Azure Kubernetes Service Admin

Systems Administrator

Our client is seeking a Systems Administrator with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) experience. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in cloud-native technologies within Microsoft Azure, container orchestration, and Linux system administration. The candidate will be responsible for managing, scaling, and optimizing AKS clusters, maintaining the underlying Linux systems, and ensuring our cloud infrastructure is secure, reliable, and high performing. This is an on-site, non-remote position for our North Logan, UT location.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, deploy, and manage Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters for production and development environments
• Collaborate with development teams to containerize applications and manage workloads in AKS and Kubernetes environments
• Integrate AKS clusters with Azure services (e.g., Azure Monitor, Azure DevOps, Azure Networking) for observability, CI/CD, and governance
• Administer, configure, and maintain enterprise Linux systems
• Implement Linux system hardening, patch management, user and permission administration, and ensure compliance with DoD and organizational security standards
• Automate system provisioning and configuration using tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Terraform
• Monitor and troubleshoot system and cluster performance
• Implement infrastructure as code (IaC) and automation for scalability and repeatability
• Lead and assist in installation, configuration, and documentation of systems and components
• Participate in change management, system audits, and compliance efforts to maintain data integrity and operational readiness
• Work collaboratively with IT and engineering teams to improve system reliability, scalability, and efficiency
• Perform system maintenance while minimizing downtime and customer impact; provide after-hours maintenance or on-call support as needed

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience and a BS degree in a related technical field (e.g., IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering), or 10+ years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree
• 2+ years of experience managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Kubernetes clusters in production environments
• Demonstrated experience administering Linux systems (RHEL, Ubuntu) in enterprise or mission-critical environments
• Strong Linux security skills, including system hardening, patch management, and configuration management
• Experience with containerization tools such as Docker or Podman
• Proficiency in one or more scripting languages (e.g., Bash, Python, PowerShell)
• Knowledge of infrastructure automation and deployment tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Terraform)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to document and communicate technical processes effectively
• Must be willing to travel, though not a normal expectation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
• Valid CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) is required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in Linux and cloud systems administration, or 15+ years in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Kubernetes clusters in production environments
• Certifications such as Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (AZ-305), or Azure DevOps Engineer (AZ-400)