Kubernetes Engineer Jobs in California
Kubernetes Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and fintech across seniority levels from junior engineer through principal and staff roles. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Google, Apple, and Salesforce maintain deep infrastructure engineering teams. Specialties in highest demand include platform engineering, GitOps workflows, and cloud-native security. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Senior Azure Kubernetes Engineer
Location: Remote
Employment Type: Full-Time
Job ID: 70860331
Senior Azure Kubernetes Engineer
About the role
As a Senior Azure Kubernetes Engineer, you will make an impact by designing, operating, and optimizing Azure Kubernetes Service platforms that support TriZetto QNXT workloads in healthcare payer environments. You will be a valued member of the healthcare technology team and work collaboratively with QNXT products, DevOps, Azure infrastructure, environment management, batch, and production support teams.
In this role, you will:
- Design, provision, and operate secure, scalable Azure Kubernetes Service clusters for QNXT workloads across non-production, production, and disaster recovery environments.
- Manage Kubernetes namespaces, node pools, ingress, workload placement, autoscaling, service networking, and platform reliability.
- Implement Infrastructure as Code using Terraform or Bicep to support repeatable Azure environment builds.
- Enforce identity, access, and security controls using Microsoft Entra ID, managed identities, and Kubernetes RBAC.
- Establish monitoring and observability using Azure Monitor, Container Insights, and Kubernetes metrics.
- Support AKS lifecycle management, including upgrades, release readiness, troubleshooting, and production stability.
- Deploy and operate containerized .NET applications and support Microsoft SQL Server connectivity, performance, and availability.
Work model
We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.
What you need to have to be considered
- 5+ years of hands-on experience operating Kubernetes platforms, preferably Azure Kubernetes Service, in production environments.
- Strong knowledge of Kubernetes operations, including cluster builds, node pool management, autoscaling, ingress, upgrades, and troubleshooting.
- Experience with Azure infrastructure services, including virtual networks, subnets, load balancers, identity, monitoring, and secure connectivity.
- Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform and/or Bicep.
- Experience supporting containerized enterprise applications or mission-critical production systems.
- Experience creating and managing Helm charts for Kubernetes deployments.
- Hands-on experience operating .NET / ASP.NET Core applications in containerized environments.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server, including connectivity, performance, and high-availability considerations.
These will help you stand out
- Experience supporting TriZetto QNXT, Facets, or other healthcare payer platforms.
- Experience working in PHI-regulated or security-sensitive environments.
- Familiarity with Azure DevOps or GitOps-based deployment pipelines.
- Experience supporting batch-heavy healthcare workloads on AKS.
- Kubernetes or Azure certifications, such as CKA, CKAD, or Azure Administrator.
- Background in healthcare, insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or Exchange programs.
Salary and Other Compensation:
Applicants will be accepted till 10/4/2026
Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
The annual salary for this position will be in the range of $130,000 - $150,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
- Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
- 401(k) plan and contributions
- Long-term/Short-term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Our strength is built on our ability to work together. Our diverse backgrounds offer different perspectives and new ways of thinking. It encourages lively discussions, creativity, productivity, and helps us build better solutions for our clients. We want someone who thrives in this setting and is inspired to craft meaningful solutions through true collaboration.
If you are content with ambiguity, excited by change, and excel through autonomy, we’d love to hear from you!
Apply Now!
#LI-IK1
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Kubernetes Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Aerospace & Defense
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in kubernetes engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience deploying and managing Kubernetes clusters in production environments
- Proficiency with cloud platforms such as Google Cloud, AWS, or Azure in California-dominant stacks
- Experience with containerization tools including Docker and Helm chart management
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, GitOps practices, and infrastructure-as-code using Terraform
- Strong understanding of networking, security hardening, and observability within Kubernetes environments
Kubernetes Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a kubernetes engineer in California?
Kubernetes engineering in California has no state-issued license or registration requirement, so the path runs through education and demonstrated technical skill. Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, though a strong portfolio and industry certifications such as the Certified Kubernetes Administrator carry real weight. California's large cloud and enterprise software employers also recruit through internship pipelines at UC and CSU campuses, making those programs a practical on-ramp.
How much do kubernetes engineers make in California?
Kubernetes engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire kubernetes engineers in California?
Employers hiring kubernetes engineers in California right now include ServiceNow, Roblox, and SpaceX, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's density of cloud-native companies and enterprise technology headquarters means demand is spread across both established platform teams and growth-stage infrastructure organizations.
Which California cities have the most kubernetes engineer jobs?
San Jose, San Diego, and Redlands have the most kubernetes engineer openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of its concentration of cloud infrastructure companies, hyperscalers, and enterprise SaaS headquarters, while Los Angeles has grown steadily as media, fintech, and defense technology companies build out their own platform engineering teams.
Are there remote kubernetes engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 78% of kubernetes engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting how much of this work involves code, configuration, and cloud consoles rather than physical infrastructure. Platform engineering, cluster operations, and GitOps work are the areas most consistently offered remotely by California employers.
How can I get hired as a kubernetes engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a related infrastructure or DevOps role, such as a systems administrator, site reliability engineer associate, or cloud support engineer, which large California employers like Google, VMware, and Cisco use as feeders into platform engineering teams. Building a portfolio of personal or open-source Kubernetes projects and earning the Certified Kubernetes Administrator credential demonstrates readiness concretely. California community colleges and UC extension programs also offer cloud infrastructure coursework that signals commitment to hiring managers reviewing entry-level applications.
Where can I find and apply to kubernetes engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to kubernetes engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across the state's major metros and remote positions. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly through the listings on this page.
See All 21 Kubernetes Engineer Jobs in California
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