Senior Engineer

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:

As a Senior Engineer at Raft, you’ll build the code and automation that powers secure, mission-critical platforms in Department of Defense environments. This is a development-focused role. You won’t be responsible for maintaining day-to-day infrastructure. Instead, you’ll write the code that builds, configures, secures, and deploys it.You’ll collaborate with developers, platform engineers, and integration teams to create reusable infrastructure components that can be reliably deployed across customer environments, including disconnected and air-gapped systems.

What You'll Do"

• Collaborate with other developers to produce:
• Puppet modules that enforce secure configurations and compliance
• Helm charts for Kubernetes-based deployments
• CI/CD pipelines using GitLab
• Automation scripts in Bash and Python
• Work closely with platform and integration engineers to support handoff and implementation of your codebase
• Contribute to reusable, modular infrastructure code libraries
• Align all code with DoD security requirements and STIG compliance
• Support customer success by occasionally joining on-site meetings or integration efforts

What We Are Looking For:

• Active TS/SCI clearance is required
• 5+ 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 
  • Strong understanding of RHEL Linux environments
  • Ability to write clean, modular code intended for handoff

Preferred Skills:

• Masters Degree in related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure/platform development
• 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:

• Active Top Secret with ability to obtain and maintain SCI

Work Type:

• Onsite/Hybrid in San Diego, Ca 
• Must Reside in or commutable distance to San Diego, Ca
• May require up to 15% travel

Salary Range:

• $170,000 - $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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