Azure Cloud Platform Engineer

From strategy to execution, the Government & Public Sector (GPS) practice of Ernst & Young LLP provides a full range of consulting and audit services to help our Federal, State, Local and Education clients implement new ideas to help achieve their mission outcomes. We deliver real change and measurable results through our diverse, high-performing teams, quality work at the highest professional standards, operational know-how from across our global organization, and creative and bold ideas that drive innovation. We enable our government clients to achieve their mission of protecting the nation and serving the people; increasing public safety; improving healthcare for our military, veterans and citizens; delivering essential public services; and helping those in need. EY is ready to help our government build a better working world. 

Our GPS Technology Organization is a structure within the US GPS practice that implements and maintains a new operate and technology model designed specifically to support U.S. defense and Government engagements.

The opportunity

This is a remote opportunity that can be performed within Continental United States.

You will be responsible for delivery of solutions and infrastructure development tasks, establishing automated and frictionless consumption capabilities for cloud platforms supporting large and complex projects. You are expected to have strong design and hands-on development experience on Azure cloud app and infrastructure automation and CI/CD for enterprise.  You are expected to bridge organizations where core capabilities are developed and support evolution of cloud capabilities in Azure Gov without technical debt.  You will be expected to fully understand business and user requirements, ensuring design specifications are meeting the business requirements.  You will also support junior engineers and work in a collaborative environment, exercising your creativity and innovation.

Your key responsibilities

• Design and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for scalable and secure cloud environments using Bicep, and ARM templates.
• Engineer, automate and deploy platform solutions (Infrastructure & Application) to meet and exceed expectations of Product Managers (involve and participate, architecture and security of the platform)
• Build and deploy (CI/CD) using tools such as Azure DevOps Server, GIT, Helm, Ansible Command Line Interface (CLI)).
• Package and deploy containerized applications eg Kubernetes, Azure Container Apps (ACA), Docker, Helm etc.
• Implement application code packaging, deployment strategies, and container orchestration.
• Develop and manage base container images and support hardened OS images (e.g., Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG)).
• Proactively evolve and apply DevSecOps methodologies, standards and leading practices.
• Independently research and remediate/troubleshoot day-to-day issues.
• Apply modern development standards/principles, global product-specific guidelines, security standards, usability design standards, as appropriate.
• Ensure quality through use of manual and automated controls.
• Identify, communicate and mitigate Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Decisions throughout full lifecycle.
• Using critical thinking, consider the art of the possible, compare various options based on feasibility and impact, propose impactful plans and roadmaps that balance tactical and strategic needs

Skills and attributes for success

• Design, implementation and administration experience of containerized application implementations using Azure Kubernetes Services and other PaaS services.
• Proficient in scripting in PowerShell, Python, JavaScript and Ansible).
• Ability to design and improve infrastructure (IaC) and application development processes.
• Strong knowledge of Azure Policies and Initiatives.
• Follow all best practices and procedures as established by the company.
• Advanced knowledge of Linux and Windows server administration (Group Policy Objects).
• Understanding of cloud networking within Azure Gov, including virtual networks, subnetting, network security groups (NSGs), Azure Firewall, VPN gateways, and ExpressRoute.
• Experience with claims-based authentication (SAML/OAuth/OIDC) and RBAC.
• Delivery using modern methodologies, including SAFe Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
• Strong knowledge of full stack development, including front-end, back-end, and database technologies.
• Can document and design various processes; can update existing processes.
• Can improve practices for infrastructure development and application development
• Inspire DevSecOps teams by building consensus and mediating compromises when necessary.
• A desire to automate everything and the wisdom to know when not to,

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or equivalent work experience
• More than 5 years in an engineering role using service and hosting solutions such as private/public cloud IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS platforms.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret security clearance level.
• 5+ years functional knowledge of programming scripting and data science languages such as, PowerShell, SQL, etc.
• 5+ years CI/CD delivery using code management, configuration management and automation tools such as Bicep, Azure DevOps Server, Ansible, ARM Templates etc.
• Experience in the following: Azure AD/Microsoft Entra.
• Experience with hardened OS images such as Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) images.
• Basic understanding of Government Security Framework such as NIST Controls.
• Experience with containerization and container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes, ACA, Docker.
• Windows Server Administration: You need to be proficient in managing Windows servers to create, manage and deploy Group Policy Objects (via Ansible CLI.)
• Knowledge/experience with Linux server administration.
• Significant relevant proven experience required, demonstrating solid understanding of relevant software infrastructure platforms (depending on specialism) and understanding of applicable standards.
• Strong knowledge of cloud security controls including tenant isolation, encryption at rest, encryption in transit, key management, vulnerability assessments, application firewalls, SIEM, etc.
• Delivery using modern methodologies especially SAFe Agile, Iterative, etc.
• Experienced with Development frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban.
• Communicate fluently in English, both written and verbal.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills to give as a leading member of global, distributed teams passionate about delivering quality solutions
• Demonstrate excellent engineering & automation skills in the context of cloud based global delivery using continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD)
• Rapidly learn new and emerging technologies with ability to rapidly define engineering standards and produce automation code.
• Experiment and surface new methods, technologies, processesto streamline and accelerate the coding process and deliver secure solutions.

Ideally, you’ll also have

Experience and knowledge in:

• Source control Management (git)
• Azure cloud experience/knowledge
• Scripting (PowerShell or Python)
• Azure DevOps Pipelines
• Agile methodology
• Ansible/Bicep
• Azure Policy
• Azure multi-tenant Knowledge

Certifications:

Any of the listed below certifications will be a huge plus.

• AZ104, AZ400, AZ500 and/or AZ700 Certifications
• Certified Kubernetes Networking Specialist (CKNS)
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

What we look for

• A self-starter, independent-thinker, curious and creative person with ambition and passion
• History of continuous learning and continuous progression
• Individuals who can work through ambiguity and manage/re-prioritize tasks.