Platform Engineer II
U.S. Xpress
RemoteRemote$89,300 - $118,900 a yearFull Time
Job Description
*Platform Engineer II*
USX CHATTANOOGA TN HEADQUARTERS
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Position open to remote: Yes
Compensation Range: $89,300-$118,900
_*Who We Are:*_
*Relentlessly Delivering Big Ideas.* U.S. Xpress is one of the nation’s largest asset-based trucking companies. But the most valuable asset we offer isn’t tractors, trailers, or even our exclusive, cutting-edge technology. It’s the collective brainpower of thousands of visionaries and problem-solvers. Together, we are revolutionizing the transportation industry by providing innovative, custom solutions. And, here, we believe in the sanctity of a promise—both to our customers, and our people. When we focus our varied talents on reshaping the future of transportation, that’s what we call the *POWER OF *_*U.S.*_
_*Why U.S. Xpress?*_
Right Role. Right Tools. Right People. We invest in our talent starting on day one. You will be provided with personal and professional development opportunities that complement your interests and encourage you to build a career you’re passionate about. Whether it is employee stock options, profit-sharing, 401K, professional development, or our competitive pay, we help prepare you for the future. Be part of an organization that values out-of-the-box thinking and rewards employees for going above and beyond. Curious about the other benefits of working with us? Check out other perks below!
* Medical, Dental, and Vision
* Basic/Supplemental Life
* Accidental Death/Dismemberment
* Health Savings Accounts
* Flexible Savings Accounts
* Company Paid Holidays
* Paid Time Off
* 401k with Employer Matching Contribution
* Employee Stock Purchase Plan
* Paid Parental Leave
* Short Term Incentive Program
* Employee Assistance Program
* Pet Insurance
*Primary Position Purpose:*
The Platform Engineer II designs, implements, and manages a hybrid Kubernetes platform spanning on-premises vSphere infrastructure and AWS cloud. This role is central to the organization's strategic initiative to build a resilient, cost-effective hybrid environment where containerized workloads can be deployed to either environment seamlessly. The Engineer will build a secure, scalable on-premises Kubernetes platform (Talos Linux, Cilium, Istio, Flux CD) that operates with architectural parity to the existing AWS EKS environment, enabling workload portability, cross-environment disaster recovery, and consistent developer experience regardless of deployment target. The Engineer collaborates with IT architects and leadership on strategic initiatives while working closely with backend, frontend, mobile, and data engineering teams.
*Position Functions:*
* Define and implement the architecture for an on-premises Kubernetes environment, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
* Design and implement a hybrid cloud platform strategy where on-premises Kubernetes clusters operate with architectural parity to cloud-based EKS clusters, enabling workload portability and cross-environment disaster recovery.
* Establish standards and best practices for cluster configuration, networking (Cilium CNI, Istio service mesh), and storage integration (Rook-Ceph).
* Design and implement disaster recovery strategies including cross-datacenter Active-Passive failover, backup and restore with Velero, and cross-environment (on-prem to cloud) workload recovery procedures.
* Establish workload classification criteria (stateful vs. stateless) to guide placement decisions across on-prem and cloud environments.
* Install, configure, and maintain Kubernetes clusters on Talos Linux (immutable, API-driven OS) and supporting components (Cilium CNI, Istio ambient mesh, Flux CD, cert-manager).
* Manage RBAC, namespaces, resource quotas, and policies (Kyverno) for governance and security.
* Implement backup and restore strategies for clusters and workloads using Velero with S3 and on-prem storage targets.
* Manage VMware vSphere infrastructure including VM provisioning, content libraries, resource pools, and datacenter operations.
* Develop automation for cluster provisioning, scaling, and lifecycle management using Terraform, Helm, and Kustomize.
* Manage GitOps workflows using Flux CD including multi-repo architectures (bootstrap, cluster orchestration, platform components), Kustomization dependency chains, HelmRelease management, and branch-based environment promotion.
* Integrate Kubernetes with existing infrastructure services and monitoring solutions (OpenTelemetry Collector, Prometheus, Grafana).
* Manage CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions (CI) and Octopus Deploy (CD) including variable management, release lifecycle configuration, channel/lifecycle strategies, and multi-environment promotion workflows.
