Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior DevOps Engineer - Kubernetes Focused (Hub-Remote: DC or Philly Metro)

at Element84

🏢 About Element84

Element84 is a mission-driven company that specializes in geospatial data and cloud-native solutions, often working with government and non-profit clients. They emphasize a collaborative, remote-friendly culture with a focus on open-source contributions and impactful projects.

About This Role

As a Senior DevOps Engineer focused on Kubernetes, you'll own the deployment and operation of enterprise-scale applications on AWS EKS, ensuring reliability and performance. Your work directly enables data product development lifecycle, from design to operational support, making you a key player in delivering high-impact geospatial solutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start your day with a stand-up to coordinate with the team, then dive into Kubernetes cluster monitoring and troubleshooting. You might spend the afternoon designing Helm chart updates or automating deployments with Terraform, followed by a code review session and collaborative estimation for upcoming features.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Element84 Is Looking For

  • Has 6+ years of DevOps/Software Engineering experience with deep AWS expertise (3+ years) and hands-on EKS management.
  • Proficient in Kubernetes and Helm, with experience debugging production incidents at the node/kernel level on Linux.
  • Strong advocate for GitOps and infrastructure-as-code using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or CDK.
  • Thinks holistically about system maintainability and efficiency, and enjoys collaborating across teams to estimate and prioritize features.

📝 Tips for Applying to Element84

1

Highlight specific projects where you built and operated Kubernetes clusters at scale on AWS, including incident resolution details.

2

Emphasize any experience with geospatial data pipelines or working with government clients (e.g., NASA, USGS) as it aligns with Element84's focus.

3

In your resume, use concrete metrics (e.g., reduced deployment time by 40%, managed 100+ node clusters) to demonstrate impact.

4

Tailor your cover letter to mention your familiarity with open-source tools and collaborative development, as Element84 values community contributions.

5

If you have a GitHub or portfolio, link to it, especially if it includes contributions to Kubernetes or infrastructure projects.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your deep experience with Kubernetes on AWS (EKS) and Linux troubleshooting at the kernel level.', 'Your passion for building maintainable, long-term systems and your collaborative approach to estimating and prioritizing work.', "Alignment with Element84's mission-driven work in geospatial and data-intensive applications.", "Your proficiency with GitOps and IaC tools, and how you've used them to improve deployment reliability."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Element84's open-source projects (e.g., on GitHub) to understand their tech stack and community involvement.
  • → Read about their work with NASA's Earthdata or other geospatial initiatives to grasp the domain context.
  • → Check their blog or engineering culture page to see how they describe their remote collaboration and values.
  • → Look into their client base (e.g., federal agencies) to understand security/compliance requirements you might encounter.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through a time you debugged a production Kubernetes incident at the node/kernel level; what tools did you use?
2 How do you design Helm charts for enterprise-scale applications? Discuss your approach to chart structure and versioning.
3 Explain your experience with GitOps workflows (e.g., ArgoCD, Flux) and how they improve deployment processes.
4 Describe a situation where you had to estimate effort for a complex feature; how did you handle uncertainty?
5 How do you ensure long-term maintainability in infrastructure code? Give an example of a design decision you made.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus solely on Kubernetes without demonstrating deep AWS knowledge; they require both.
  • Avoid vague claims like 'I know Kubernetes' without specifics on cluster management, Helm, and incident response.
  • Don't overlook the 'holistic thinking' requirement; failing to discuss system-level design and trade-offs can hurt your candidacy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Element84!

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