Technical Architect - k3s/k8s
Quest Global
Job Requirements
Technical Lead / Project Lead with strong expertise in Kubernetes (k3s/k8s), Linux systems, and open-source platform engineering
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end technical strategy, design and implementation for k3s-based Kubernetes platform
- Lead upstream contributions to the Rancher/K3s open-source repository, including writing patches, conducting PR reviews, and participating in community forums.
- Define and implement open-source lifecycle management strategy including upstream sync and internal repository management
- Own k3s source code management, enhancements, formal verification and release processes
- Drive architecture for master/agent nodes, cluster lifecycle and networking
- Define release strategy, versioning, and communication
- Manage breaking changes aligned with release planning
- Define vulnerability management processes and STIG compliance
- Drive performance benchmarking and optimization
- Ensure alignment with upstream k3s and coordinate merges
- Define governance model, release controls and quality gates
- Conduct technical and architecture reviews
Must Have:
- 7–10 years of experience in platform engineering / distributed systems
- Strong expertise in Linux fundamentals and system internals
- Strong understanding of Kubernetes architecture and core components
- Understanding of Kubernetes control plane components (API server, scheduler, kubelet)
- Strong GoLang development experience
- Knowledge of advanced Kubernetes networking (network policies, routing)
- Good knowledge of Python for automation
- Hands-on experience with Docker / container runtimes (containerd preferred)
- Experience with automation tools such as Ansible
- Good understanding of Kubernetes networking (CNI concepts, ingress, DNS, services)
- Basic understanding of datastore backends (etcd / SQL systems)
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and Git workflows
- Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
- Experience with k3s or Rancher ecosystem
- Deep knowledge of Kubernetes control plane internals
- Experience in vulnerability management and STIG/CIS compliance
- Experience with open-source governance and contribution models
- Familiarity with Linux packaging, systemd services and binary distribution
- Strong Linux networking knowledge (iptables/nftables, routing)
- Experience with embedded datastores (SQLite/Dqlite) and etcd.
- Experience in vulnerability management and STIG/CIS compliance
Required Experience
- 7-10 years in Platform Engineering, Distributed Systems, or Kubernetes Administration.
- Experience leading platform design, development, and release management.
- Kubernetes (K8s/K3s): Architecture, Control Plane, Cluster Lifecycle, Networking.
- Linux: System administration, internals, networking, troubleshooting.
- GoLang: Strong development and debugging experience.
- Containers: Docker, containerd.
- Automation & DevOps: Python, Ansible, Git, CI/CD pipelines.
- Rancher/K3s ecosystem.
- Open-source contributions and governance.
- etcd, SQLite, Dqlite.
- STIG/CIS compliance and vulnerability management.
- Advanced Linux networking (iptables, nftables, routing).
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