* Design and implement cross-environment workload deployment strategies enabling seamless movement of containerized applications between on-prem and cloud.
* Integrate on-premises Kubernetes workloads with AWS services using certificate-based authentication (IAM Roles Anywhere with cert-manager) and External Secrets Operator for secrets management.
* Manage cloud cost optimization, egress cost management, and workload placement economics to support data-driven decisions on on-prem vs. cloud deployment.
* Extend existing cloud observability tooling (Grafana) to on-premises environments using OpenTelemetry Collector for metrics, logs, and traces forwarding.
* Design CI/CD pipelines that enable development teams to deploy containerized applications to the hybrid platform with minimal friction.
* Build self-service capabilities for developer teams including automated deployment workflows, environment promotion, and rollback procedures.
* Ensure the developer experience is consistent regardless of whether workloads deploy to on-prem or cloud.
* Harden Kubernetes clusters and container workloads through image scanning, secrets management (External Secrets Operator + AWS Secrets Manager), network policies (Cilium), and Pod Security Standards.
* Manage X.509 certificate lifecycle (cert-manager) including PKI, certificate-based cross-environment trust, and Istio CSR integration.
* Ensure compliance with organizational and industry standards.
* Partner with development teams to enable smooth application deployment and troubleshooting.
* Work closely with the cloud platform team to ensure architectural parity and shared standards across on-prem and AWS environments.
* Mentor junior engineers on Kubernetes best practices and platform engineering principles.
*What We’re Looking For:*
Education
* High school diploma or GED equivalent required
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field or equivalent years of experience required
* Equivalent years of experience are defined as one year of professional experience for each year of college requested
Experience
* 3+ years of experience in platform engineering, infrastructure, or DevOps roles required
* Proven experience architecting and administering Kubernetes clusters in on-premises environments
* Hands-on experience with hybrid-cloud architectures integrating on-prem Kubernetes with AWS services (EKS, S3, Secrets Manager, IAM Roles Anywhere)
* Hands-on experience provisioning and managing virtual machines on VMware vSphere or similar hypervisor platforms
* Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and deployment automation platforms (Octopus Deploy, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or similar)
* Experience with immutable Kubernetes distributions (Talos Linux, Flatcar, Bottlerocket) or willingness to learn API-driven, immutable OS management
* Experience with VMware vSphere environments (VM provisioning, content libraries, resource pools, networking)
* Experience with eBPF-based networking (Cilium) including CNI configuration, L2/BGP load balancer announcements, WireGuard encryption, and kube-proxy replacement
* Experience with Linux systems administration and networking
* Experience implementing GitOps workflows with Flux CD or Argo CD, including multi-repo architectures and Kustomization dependency chains
* Deep experience with Helm chart management (creating, customizing, versioning) and Kustomize overlays, particularly within GitOps workflows where HelmReleases and Kustomizations coordinate component deployment ordering
* Experience with X.509 certificate lifecycle management (cert-manager), PKI concepts, and certificate-based authentication for cross-environment trust
* Transportation, Logistics, and/or Tech industry experience a plus
Skills & Abilities
* Deep knowledge of Kubernetes and container orchestration principles
* Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) and cross-platform automation scripting (Bash for Linux, PowerShell for CI/CD pipelines and deployment tooling)
* Knowledge of observability and monitoring solutions (OpenTelemetry Collector, Prometheus, Grafana) including cross-environment telemetry forwarding
* Strong understanding of security, compliance, and disaster recovery for containerized environments
* Adept at assessing organizational dynamics and managing change
* Works quickly and efficiently. Able to test solutions, learn, and iterate quickly
* Proactive and pragmatic problem solver
* Communicates effectively across multiple mediums
*Licenses & Certifications*
* Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) preferred
* Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) preferred
* HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate preferred
* AWS Certified Solutions Architect preferred
*Supervisory Responsibility*
* N/A
_*Work Environment / Physical Requirements – Normal office settings.*_
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected for this position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities. Employees performing this job may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
U.S. Xpress is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce.
This role will remain open until it has been filled.
