Senior Cloud Native Consultant

ControlPlane, a consultancy firm headquartered in London, is currently expanding its remote workforce and is seeking a Senior Cloud Native Consultant to join their specialist team. Known for their focus on cloud-native technologies, Kubernetes, and open-source security, the company distinguishes itself by promoting a “secure-by-design” philosophy. This is an ideal position for a seasoned engineer who is as comfortable working on complex infrastructure as they are interacting with high-level stakeholders.

About the role

This position offers a unique balance between technical engineering and strategic consulting. Unlike standard operational roles, ControlPlane expects their consultants to oscillate between client-facing engagements, internal laboratory experiments, and direct contributions to open-source initiatives. Because the company operates at the intersection of cybersecurity and cloud architecture, you will be expected to advocate for robust threat modeling, zero-trust frameworks, and supply chain security.

Beyond the technical requirements, the firm places significant emphasis on professional growth and corporate culture. As a remote-first organisation, they prioritize employees who are self-driven and capable of contributing to business development and pre-sales conversations. You will be instrumental in guiding organisations through the nuances of building hardened cloud systems that remain resilient in evolving threat landscapes.

The core of the role revolves around high-level problem solving within the cloud-native ecosystem. Your day-to-day activities will include:

• Providing expert consultancy services to clients looking to secure complex, large-scale cloud infrastructures.
• Engaging in internal lab projects to test and refine new security methodologies.
• Collaborating with the broader developer community through contributions to open-source security projects.
• Supporting the firm’s growth by assisting with pre-sales activities and client relationship management.
• Implementing best-in-class security measures for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and containerized environments.

What they're looking for

To be successful in this position, you must possess a sophisticated understanding of Kubernetes environments, specifically GKE, EKS, or OpenShift. The firm is looking for someone with a mature approach to software engineering, balancing technical execution with a consulting mindset.

• **Technical Proficiency:** Deep expertise in Kubernetes and familiarity with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• **Infrastructure & Automation:** Proven experience with IaC tools and GitOps workflows, specifically utilising tools like FluxCD or ArgoCD.
• **Development Skills:** Proficiency in programming languages such as Golang, Python, or Java to build and maintain secure, automated systems.
• **Security Mindset:** A strong foundation in CI/CD pipeline security and a clear focus on building systems that are secure by default.
• **Consultancy Experience:** Prior experience in a client-facing capacity is essential, as is the ability to communicate complex security concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

For a South African candidate, this role represents an opportunity to work at the global forefront of cloud security from a local setting. Cloud-native consulting roles for international firms like ControlPlane typically command competitive, market-leading remuneration in foreign currency, reflecting the niche skill set required. In the South African job market, professionals with deep expertise in Kubernetes security and Golang are highly sought after by local enterprises undergoing digital transformation, as well as by global fintech and remote-first technology firms. This position serves as an excellent career progression step for engineers looking to move away from pure systems administration and toward high-level security architecture and strategic technical consulting.

• Experience and a deep understanding of Kubernetes using GKE, EKS or OpenShift.
• Experience with one or more cloud providers and Infrastructure as Code tools and practices.
• Experience with GitOps tooling such as FluxCD or ArgoCD.
• Development experience with Golang, Python, or Java.
• Understanding of CI/CD best practices and a range of build tools.
• Cloud security awareness and a desire to build hardened systems.
• Customer facing/Consulting experience.