Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

As a Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer at SpaceX, your responsibilities will include developing automation for on-premise Kubernetes clusters, managing core infrastructure like databases and distributed storage, and improving service lifecycles from inception to deployment and maintenance. You'll collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to create scalable and maintainable systems while ensuring high availability.

To qualify as a Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer at SpaceX, candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or an engineering discipline, along with at least 5 years of professional experience in Site Reliability Engineering or DevOps. Alternatively, 7 years of experience may substitute for a degree. Proficiency with Linux, Terraform, Ansible, and container technologies like Kubernetes is also essential.

Preferred skills for the Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer at SpaceX include experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks, strong knowledge of Linux systems configuration, and the ability to manage Kubernetes clusters effectively. An understanding of continuous integration, testing practices, and distributed databases is beneficial, along with networking knowledge of TCP/IP.

At SpaceX, the work environment for a Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer is dynamic and collaborative, where you'll engage with talented engineers across various departments. Given the innovative nature of SpaceX's projects, there’s a strong focus on problem-solving and creativity, allowing engineers to thrive and impact the future of connectivity globally.

The salary range for a Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer at SpaceX is between $160,000 and $220,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, education, and experience. Additionally, SpaceX offers a robust total rewards package that includes stock options, bonuses, and extensive benefits.

To design a high-availability system as a Sr. Kubernetes Platform Site Reliability Engineer, start by identifying critical components and potential points of failure. Employ redundancy, load balancing, and failover strategies. Implement monitoring and alerting systems to ensure you can respond quickly to outages and maintain operational excellence.

When discussing Kubernetes management experience, highlight specific scenarios where you've successfully deployed and scaled applications on Kubernetes. Discuss your familiarity with managing clusters, troubleshooting deployments, and using tools like Helm for package management and Terraform for infrastructure as code.

In interviews, explain tools you've used like Terraform and Ansible for infrastructure automation. Provide examples of how these tools helped streamline and enhance deployment processes, reduce manual effort, and improve system reliability and scalability.

Utilize the STAR method to describe a specific situation where you identified a performance bottleneck, the steps taken to analyze and resolve the issue, and the measurable impact it had on system performance thereafter.

Talk about your on-call experiences in a calm and structured manner. Discuss how you prioritize incidents based on severity, how you utilize monitoring tools to quickly assess issues, and the communication strategies you employ to keep stakeholders informed throughout the incident resolution process.

Discuss your strategies for implementing CI/CD pipelines, such as utilizing Jenkins or GitHub Actions to automate testing and deployment processes. Highlight how these practices ensure quality code delivery and reduce time to market for new features.

Explain the security practices you follow, such as using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), network policies, and ensuring that secrets are managed properly. Emphasize the important role of security monitoring and vulnerability scanning in maintaining secure deployments.

Share your knowledge of distributed databases and how you've worked with them in past projects. Discuss specific technologies you've used, such as Cassandra or MongoDB, and how you've managed data replication and consistency.

Mention ways you stay updated with site reliability trends, such as participating in online communities, attending conferences, and following influential blogs or podcasts in the field of DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering.

Explain the most challenging aspects from your perspective, such as managing high-stress incidents or juggling multiple projects. Discuss how you approach these challenges with a systematic problem-solving mindset and a focus on continuous learning.