Senior Platform Developer

Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the Role:
We are hiring a Platform Developer to build secure, automated infrastructure components that power mission-critical environments. You’ll work as part of a small, highly skilled development team delivering Puppet modules, Helm charts, CI/CD pipelines, and automation scripts for integration by downstream engineering teams. This position is primarily remote, but you must be based in San Diego, CA and available to visit customer facilities as needed for meetings, coordination, or support during integration and deployment activities. This is a development-focused role—you will not be maintaining infrastructure, but writing the code that builds and configures it.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with fellow developers to design, develop, and maintain Puppet modules that enforce secure system configurations and ensure compliance with organizational standards.
• Create and maintain Helm charts to support Kubernetes-based deployments, ensuring scalability, reliability, and ease of management.
• Build and optimize CI/CD pipelines using GitLab, promoting efficient, automated, and secure software delivery.
• Develop automation scripts using Bash and Python to streamline infrastructure management and operational workflows.
• Partner closely with platform and integration engineers to ensure a seamless handoff, integration, and implementation of developed codebases.
• Contribute to the creation and enhancement of reusable, modular infrastructure code libraries that improve development efficiency and consistency across projects.
• Ensure all developed code aligns with Department of Defense (DoD) security requirements and adheres to STIG compliance standards.
• Support customer success initiatives by occasionally participating in on-site meetings and integration efforts to facilitate smooth deployments and address technical challenges.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors in related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure/platform development
• Hands-on expertise in:
  • Kubernetes (RKE2 preferred)
  • Helm chart development
  • CI/CD pipeline creation in GitLab
  • Puppet module and Hiera development
  • Bash and Python scripting
  • Ansible (for supplemental configuration)
  • Strong understanding of RHEL Linux environments
  • Ability to write clean, modular code intended for handoff

Desired Skills:

• Masters Degree in related field preferred 
• Experience with container tools and registries (Harbor, Trivy, Skopeo)
• Familiarity with LDAP, Keycloak, or centralized auth systems
• Previous experience supporting DoD/IC environments
• Experience developing for disconnected or air-gapped systems
• Contributions to open-source infrastructure automation projects

Clearance Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SCI 

Work Type:

• Hybrid in Oahu, Hawaii OR San Diego, Ca Locations ONLY -  Relocation provided
• May require up to 15% travel

Salary Range:

• $165,000 - $200,000
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you: 

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Take as you need PTO + 14 paid holidays
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration. 

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