Sr. DevOps Engineer – Contract – Richmond, VA – $60.00 - $65.00/hr.

Role Description

The Senior DevOps Engineer is a technical lead in the development of next generation automation, unified configuration management, microservices, and containerization initiatives on the hybrid cloud operating environment. This position handles a variety of responsibilities surrounding application architectural design, development, maintenance, monitoring, continuous integration, continuous delivery, automation scripting, configuration management, solution optimization, release management and application security. They assist in the application of architectural design, provide direct input into the ongoing improvement of standards and processes, and provide support for development, operations, security and infrastructure teams.

The candidate must possess excellent problem solving and communication skills, should be comfortable working autonomously and within a team environment, and be willing to work on-call and after-hours support when necessary.

This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, champions automation and scalability, and mentors others in DevOps best practices. Senior DevOps Engineers play a key role in shaping our cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and operational excellence.

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure solutions in cloud and hybrid environments.
• Architect and manage advanced CI/CD pipelines to support rapid and reliable software delivery.
• Drive automation across infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and deployment processes using Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define DevOps strategies and integrate DevOps practices into the software development lifecycle.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot complex issues, and implement proactive solutions to ensure high availability and reliability.
• Mentor and guide junior DevOps engineers and development teams on DevOps tools, practices, and standards.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to continuously improve system performance, security, and scalability.
• Lead incident response and root cause analysis for critical production issues.
• Ensure compliance with security and operational standards through audits, monitoring, and documentation.
• Provide Tier 3 operational support for mission-critical systems and participate in on-call rotations.
• Conduct performance testing, system hardening, and security audits.

Skills & Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on experience supporting DevOps, infrastructure, or cloud-based environments.
• Deep expertise in cloud platforms (Microsoft Azure preferred; AWS/GCP a plus).
• Advanced proficiency in scripting and programming (PowerShell, Bash, Python, C#, .NET).
• Strong experience with CI/CD tools (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins).
• Mastery of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and configuration management (Terraform, Ansible, Puppet).
• Solid understanding of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Expertise in monitoring, logging, and alerting (Azure Monitor, Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk).
• Strong background in networking, security, and system architecture.
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and mentor team members.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• API management platforms (Azure API Management, Apigee)
• Load balancing and traffic management (Azure Application Gateway, Application Gateway, Kemp)
• Experience with GitOps and policy-as-code frameworks
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Microsoft Azure certifications (e.g., AZ-900, AZ-204, AZ-400) or progress toward certification is preferred
• General office demands
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
• Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
• Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
• Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits/Other Compensation

This position is a contract/temporary role where Hays offers you the opportunity to enroll in full medical benefits, dental benefits, vision benefits, 401K and Life Insurance ($20,000 benefit).