
We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.
Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on our career opportunities and events at gdit.com/tc .
Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans
Application prep
Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.
Keywords to mirror
kubernetesawsci/cdazurerestai
- Platform
- workday
- Effort
- long
Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401k
401(K)
Paid Time Off
Wellness