CI/CD Pipeline Engineer – Junior

Location: San Diego, CA (On-Site with Limited Telework)
Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000
Travel: Up to 10%
Clearance: Active Secret (Required)

Position Overview

We are seeking a Junior CI/CD Pipeline Engineer to support U.S. Navy software systems in a secure, mission-focused environment. This role is ideal for someone early in their DevSecOps or CI/CD career who is looking to grow hands-on experience building, maintaining, and improving automated pipelines.

You will work alongside senior engineers to support build and release pipelines, containerized deployments, and secure software delivery processes across both virtual machine and Kubernetes/OpenShift environments.

This is a hands-on technical role, focused on learning and contributing to real pipeline development, automation, and system integration efforts not just maintaining tools. You will be part of a team directly impacting our Sailor and their ability to defend our national security.

Key Responsibilities

• Support development and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar)
• Assist with container build and deployment processes (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift)
• Help automate build, test, and deployment workflows
• Troubleshoot pipeline failures and assist in resolving build and integration issues
• Support integration of security scanning tools into pipelines (DevSecOps practices)
• Work with developers to ensure code is buildable, testable, and deployable
• Assist with version control and artifact management (Git, Artifactory/Nexus)
• Support deployment of applications to development, test, and production environments
• Contribute to documentation for pipelines, processes, and environments
• Participate in Agile ceremonies (standups, sprint planning, reviews)

Required Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in software development, DevOps, or CI/CD environments (or relevant internship/lab experience)
• Security+

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Tekton, etc.)
• Familiarity with Docker and containerization concepts
• Basic understanding of Kubernetes or OpenShift
• Exposure to build tools (Maven, Gradle)
• Awareness of DevSecOps practices or security scanning tools
• Experience working in a DoD or regulated environment
• Familiarity with STIG, RMF, or ATO processes (not required, but a plus)Basic understanding of CI/CD concepts and pipeline workflows
• Experience with Linux environments
• Familiarity with Git version control
• Exposure to scripting (Bash, Python, or similar)
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment
• Active Secret Clearance

Work Environment

• Primarily on-site in San Diego
• Telework available on a limited basis with approval
• Collaborative team environment supporting mission-critical Navy systems
• Opportunity to learn from senior engineers and grow into a mid-level CI/CD or DevSecOps role

Why Join Us

• Hands-on experience with real-world CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines
• Exposure to modern container and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes/OpenShift)
• Opportunity to grow into a more senior engineering role
• Work that directly supports national defense and operational systems

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Able to support and troubleshoot pipelines with minimal oversight within first 3-6 months
• Contributing to automation and deployment improvements within first 6-9 months
• Growing into independent ownership of pipeline components within first year