Platform Engineer

As a Platform Engineer at Nine, your main responsibilities will include designing, implementing, and maintaining a scalable Kubernetes platform used across various business units. You will collaborate with developers for smooth deployment of containerized applications, build automation solutions using Terraform for Kubernetes resource management, and ensure the platform's security and performance align with best practices. Additionally, you'll support cross-functional teams, monitor workload efficiency, and foster a culture of operational excellence.

The ideal candidate for the Platform Engineer role at Nine should have extensive experience with Kubernetes platforms, preferably in cloud environments such as AWS, GCP, or Azure. Strong expertise in container orchestration, automation tools like Terraform, and CI/CD practices are crucial. Familiarity with observability tools like Grafana and Prometheus, alongside advanced scripting skills in languages like Go or Python, will be highly regarded, as will any relevant cloud certifications.

At Nine, collaboration is at the forefront of our culture. As a Platform Engineer, you will work alongside cross-functional teams embracing modern DevOps practices. You have the opportunity to mentor other teams in adopting Kubernetes and share insights that enhance operational excellence. Nine encourages innovation and continuous improvement initiatives, offering you the resources to develop and support a seamless platform experience.

As a Platform Engineer at Nine, you will be immersed in a multi-cloud and hybrid environment that emphasizes scalability and security. You’ll handle Kubernetes platforms designed to support multiple business units, focusing on optimizing resource allocation and ensuring compliance with industry standards. This environment encourages a hands-on approach to building and managing innovative solutions that meet diverse operational needs.

Nine is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, ensuring all team members feel they belong. From day one, you'll be encouraged to be your authentic self. Nine actively seeks applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities and accommodates any adjustments needed for equitable participation in the recruitment process. Your unique perspective will contribute to the collaborative mindset that empowers our Platform Engineering team.

When answering this question, detail specific projects where you built or managed a Kubernetes platform. Highlight the technologies you used, such as AWS or Terraform, and explain the challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the impact your work had on the overall performance and scalability of the platform.

To respond to this question effectively, discuss your approach to resource allocation and security isolation. Talk about your experience with network policies, resource quotas, and configuring RBAC. Mention any specific tools or frameworks you've used to ensure efficient operations within a multi-tenant environment.

In your response, elaborate on specific CI/CD tools you have used, like Jenkins or GitLab CI, and how you have integrated them with Kubernetes. Discuss the importance of automation in your pipelines and any best practices you follow to ensure seamless deployments.

Highlight your experience with securing Kubernetes by discussing RBAC policies, image scanning tools, and network security practices you've implemented. Emphasize your understanding of regulatory requirements and how you’ve ensured compliance throughout the deployment process.

Be ready to share a detailed incident response story—describe the issue, the steps you took to troubleshoot, and how you communicated with affected teams. Focus on lessons learned and how the incident influenced your approach to operations and reliability.

When answering this, stress the importance of observability for monitoring application performance and resource usage. Discuss the tools you've used, like Grafana or Prometheus, and how observability data informs your operational decisions and response strategies.

Illustrate your collaborative approach by discussing how you involve development teams in planning, onboarding, and feedback cycles. Provide examples of how you have facilitated knowledge transfer and training sessions for best practices in using the platform.

Discuss your proficiency with automation tools such as Terraform, Helm, or scripting languages. Explain how you have utilized these tools to streamline operations, manage resources, or enhance productivity within Kubernetes environments.

Share your methods for keeping current, such as following industry blogs, participating in online forums, or attending conferences. Highlight any courses or certifications you’ve pursued that enhance your skills in platform engineering.

Identify key performance indicators such as CPU and memory usage, pod health, and network traffic. Discuss how monitoring these metrics helps ensure the reliability and efficiency of the Kubernetes platform, and explain how you've used them in previous roles to drive improvements.