Kubernetes Systems Engineer, EngProd

As a Kubernetes Systems Engineer at Arista Networks, your primary responsibilities will include managing production Kubernetes clusters, monitoring system health, and ensuring optimal developer experience around the Kubernetes platform. You will collaborate with the existing Kubernetes admin team to enhance system capabilities, adopt best practices, and resolve complex issues that impact infrastructure stability.

To qualify for the Kubernetes Systems Engineer role at Arista Networks, you should possess at least a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering with a minimum of three years of experience. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of Linux, Kubernetes, and experience with programming languages such as Go, Python, or Javascript. Additionally, expertise with Ansible, GitOps, and troubleshooting complex software systems is critical.

At Arista Networks, the Engineering Productivity group values collaboration, and as a Kubernetes Systems Engineer, you will work closely with other engineers to solve problems and innovate. The team encourages sharing of knowledge and seeks to improve workflows together, ensuring that everyone contributes to better outcomes and learns from one another.

In the Kubernetes Systems Engineer role at Arista Networks, you will interact with a variety of technologies, including Kubernetes, Ansible, Jenkins, Grafana, and Google Cloud. You will also have the opportunity to engage with internal systems we’ve developed to automate CI/CD, testing, analysis, and visualization, all aimed at creating a more efficient and effective engineering environment.

The work culture at Arista Networks is dynamic and inclusive, where diversity of thought and background is celebrated. As a Kubernetes Systems Engineer, you will be part of an innovative team that encourages creativity and fosters a supportive environment. With a focus on collaboration and professional growth, Arista ensures employees have the tools and flexibility to succeed.

When discussing challenges of managing a Kubernetes production cluster, mention issues such as scaling services, maintaining security, ensuring high availability, and managing deployment strategies. It's important to also convey how proactive monitoring and adopting best practices can mitigate these challenges.

Highlight your familiarity with CI/CD tools like Jenkins or Spinnaker and explain how you have utilized these tools in automating deployment processes. Discuss specific cases where you've improved development workflows or increased deployment speed through efficient CI/CD practices.

Explain your systematic approach to troubleshooting, such as starting with log analysis, monitoring alerts, and progressively isolating the problem until you find the root cause. Share examples where your debugging initiatives have led to significant resolutions.

Discuss your understanding of security principles, including network policies, role-based access control (RBAC), and using secure images. Share instances where a security configuration or audit helped to detect potential vulnerabilities in your Kubernetes environment.

Talk about implementing user-friendly automation tools, creating comprehensive documentation, and gathering feedback from developers. The goal is to illustrate your commitment to streamlining operations that allow developers to focus on writing effective code.

Mention Ansible's simplicity and agentless architecture that allows you to manage configurations efficiently. Discuss your experience automating deployments and updates, which ultimately leads to more consistent environments.

Discuss your method for screening open-source projects by assessing their community support, documentation, and project activity. Highlight how you have successfully integrated an OSS tool into your workflow and the positive impact it made.

Elaborate on the tools you have used for monitoring Kubernetes clusters, such as Prometheus or Grafana, and the strategies employed to implement effective alerts. Stress the importance of establishing baseline metrics for performance monitoring and alert optimization.

Explain your commitment to continuous learning through resources like community forums, blogs, Kubernetes documentation, and attending events. Mention any certifications or ongoing training that assist you in keeping up with Kubernetes advancements.

Illustrate how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify bottlenecks in processes and implemented solutions. Share instances where successful collaboration led to improved systems or a more resilient infrastructure.