Resp & Qualifications

PURPOSE: 
Defines, designs and develops system requirements.  Performs trade-off analysis of performance, life-cycle cost, risk, producibility, and other system or program requirements.  Assesses architecture and current hardware limitations, defines and designs system specifications, and evaluates input/output processes and working parameters for hardware/software compatibility.  Coordinates design of subsystems and integration of total system.  Defines system support requirements to include monitoring, capacity, staffing and patching/updating.  Analyzes and resolves program support deficiencies.  Conducts independent technical investigations in systems design.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Installs, tunes, upgrades, troubleshoots, and maintains all computer systems relevant to the supported applications including all necessary tasks to perform operating system administration, user account management, disaster recovery strategy and networking configuration.
• Develop and implement techniques to prevent system problems, troubleshoots incidents to recover services, and support the root cause analysis.
• Evaluates new systems by performing in-depth tests, including end-user reviews. Researches software and related products to support recommendations and purchasing. Determines systems integration issues by evaluating components; developing and completing performance tests; analyzing test data; studying project requirements; analyzing user and potential user input; evaluating similar and related products and systems. Develop system automation and system integration of business processes.  
• Improves engineering job knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
• Acts as a mentor for junior and senior team members.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Leads a team utilizing a matrix management system.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Level: Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science OR in lieu of a Bachelor's degree, an additional 4 years of relevant work experience is required in addition to the required work experience.

Licenses/Certifications:

• AWS certifications, minimum of One is required.

