Kubernetes Platform Operations & Maintenance Expert

Kubernetes Platform Operations & Maintenance Expert Location: Brussels, Belgium Working Arrangement: Full-time, on-site Current NATO Secret Clearance is essential for this role About the Role We are seeking an experienced Kubernetes Platform Operations & Maintenance Expert to join a technical team supporting a critical Kubernetes platform in Brussels. Reporting to the Head of Processing and Storage Section, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation, maintenance, security, performance and continuous improvement of Kubernetes clusters. You will ensure the platform remains healthy, secure, compliant and aligned with defined performance SLAs and operational procedures. This is a hands-on, on-site role requiring strong practical Kubernetes operations experience, ideally within SUSE RKE2 environments. Key Responsibilities Monitor and maintain the health and performance of Kubernetes clusters.Perform Kubernetes upgrades, patching and lifecycle management.Carry out node operations including joining, draining, cordoning and replacement.Manage core Kubernetes components including CNI, CSI, ingress, metrics server and CoreDNS.Administer and audit RBAC, network policies, certificates and secrets.Perform vulnerability scanning and remediation within Kubernetes clusters.Manage backup operations using technologies such as Commvault, Velero or K10.Monitor cluster alerts and investigate operational issues.Support application teams with deployment and Kubernetes platform troubleshooting.Maintain accurate technical documentation, procedures and operational runbooks.Identify configuration drift and ensure clusters remain aligned with approved baselines.Participate in planning meetings, retrospectives, workshops and weekly status meetings.Provide knowledge transfer and contribute to continuous improvement of platform operations.Ensure all activities comply with relevant security, operational and performance requirements. Kubernetes Technology Stack You will operate and maintain a range of Kubernetes-native and supporting technologies, including: Kubernetes / SUSE RKE2Prometheus & GrafanaKubernetes logging stackNGINX / IngressCilium CNIBackup toolingHarbor / SUSE on-premises container registriesArgoCD / GitOpsMetrics Servercert-managerZabbix integration Key Deliverables You will be responsible for producing a range of regular operational and compliance artefacts, including: Cluster Health ReportsSecurity Compliance ReportsCapacity & Performance ReportsPatching & Upgrade ReportsIncident & Root Cause Analysis ReportsConfiguration Drift ReportsMonthly Change LogsMonthly Risk Register UpdatesThese reports will provide visibility of platform health, security, capacity, incidents, changes, risks and remediation activities. Essential Experience & Qualifications Current NATO Secret Clearance is essential3+ years of hands-on Kubernetes operations experience.Strong experience operating and maintaining Kubernetes platforms in production environments.Practical experience with SUSE RKE2 Kubernetes distributions.Experience managing Kubernetes monitoring, logging, repositories, ingress, CNI and backup tooling.Strong understanding of Kubernetes security, RBAC, network policies and vulnerability management.Experience with Kubernetes upgrades, patching and cluster lifecycle operations.Ability to produce clear technical documentation, reports and operational runbooks.Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.Ability to work effectively in a structured, process-driven environment. Desirable Experience Previous experience working in an international environment involving both military and civilian personnel.Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organisational structures, including ACO and ACT.Experience working within environments subject to stringent security and compliance requirements. Security Clearance Due to the nature of the environment, candidates must hold active NATO Secret security clearance.