Cloud Engineer

Overview

i3 is seeking a skilled and motivated Cloud Engineer with hands-on experience deploying, managing, and supporting Kubernetes clusters in Microsoft Azure using AKS. You will play a critical role in architecting and delivering secure, scalable, and highly available container orchestration solutions. This position requires a strong understanding of Azure services, Kubernetes architecture, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices.

Responsibilities

• AKS Cluster Deployment & Configuration - Design and implement scalable and secure AKS architectures; Deploy AKS clusters using Azure CLI, ARM, Terraform, or Bicep; Configure system and user node pools, autoscaling, and availability zones; Set up Ingress controllers (NGINX, Azure Application Gateway) and service mesh (optional).
• Security & Governance - Integrate AKS with Azure Active Directory for secure authentication and role-based access control (RBAC); Manage access using Azure RBAC and Kubernetes-native RBAC; Implement Azure Key Vault integration for secrets management; Enforce network policies and secure pod communication.
• Azure Infrastructure Management - Provision and manage Azure infrastructure including VNets, NSGs, route tables, and load balancers; Define and apply tagging strategies for resource governance and cost management; Ensure compliance with security and operational best practices.
• CI/CD & Automation - Implement infrastructure automation using Terraform, Bicep, or Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates; Integrate AKS with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or similar CI/CD tools; Automate container image builds, scans, and deployments.
• Monitoring, Logging, and Troubleshooting - Set up and maintain observability tools (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Prometheus, Grafana); Implement centralized logging for AKS workloads and infrastructure; Monitor cluster health and performance; proactively address issues; Perform root cause analysis for incidents and outages.
• Maintenance & Upgrades - Plan and execute AKS cluster upgrades, node pool patching, and scaling operations; Manage backup and disaster recovery strategies; Continuously optimize cost, performance, and reliability of the Kubernetes platform.
• Documentation & Knowledge Sharing - Create and maintain architectural and operational documentation; Provide technical guidance to developers and support teams; Contribute to internal knowledge base and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field is preferred. Additional experience may substitute for degree.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure services.
• 2+ years of experience deploying and managing Kubernetes (AKS preferred).
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Proficiency with Terraform, ARM templates, or Bicep for IaC.
• Experience with CI/CD tools (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, etc.).
• Solid understanding of containerization, Docker, and Helm.
• Knowledge of networking, security, and identity within Azure.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Minimum 8570 IAT Level II Certification
• Secret Clearance is required.

Knowledge/Skills

• Azure certifications (e.g., AZ-104, AZ-305, AZ-400, or AZ-700).
• Familiarity with GitOps tools (Flux, Argo CD).
• Experience with service mesh (Istio, Linkerd, etc.).
• Background in DevSecOps and security automation.
• Experience with monitoring stacks like Prometheus/Grafana or ELK.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Regular i3 hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, however, additional hours may be required on occasion. Regular and punctual attendance is required.

About i3

i3 is a technically diverse, 100% team member owned business, headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama specializing in missile and aviation systems engineering and logistic services, electronic warfare and electromagnetic effects analysis, UAS system integration and flight operations, full lifecycle C5ISR engineering services, cybersecurity and IT/IA innovative solutions and virtual training, simulation & serious game development and implementation. We have established a broad offering of products and capabilities collectively providing decades of experience supporting the full complement of DoD military services, Missile Defense Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and a variety of other Government organizations and private industry customers.

Perks of being a team member owner include:

• Long-term financial security
• Higher job satisfaction
• Greater job security
• Personal and professional growth
• Great company culture

Other outstanding benefits:

• Excellent insurance coverage
• 401(k) match
• Generous PTO
• Health and wellness incentives
• Tuition and certification reimbursement
• Countless opportunities to give back to the community through i3 Cares

We work hard. We compete hard. We play hard. Apply now to join us!