Kubernetes Engineer

Job Description

Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Kubernetes Engineer with strong expertise in Rancher-managed Kubernetes environments and migration to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The ideal candidate will lead and execute large-scale container platform migrations, enabling seamless transition from on-prem/container platforms to Azure managed Kubernetes, while ensuring high availability, scalability, and secure CI/CD-driven deployments.

This role requires deep hands-on experience with containerization, Kubernetes operations, ingress/gateway architectures (HAProxy, NGINX), and enterprise-scale lift-and-shift container migration.

Key Responsibilities

1. Kubernetes Platform Migration (Rancher to AKS)

. Lead migration of Kubernetes workloads from Rancher-managed clusters (on-prem or IaaS) to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

. Assess existing cluster configurations, namespaces, workloads, and dependencies.

. Define and execute migration strategies (lift-and-shift, re-platform, phased migration).

. Ensure minimal downtime and zero data loss during migration.

2. Container Workload Migration

. Migrate containerized applications to AKS at scale.

. Refactor container images and manifests where necessary for AKS compatibility.

. Optimize resource allocation, scaling policies, and pod distribution.

3. Kubernetes Architecture & Design

. Design production-grade AKS architectures with:

◦ High availability (multi-node pools, zones)

◦ Auto-scaling (HPA, cluster autoscaler)

◦ Secure networking (VNet integration, private clusters)

. Implement best practices for multi-tenant and namespace isolation.

4. CI/CD Integration for Kubernetes

. Integrate Kubernetes deployments into CI/CD pipelines using:

◦ Azure DevOps / GitHub Actions / GitLab CI

. Implement GitOps practices (ArgoCD/Flux) where applicable.

. Automate build, test, and deployment of containerized applications.

5. Ingress & Gateway Architecture

. Design and implement ingress and gateway solutions using:

◦ NGINX Ingress Controller

◦ HAProxy-based gateways/load balancers

. Configure routing, SSL termination, rate limiting, and security policies.

. Ensure high availability and fault tolerance of ingress layer.

6. Networking & Security

. Configure Kubernetes networking (CNI, network policies).

. Implement secure communication using TLS, secrets, and RBAC.

. Integrate with Azure services such as Azure AD, Key Vault, and Private Endpoints.

7. Observability & Monitoring

. Implement monitoring and logging using:

◦ Azure Monitor for Containers

◦ Prometheus & Grafana

◦ Log Analytics

. Define SLIs/SLOs and alerting strategies.

8. Performance Optimization

. Optimize cluster performance, pod scheduling, and resource utilization.

. Conduct load testing and capacity planning for large-scale workloads.

9. Automation & Infrastructure as Code

. Provision and manage infrastructure using:

◦ Terraform

◦ ARM / Bicep

. Automate cluster setup, upgrades, and scaling.

10. Collaboration & Leadership

. Work closely with DevOps, application, and cloud architecture teams.

. Provide guidance on container best practices and Kubernetes usage.

. Support enterprise migration programs and troubleshooting.

Required Skills & Experience

Kubernetes & Containerization

. Strong hands-on experience with:

◦ Kubernetes (cluster setup, operations, troubleshooting)

◦ Rancher (multi-cluster management)

◦ Docker/container runtime technologies

. Deep understanding of Kubernetes components (API server, etcd, scheduler, kubelet).

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

. Experience designing and operating AKS clusters.

. Knowledge of AKS features such as node pools, scaling, and upgrades.

Migration Expertise

. Proven experience in Rancher to AKS migration.

. Experience in large-scale container workload migration.

. Hands-on experience in lift-and-shift container migrations.

Ingress & Gateway Technologies

. Strong experience with:

◦ NGINX Ingress Controller

◦ HAProxy load balancing and gateway configurations

CI/CD & DevOps

. Experience integrating Kubernetes with CI/CD tools:

◦ Azure DevOps, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions

. Familiarity with GitOps tools (ArgoCD, Flux).

Networking & Security

. Understanding of Kubernetes networking (CNI plugins, service mesh optional).

. Experience with RBAC, secrets management, and TLS.

Scripting & Automation

. Proficiency in Bash, Python, or PowerShell.

Preferred Qualifications

. Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Administrator / Azure DevOps Engineer / Kubernetes certifications (CKA/CKAD)).

. Experience with service mesh (Istio, Linkerd).

. Familiarity with container security tools (Aqua, Twistlock, Trivy).

Soft Skills

. Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.

. Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

. Ability to work in fast-paced migration programs.

Education

. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

Experience Level

. 6-10+ years of IT experience.

. 3-5+ years of hands-on Kubernetes experience.

. Proven track record in enterprise-scale container migration projects.

Key Competencies

. Kubernetes Platform Engineering

. Rancher to AKS Migration

. Container Workload Modernization

. Ingress & Gateway Architecture (NGINX, HAProxy)

. CI/CD & GitOps for Kubernetes

Summary

This role is ideal for a Kubernetes expert passionate about container platform transformation, with strong experience in Rancher environments and AKS, and the ability to drive large-scale container migration programs while implementing robust, scalable, and secure cloud-native architectures.