Cloud Architect 5

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Date: Sep 1, 2026

Location: Centennial, CO, US, 80112

Company: United Launch Alliance

Requisition ID: 2068

Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00 

Location: ULA - Denver 

Relocation: Yes- Relocation may be available 

Travel Requirements: 10% 

 

At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team.

 

Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!

Job Overview & Responsibilities

  

At ULA, the Cloud Architect 5 serves as the senior technical authority for Kubernetes platform engineering, multi‑enclave cloud operations, and mission‑critical workload integration. This role defines enterprise architecture standards, drives reliability and security across clusters, and mentors CloudOps engineers while partnering closely with mission program teams.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Govern and maintain Kubernetes clusters supporting engineering workloads, CI/CD environments, and CloudOps automation.
  • Design and manage cluster topology including nodes, node groups, autoscaling rules, taints/tolerations, and workload affinity.
  • Own cross‑cluster networking and service mesh architecture, including Ingress, load balancers, and CNI strategy.
  • Define and enforce Kubernetes security posture: RBAC models, OPA/Gatekeeper policies, pod security standards, and secrets‑management approaches.
  • Architect and manage storage strategies involving CSI drivers, EBS/EFS provisioning, persistent volumes, and backup/restore workflows.
  • Drive observability practices using Prometheus, Grafana, and distributed tracing systems.
  • Lead incident response and reliability engineering for EKS clusters, addressing node failures, scheduler issues, cluster upgrades, and workload migration.
  • Coach CloudOps team members to strengthen cluster operations, readiness, automation, and troubleshooting capabilities.
  • Integrate Kubernetes platforms with mission program workflows, toolchains, and specialized workloads.

 

Required Education

Bachelor

 

Required Years of Experience

Minimum of 8 years of related work experience

 

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university
  • 8+ years of cloud engineering or infrastructure experience, including hands‑on production Kubernetes administration
  • Deep expertise with EKS or equivalent managed Kubernetes platforms
  • Strong proficiency in cloud networking, service mesh concepts, and core Kubernetes networking models
  • Demonstrated experience implementing security controls such as RBAC, OPA/Gatekeeper, pod security standards, and secrets‑management systems
  • Hands‑on experience with CSI drivers, persistent storage architectures, and backup/restore design
  • Proficiency with observability stacks including Prometheus, Grafana, and distributed tracing
  • Proven ability to lead incident response, diagnose complex cluster issues, and ensure reliability in mission‑critical environments
  • Strong communication skills and ability to coach and mentor junior and mid‑level engineers

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience operating Kubernetes in multi‑enclave or regulated/governed environments
  • Deep knowledge of AWS cloud architecture including VPC design, IAM security, EKS internals, and cloud‑native networking
  • Familiarity with GitOps workflows, ArgoCD, Flux, or similar declarative deployment systems
  • Strong background in automation using Terraform, Helm, Ansible, or Python
  • Experience integrating Kubernetes systems with complex engineering toolchains or mission workloads
  • Prior experience leading reliability engineering, modernization efforts, or cloud platform governance
  • Contributions to CloudOps operating models, cluster standards, or enterprise governance frameworks

Summary Salary Range (for ULA - Denver only):  $158,462.00 - $264,104.00 

 

Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a candidate's experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity, market and business considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to base pay. 

 

What makes ULA different?

Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.

 

We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including:

  • 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
  • Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
  • Generous paid time off
  • Flexible work environments

 

Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

 

Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

 

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

 

Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information).

 

ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

 

ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program. Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster (English / Spanish) and Right to Work Poster (English / Spanish).

 

Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted


Nearest Major Market: Denver