Senior Platform Engineer

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

The Technology Solutions team at RTI International provides secure, scalable, and innovative technology platforms that enable research, analytics, and business applications across the organization. The team partners closely with researchers, application developers, infrastructure and security teams, and internal clients to deliver reliable technology solutions that support RTI’s mission.

As a Senior Platform Engineer, you will play a key role in building and advancing cloud-native platform capabilities, with a focus on Kubernetes, infrastructure automation, CI/CD, observability, security, and platform reliability. You will work across teams to modernize technology environments, solve complex infrastructure challenges, and establish scalable and sustainable platform engineering practices.

As a Senior Platform Engineer, you will design, implement, automate, and support enterprise platform services that enable scalable, secure, and compliant delivery of research, analytics, and business applications. You will help develop and maintain cloud-native infrastructure, Kubernetes platforms, CI/CD pipelines, observability solutions, and platform automation capabilities supporting strategic technology initiatives.

In this role, you will:

• Design, implement, and support multi-tenant cloud-native platform services using AWS and Kubernetes technologies.
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using OpenTofu, Terraform, or similar technologies.
• Build and support CI/CD and GitOps automation pipelines using GitHub Actions, Flux CD, Helm, and related tools.
• Configure and maintain platform observability solutions, including logging, monitoring, alerting, telemetry, and operational dashboards.
• Implement and maintain platform security controls, secrets management, identity integration, and policy enforcement capabilities.
• Evaluate platform performance, availability, scalability, resiliency, and cost optimization opportunities and implement improvements.
• Support the onboarding, lifecycle management, modernization, and continuous improvement of single- and multi-tenant computing platforms.
• Partner with internal clients to design cloud solutions and platform integrations, including supporting architecture, scope, schedule, and budget planning for business development and project operations.
• Develop platform engineering standards, reference architectures, operational procedures, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with security operations, governance, infrastructure, application development, data, and research teams to ensure platforms meet operational and regulatory requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues across infrastructure, platform, networking, security, and application layers.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex cloud, platform infrastructure, and security issues.
• Identify opportunities to automate, modernize, and improve complex technical systems and operational processes.
• Balance operational stability and service reliability with innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field and 12 years of relevant experience; Master’s degree and 10 years of relevant experience; Ph.D. and 6 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years of hands-on Kubernetes experience, including cluster architecture, multi-tenancy, RBAC, scheduling, and autoscaling in environments such as AWS EKS, Azure AKS, OpenShift, or bare metal.

• Deep experience with cloud-native GitOps and CI/CD workflows, including multi-dependency or multi-repository GitHub Actions workflows or equivalent technologies.

• Strong knowledge of Kubernetes networking, including CNI, service mesh technologies such as Istio and Traefik, ingress controllers such as ALB and Application Gateway, and Network Policy.

• Strong experience with Helm and/or Kustomize for application packaging and deployment.

• Experience operating storage solutions, including CSI, EFS, and NetApp Trident.

• Experience with cloud-native observability technologies such as Prometheus, Grafana, and Loki.

• Experience designing and operating solutions in highly regulated environments, including FISMA Low/Moderate and HIPAA.

• Strong experience with containerization and modernization of legacy applications and tools.

• Experience working with Layer 4 and Layer 7 load balancers and firewalls.

• Experience with Kubernetes security and policy engines/controllers, including OPA or similar technologies.

• Experience with OIDC and SSO authentication flows and systems such as Microsoft Entra ID, Amazon Cognito, and Keycloak.

• Experience evaluating, troubleshooting, and supporting open-source applications at scale in production environments.

Skills and Abilities:

• • Ability to analyze complex technical systems and identify opportunities for automation, modernization, scalability, and operational improvement.

  • Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues across infrastructure, platform, networking, security, and application layers.

  • Ability to design scalable, reliable, secure, and maintainable technology solutions that support business and research objectives.

  • Ability to balance operational stability with innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.

  • Ability to collaborate effectively with infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, data, research, and other cross-functional teams.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.

  • Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and manage competing demands in a dynamic environment.

  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

  • Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, service reliability, and customer-focused support.

  • Ability to work independently while contributing to cross-functional teams and organizational objectives.

  • Attention to detail, accuracy, and continuous learning.

  • Ability to obtain and maintain security clearances as required by contracts.

  • Demonstration of RTI Values and Lead Forward behaviors.

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

$160,000 - $180,000