#LI-Remote
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
* 401(k)
* 401(k) matching
* Dental insurance
* Employee assistance program
* Employee discount
* Health insurance
* Health savings account
* Life insurance
* Paid time off
* Parental leave
* Vision insurance
Work Location: Remote
USX CHATTANOOGA TN HEADQUARTERS
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Position open to remote: Yes
Compensation Range: $89,300-$118,900
_*Who We Are:*_
*Relentlessly Delivering Big Ideas.* U.S. Xpress is one of the nation’s largest asset-based trucking companies. But the most valuable asset we offer isn’t tractors, trailers, or even our exclusive, cutting-edge technology. It’s the collective brainpower of thousands of visionaries and problem-solvers. Together, we are revolutionizing the transportation industry by providing innovative, custom solutions. And, here, we believe in the sanctity of a promise—both to our customers, and our people. When we focus our varied talents on reshaping the future of transportation, that’s what we call the *POWER OF *_*U.S.*_
_*Why U.S. Xpress?*_
Right Role. Right Tools. Right People. We invest in our talent starting on day one. You will be provided with personal and professional development opportunities that complement your interests and encourage you to build a career you’re passionate about. Whether it is employee stock options, profit-sharing, 401K, professional development, or our competitive pay, we help prepare you for the future. Be part of an organization that values out-of-the-box thinking and rewards employees for going above and beyond. Curious about the other benefits of working with us? Check out other perks below!
* Medical, Dental, and Vision
* Basic/Supplemental Life
* Accidental Death/Dismemberment
* Health Savings Accounts
* Flexible Savings Accounts
* Company Paid Holidays
* Paid Time Off
* 401k with Employer Matching Contribution
* Employee Stock Purchase Plan
* Paid Parental Leave
* Short Term Incentive Program
* Employee Assistance Program
* Pet Insurance
*Primary Position Purpose:*
The Platform Engineer II designs, implements, and manages a hybrid Kubernetes platform spanning on-premises vSphere infrastructure and AWS cloud. This role is central to the organization's strategic initiative to build a resilient, cost-effective hybrid environment where containerized workloads can be deployed to either environment seamlessly. The Engineer will build a secure, scalable on-premises Kubernetes platform (Talos Linux, Cilium, Istio, Flux CD) that operates with architectural parity to the existing AWS EKS environment, enabling workload portability, cross-environment disaster recovery, and consistent developer experience regardless of deployment target. The Engineer collaborates with IT architects and leadership on strategic initiatives while working closely with backend, frontend, mobile, and data engineering teams.
*Position Functions:*
* Define and implement the architecture for an on-premises Kubernetes environment, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
* Design and implement a hybrid cloud platform strategy where on-premises Kubernetes clusters operate with architectural parity to cloud-based EKS clusters, enabling workload portability and cross-environment disaster recovery.
* Establish standards and best practices for cluster configuration, networking (Cilium CNI, Istio service mesh), and storage integration (Rook-Ceph).
* Design and implement disaster recovery strategies including cross-datacenter Active-Passive failover, backup and restore with Velero, and cross-environment (on-prem to cloud) workload recovery procedures.
* Establish workload classification criteria (stateful vs. stateless) to guide placement decisions across on-prem and cloud environments.
* Install, configure, and maintain Kubernetes clusters on Talos Linux (immutable, API-driven OS) and supporting components (Cilium CNI, Istio ambient mesh, Flux CD, cert-manager).
* Manage RBAC, namespaces, resource quotas, and policies (Kyverno) for governance and security.
* Implement backup and restore strategies for clusters and workloads using Velero with S3 and on-prem storage targets.
* Manage VMware vSphere infrastructure including VM provisioning, content libraries, resource pools, and datacenter operations.
* Develop automation for cluster provisioning, scaling, and lifecycle management using Terraform, Helm, and Kustomize.
* Manage GitOps workflows using Flux CD including multi-repo architectures (bootstrap, cluster orchestration, platform components), Kustomization dependency chains, HelmRelease management, and branch-based environment promotion.
* Integrate Kubernetes with existing infrastructure services and monitoring solutions (OpenTelemetry Collector, Prometheus, Grafana).
* Manage CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions (CI) and Octopus Deploy (CD) including variable management, release lifecycle configuration, channel/lifecycle strategies, and multi-environment promotion workflows.
* Design and implement cross-environment workload deployment strategies enabling seamless movement of containerized applications between on-prem and cloud.