Experience: 8 years proven success overseeing the design, development, and implementation of software systems and applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of IT experience of which at least 5 years must be in Automation and Administration.
• Previous Linux System administration is required.
• Must be well versed in writing Terraform plans, Ansible playbooks, and Python code. 
• Other experience with different automation tools and languages instead of Python to code infrastructure for automation is acceptable.
• Must be well versed in writing Linux Bash scripts.
• Must Have Hands on current Implementation and Production level experience AWS Cloud.
• Hands on experience with Automation and Infrastructure Provisioning is a must Our goal is to only provision infrastructure with code. 
• Current and actual Production level experience with Terraform and Ansible is Required. 
• Experience with integrating other tools like CyberArk, Datadog, F5, WebSeal, Venafi is desired.
• Must have hands on experience in writing Lambda functions preferably in Python (Boto3). 
• Must have strong hands-on knowledge of AWS platform and services but not limited to VPC, Subnets, NACLs, Security Groups, EC2, S3, IAM, ELBs, Lambdas, Cloud Watch, CloudTrail, EKS etc. 
• Experience with AWS CLI is desired.
• Minimum of One AWS certification is required.
• Hands-on experience with Containers, Amazon EKS is a big plus.
• A great understanding of various DevOps toolchains, including Git/repo, Crucible, Jenkins etc.
• Solid understanding and experience with a CI/CD tool chain.
• 10+ years of overall experience in IT including hands-on Development and Systems engineering background.
• Experience with Datacenter migration and Enterprise Cloud transformation efforts.
• Experience with SRE principles and transformation.
• 3+ years of experience with implementation of Containerization (Kubernetes), Cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, or Google, etc.), DevOps tool chain (Ansible, Jenkins, Artifactory, bitbucket, etc.), and technical patterns (IaC, Automated Provisioning/Release, CI/CD, etc.).
• Solid understanding of Software coding techniques and experience with full spectrum of Software engineering (Build, Integration, Test, Releasing and Deployment) leveraging Python.
• Experience in Developing and/or challenging engineering solutions/practices and collaborating with peers within and outside of immediate team, including customers (Dev, Architects, Engineers).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Communicates Architectural decisions, plans, goals, and strategies, while highlighting short-term trade-offs vs. long-term commitments and costs.
• Engage in and improve the end-to-end Lifecycle of services, starting from Inception & design, deployment, operations, and refinement.
• Support activities, including System design consulting, developing software platforms and frameworks, capacity planning, and launch reviews.
• Willingness to roll up the sleeves to investigate issues and engage Customers is required.
• Willingness and aptitude to learn New AWS services and other technologies as required.
• Systems Scalability and sustainability leveraging automation and strive to improve our systems with changes that improve reliability and velocity.
• Experience with Enterprise Cloud transformation efforts.
• Be part of our Cloud journey and as a member of our team help lead Software automation and reliability of our platforms.
• Actively participate and help guide customers on using Cloud-native design and architecture patterns.
• Provide Consultation on Technology infrastructure planning and engineering for assigned systems; Assesses the implications of technology strategies on infrastructure capabilities.
• Build strategy to migrate Legacy applications by conversion to multiple Microservices and hosting on AWS Cloud platform.
• Leverage Cloud-native architecture components including Containers, immutable infrastructure, Microservices, Service Mesh etc., to build highly available and Fault tolerant applications.
• Research on the global technology trends and their applicability to FEPOC products in support of our internal development teams and business.
• Promotes and ensures Modern application design, applies engineering best practices in the development and operations life cycle and mitigates vulnerabilities.
• Monitors and manages the Stability, Availability, and Performance of enterprise systems and platforms across IT domains.
• Maintain and continually improve (patch and upgrade) our Cloud-based infrastructure.
• Makes data-driven recommendations and decisions and continuously improves the overall efficacy and efficiency of our software delivery capability.
• Mentoring peers as well as engaging with others across teams and socializing solutions.
• Understanding of Cloud Native Architecture.
• Linux, Shell scripting, and general admin skills.
• Network, Security, Plugins, & Storage Skills.
• AWS skills: EC2, S3, EBS, EFS, IAM, VPC, Lambda etc.
• Cloud and DevOps certifications, e.g., AWS or Azure Solutions Architect and CKA.
• Strong skills are desired in each of the following areas.
• Development:  Experience programming with one or more languages: Python, Java, Groovy, Go, etc.
• IAC Tools for Platform Automation:  Strong skills and experience in at least one: Ansible, and Terraform, AWS Cloud formation, CDK.
• Containers: Docker or other OCI-certified containers- is a Plus
• Container Orchestration Platform: Experience with Kubernetes, AWS EKS, AWS ECS is a plus.
• Service Mesh: Istio, AWS App Mesh, OpenShift Service Mesh etc.
• Platform Monitoring, Observability, & Performance Tools:  Data Dog, Cloud Watch etc.
• DevOps Tools: Git/Repo, Crucible, Bitbucket, Jira, Ansible, Puppet, Jenkins, Argo CD, Bamboo, Maven, Artifactory, Nexus etc.
• Other Required Skills:
      Understanding of Cloud Native Architecture  
      Linux, Shell scripting, and general admin skills
      Network, Security, Plugins, & Storage Skills
      AWS skills: EC2, S3, EBS, EFS, IAM, VPC, Lambda etc.
      Cloud and DevOps certifications, e.g., AWS Licenses/Certifications

  Salary Range: $113,256 - $224,939
  

  Salary Range Disclaimer

  The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the work is being performed. This compensation range is specific and considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, internal peer equity, and market and business consideration. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range, as compensation decisions depend on each case's facts and circumstances, including but not limited to experience, internal equity, and location. In addition to your compensation, CareFirst offers a comprehensive benefits package, various incentive programs/plans, and 401k contribution programs/plans (all benefits/incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).

  Department

  Cloud Platform Engineering

  Equal Employment Opportunity

  CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer.  It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

  Where To Apply

  Please visit our website to apply: www.carefirst.com/careers

  Federal Disc/Physical Demand

  Note:  The incumbent is required to immediately disclose any debarment, exclusion, or other event that makes him/her ineligible to perform work directly or indirectly on Federal health care programs.

  PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

  The associate is primarily seated while performing the duties of the position.  Occasional walking or standing is required.  The hands are regularly used to write, type, key and handle or feel small controls and objects.  The associate must frequently talk and hear.  Weights up to 25 pounds are occasionally lifted.

  Sponsorship in US

  Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Sponsorship

  #LI-ZW1 

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