Application Guide

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

at Element84

🏢 About Element84

Element 84 is a woman-owned small business specializing in cloud-based geospatial data processing, remote sensing, and Earth science systems. They work on meaningful projects that answer big questions about our health, infrastructure, and planet, and they prioritize work-life balance with flexible schedules and parental leave. Their values—investing in each other, being reliable, and benefiting the world—create a collaborative and mission-driven culture.

About This Role

As a Senior DevOps Engineer focused on Kubernetes, you'll design, deploy, and maintain scalable Kubernetes clusters to support geospatial data pipelines and Earth science applications. Your work directly impacts critical projects in public health, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring. This role is fully remote but requires proximity to DC or Philadelphia for occasional on-site collaboration.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start the day with a stand-up meeting to coordinate with the team on pipeline deployments. Spend the morning optimizing Helm charts and monitoring cluster health with Prometheus. After lunch, collaborate with data scientists to troubleshoot a performance issue in a Spark job running on K8s, then contribute to internal documentation or code reviews.

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🎯 Who Element84 Is Looking For

  • Deep expertise in Kubernetes (e.g., cluster administration, Helm, operators, service mesh) with at least 5 years of DevOps experience.
  • Strong background in cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform or Pulumi.
  • Experience with geospatial data processing pipelines (e.g., GDAL, STAC, COGs) or Earth science systems is a huge plus.
  • Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, as you'll work closely with scientists and engineers on complex distributed systems.

📝 Tips for Applying to Element84

1

Tailor your resume to highlight Kubernetes-specific achievements, such as migrating workloads to K8s or optimizing cluster performance.

2

Mention any experience with geospatial tools (e.g., STAC, COGs, or NASA Earthdata) even if it's a side project or open-source contribution.

3

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your values to Element 84's: 'We Invest in Each Other, We are Reliable, Our Work Benefits our World.'

4

If you have a GitHub or portfolio, include links to projects that demonstrate Kubernetes and cloud-native skills.

5

Research Element 84's current projects (e.g., NASA's Earthdata or CIRRUS) and reference them in your application to show genuine interest.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your passion for using technology to solve environmental or societal challenges, aligning with Element 84's mission.", "Highlight specific Kubernetes projects you've led, including challenges overcome and measurable outcomes.", 'Express enthusiasm for working in a small business where you can have a direct impact and collaborate across teams.', 'Mention your flexibility and comfort with remote work, as well as your ability to occasionally travel to DC or Philly.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Element 84's flagship projects, such as the NASA Cumulus framework or the CIRRUS platform for cloud-based geospatial analysis.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the STAC (SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog) specification and how Element 84 contributes to open geospatial standards.
  • → Look into the company's blog or case studies to understand their culture and the types of problems they solve.
  • → Check their LinkedIn or Glassdoor reviews to get a sense of employee experiences and work-life balance.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Design a Kubernetes architecture for a geospatial data pipeline handling large satellite imagery datasets.
2 How would you troubleshoot a failing pod in a production cluster? Walk through your diagnostic steps.
3 Describe a time you automated infrastructure provisioning using Terraform and integrated it with a CI/CD pipeline.
4 How do you ensure security and compliance in a Kubernetes environment (e.g., RBAC, pod security policies)?
5 Explain your experience with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK) in a K8s context.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic DevOps resume without emphasizing Kubernetes and cloud-native skills; this role is K8s-focused.
  • Avoid neglecting the geospatial aspect—even if you lack direct experience, show willingness to learn and transferable skills.
  • Don't overlook the 'hub-remote' requirement; be prepared to explain how you'll manage occasional travel to DC or Philly.

📅 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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