Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) SME / Lead

Overview

Remote
Depends on Experience
Accepts corp to corp applications
Contract - W2
Contract - Independent
Contract - 12 Month(s)
No Travel Required

Skills

API
Blueprint
Cloud Computing
Code Refactoring
Communication
Computer Networking
Continuous Delivery
Continuous Integration
DevOps
GC
GitHub
Good Clinical Practice
Google Cloud Platform
Grafana
Health Care
Heroku
Information Security
Java
Jenkins
Kubernetes
Leadership
Load Balancing
Mentorship
Microservices
Migration
Network
Network Security
PCA
PSP
PaaS
Python
RBAC
Regulatory Compliance
Scripting
Service Level
Spring Framework
Subnetwork
Terraform
Training

Job Details

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) SME / Lead

Location: 100% Remote

Visa: USC

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) SME / Lead Contractor to guide our enterprise engineering teams through a strategic migration from Tanzu PCF to GKE. This role will serve as the primary technical expert defining standards, creating best practices, and providing hands-on support throughout the migration lifecycle.

The ideal candidate brings a blend of deep Kubernetes expertise, hands-on Java Spring Boot and Python experience, and a proven track record leading complex platform migrations in large enterprise environments.

Key Responsibilities

Migration Leadership & Architecture

  • Lead the end-to-end migration of applications and APIs from Tanzu PCF to Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
  • Define the migration blueprint including cluster architecture, networking, security, and workload patterns
  • Partner with engineering teams to evaluate current PCF workloads and design the optimal target state in GKE
  • Mentor and guide teams on Kubernetes fundamentals, containerization, service mesh, CI/CD, and Google Cloud Platform-native services
  • Create templates, reusable components, and standardized deployment patterns for GKE
  • Conduct technical workshops, training sessions, and architecture review forums
  • Hands-On Development & Troubleshooting
  • Provide hands-on support in refactoring Java Spring Boot and Python applications for Kubernetes
  • Optimize container builds, resource usage, autoscaling, and observability
  • Troubleshoot platform, networking, and service-level issues in GKE clusters
  • Work closely with DevOps and Cloud Engineering to integrate pipelines and IaC
  • Operational Excellence
  • Establish logging, monitoring, and alerting best practices (Cloud Monitoring, Logging, Prometheus, etc.)
  • Implement secure configuration practices including Workload Identity, RBAC, PSP replacements, and ingress controls
  • Partner with InfoSec, Networking, and Infrastructure teams on governance and compliance requirements

Required Qualifications

  • 8 12+ years of experience in cloud-native development, DevOps, or platform engineering
  • Extensive experience with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE):
  • Cluster creation, node pools, autoscaling strategies
  • VPC, subnetting, Ingress/Gateway, load balancing architecture
  • Security controls: Workload Identity, RBAC, Network Policies, Secrets mgmt
  • Observability stack (Cloud Ops, Prometheus, Grafana)

Strong hands-on experience with:

  • Java Spring Boot (microservices, config mgmt, API development)
  • Python for automation, scripting, or app refactoring
  • Proven success migrating apps from Tanzu PCF, Heroku, or similar PaaS to Kubernetes
  • Deep understanding of CI/CD tools (GitHub, Jenkins, Cloud Build, ArgoCD, etc.)
  • Strong communication skills able to influence, mentor, and simplify complex concepts

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior experience leading large-scale cloud migrations in healthcare, regulated environments, or Fortune 50 companies
  • Google Cloud Platform Certifications (GKE, PCA, PCSE)
  • Experience with Terraform or IaC frameworks
  • Familiarity with service mesh tools (Istio, Anthos Service Mesh)
  • Experience uplifting teams through structured training programs

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.