* Integrate on-premises Kubernetes workloads with AWS services using certificate-based authentication (IAM Roles Anywhere with cert-manager) and External Secrets Operator for secrets management.
* Manage cloud cost optimization, egress cost management, and workload placement economics to support data-driven decisions on on-prem vs. cloud deployment.
* Extend existing cloud observability tooling (Grafana) to on-premises environments using OpenTelemetry Collector for metrics, logs, and traces forwarding.
* Design CI/CD pipelines that enable development teams to deploy containerized applications to the hybrid platform with minimal friction.
* Build self-service capabilities for developer teams including automated deployment workflows, environment promotion, and rollback procedures.
* Ensure the developer experience is consistent regardless of whether workloads deploy to on-prem or cloud.
* Harden Kubernetes clusters and container workloads through image scanning, secrets management (External Secrets Operator + AWS Secrets Manager), network policies (Cilium), and Pod Security Standards.
* Manage X.509 certificate lifecycle (cert-manager) including PKI, certificate-based cross-environment trust, and Istio CSR integration.
* Ensure compliance with organizational and industry standards.
* Partner with development teams to enable smooth application deployment and troubleshooting.
* Work closely with the cloud platform team to ensure architectural parity and shared standards across on-prem and AWS environments.
* Mentor junior engineers on Kubernetes best practices and platform engineering principles.
*What We’re Looking For:*
Education
* High school diploma or GED equivalent required
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field or equivalent years of experience required
* Equivalent years of experience are defined as one year of professional experience for each year of college requested
Experience
* 3+ years of experience in platform engineering, infrastructure, or DevOps roles required
* Proven experience architecting and administering Kubernetes clusters in on-premises environments
* Hands-on experience with hybrid-cloud architectures integrating on-prem Kubernetes with AWS services (EKS, S3, Secrets Manager, IAM Roles Anywhere)
* Hands-on experience provisioning and managing virtual machines on VMware vSphere or similar hypervisor platforms
* Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and deployment automation platforms (Octopus Deploy, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or similar)
* Experience with immutable Kubernetes distributions (Talos Linux, Flatcar, Bottlerocket) or willingness to learn API-driven, immutable OS management
* Experience with VMware vSphere environments (VM provisioning, content libraries, resource pools, networking)
* Experience with eBPF-based networking (Cilium) including CNI configuration, L2/BGP load balancer announcements, WireGuard encryption, and kube-proxy replacement
* Experience with Linux systems administration and networking
* Experience implementing GitOps workflows with Flux CD or Argo CD, including multi-repo architectures and Kustomization dependency chains
* Deep experience with Helm chart management (creating, customizing, versioning) and Kustomize overlays, particularly within GitOps workflows where HelmReleases and Kustomizations coordinate component deployment ordering
* Experience with X.509 certificate lifecycle management (cert-manager), PKI concepts, and certificate-based authentication for cross-environment trust
* Transportation, Logistics, and/or Tech industry experience a plus
Skills & Abilities
* Deep knowledge of Kubernetes and container orchestration principles
* Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) and cross-platform automation scripting (Bash for Linux, PowerShell for CI/CD pipelines and deployment tooling)
* Knowledge of observability and monitoring solutions (OpenTelemetry Collector, Prometheus, Grafana) including cross-environment telemetry forwarding
* Strong understanding of security, compliance, and disaster recovery for containerized environments
* Adept at assessing organizational dynamics and managing change
* Works quickly and efficiently. Able to test solutions, learn, and iterate quickly
* Proactive and pragmatic problem solver
* Communicates effectively across multiple mediums
*Licenses & Certifications*
* Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) preferred
* Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) preferred
* HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate preferred
* AWS Certified Solutions Architect preferred
*Supervisory Responsibility*
* N/A
_*Work Environment / Physical Requirements – Normal office settings.*_
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected for this position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities. Employees performing this job may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
U.S. Xpress is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce.
This role will remain open until it has been filled.
#LI-Remote
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
* 401(k)
* 401(k) matching
* Dental insurance
* Employee assistance program
* Employee discount
* Health insurance
* Health savings account
* Life insurance
* Paid time off
* Parental leave
* Vision insurance
Work Location: Remote