Senior Infrastructure Engineer

As a Senior Infrastructure Engineer at Vast, your responsibilities will include designing, deploying, and managing complex IT infrastructure that supports the development of artificial gravity space stations. You will assess our IT security posture, collaborate with teams to gather requirements, and enhance our infrastructure to improve speed and security across various systems. Daily, you'll assist employees with technical support, document best practices, and provision new hardware and software solutions.

To qualify for the Senior Infrastructure Engineer role at Vast, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in designing, deploying, and managing critical infrastructure, as well as expertise in Infrastructure as Code and cloud deployment. Familiarity with networking protocols, operating systems like Linux and Windows, and public cloud systems such as Microsoft Azure and AWS is essential. Exceptional communication skills and a proactive attitude towards problem-solving are also important.

In the role of Senior Infrastructure Engineer at Vast, you will engage with a range of technologies, including cloud platforms (Microsoft Azure, AWS, GCP), networking protocols (TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS), and automation tools like Terraform and Ansible. Experience in implementing Single Sign-on systems and working with compliance standards such as ITAR and FedRAMP is also valuable for this position.

At Vast, a Senior Infrastructure Engineer can expect a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for both employees and their dependents. You will also enjoy flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Additional perks include fantastic meal options at the workplace, discounts on wellness services, and various professional development opportunities.

The Senior Infrastructure Engineer plays a crucial role in supporting Vast's mission of advancing space exploration. By building and maintaining a reliable and secure IT infrastructure, you enable the team to focus on designing and constructing cutting-edge technology for space habitats. Your contributions directly impact employee productivity and the overall efficiency of operations, taking steps towards the incredible future of humanity living sustainably in space.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you’ve successfully deployed cloud solutions. Mention which platforms you've worked on, such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, and discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Include details on how you utilized Infrastructure as Code tools to automate processes, as this is highly relevant to the Senior Infrastructure Engineer role at Vast.

To effectively answer this question, discuss your comprehensive approach to security, including regular assessments of security posture, the implementation of best practices, and staying updated with compliance requirements like ITAR and FedRAMP. You can mention specific tools you’ve used to monitor and enhance security, as well as examples of how you've successfully mitigated vulnerabilities in past experiences.

In your response, detail your familiarity with tools like Terraform and Ansible. Provide examples of how you’ve used these tools to streamline deployment workflows, automate routine tasks, and reduce manual processes. Highlight the tangible results you've achieved, such as decreased deployment time or reduced errors due to automation.

For this question, share a specific example of a challenging IT problem you resolved. Detail the steps taken to diagnose the issue, the collaborative efforts with different teams, and the strategy you implemented to fix it. Topics like problem-solving methods, communication, and the technologies involved should be addressed to show your expertise.

Discuss your philosophy on teamwork, emphasizing the importance of communication and collaboration. Describe specific situations where you successfully gathered requirements from cross-functional teams and implemented solutions that met their needs. Sharing examples of collaborative projects will demonstrate your ability to work efficiently within diverse teams at Vast.

When addressing this question, enumerate your understanding of key networking protocols like TCP, IP, and others. Provide examples of how you've implemented these protocols in past roles. Mention specifics about troubleshooting network issues and enhancing infrastructure reliability, which is crucial for the Senior Infrastructure Engineer position.

Illustrate your flexibility and adaptability in response to changing project requirements. Share previous experiences where you've successfully adjusted to new information or stakeholder feedback, and how you communicated these changes to your team to keep everyone aligned.

A strong answer would highlight both technical skills and soft skills. Discuss the importance of communication skills in translating complex IT concepts to non-technical stakeholders, while also stressing the need for a proactive and analytical approach to problem-solving in the infrastructure domain.

In your answer, clearly define Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and its benefits, such as version control, reproducibility, and efficiency in managing infrastructure. Provide an example of how you've applied IaC principles in your previous work to automate infrastructure provisioning.

Craft a compelling answer that combines your passion for technology with your interest in space exploration. Speak about your desire to work in a company that aims to revolutionize human living conditions in space, and align your previous experiences and skills with Vast's mission and values.