Junior Developer Operations Engineer Jobs in Ames, IA

PURPOSE

The DevOps Engineer – IT is responsible for supporting and maintaining DevOps infrastructure and backend shared services that enable efficient software development and deployment across Baker Group. This role will contribute to CI/CD pipelines, assist in managing application infrastructure, support the Git environment, and help develop and maintain core backend services. The DevOps Engineer will work closely with the software development team and under the guidance of the DevOps Architect and Team Lead to implement solutions that improve development velocity, system reliability, and deployment automation. This position reports to the DevOps Team Lead.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are typical for this job. These are not to be constructed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Supports the development and maintenance of backend shared services including user services, authentication systems, notification frameworks, and file management services using Java and Spring Boot.
• Contributes to the implementation and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines in GitLab to automate build, test, security scanning, and deployment processes for multiple applications and services.
• Assists in managing container-based application infrastructure on GCP-hosted Kubernetes clusters including deployment execution, monitoring, and basic resource management.
• Supports administration of the self-hosted GitLab server including routine maintenance tasks, repository management, and access control updates.
• Follows and enforces established branching policies, code review processes, and Git workflows to promote code quality and collaboration.
• Maintains CI/CD job components including NPM package management, security vulnerability scanning (Gitleaks, Trivy, Semgrep), code formatting tools, linters, and Gradle build automation.
• Assists in integrating DevSecOps practices into development workflows including automated security testing, vulnerability management, compliance scanning, and threat detection.
• Collaborates with Cybersecurity & IT Operations teams to align with established frameworks, policies & best practices
• Contributes to infrastructure as code (IaC) implementations to support consistent, reproducible, and version-controlled infrastructure deployments.
• Monitors system health and supports logging and alerting solutions to ensure system reliability and enable proactive issue detection.
• Collaborates with software development teams to understand day-to-day needs and implement solutions that improve developer experience and productivity.
• Stays current with DevOps tools, technologies, and best practices and shares relevant learnings with the team.
• Creates and maintains documentation on DevOps processes, deployment procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Assists with pre-deployment validation and supports production deployment jobs to ensure smooth releases with minimal downtime.
• Troubleshoots and resolves issues across the development pipeline including build failures, deployment problems, and infrastructure incidents.
• Supports disaster recovery procedures and backup strategies for critical development infrastructure.
• Assists in optimizing system performance and resource utilization across cloud infrastructure and application deployments.
• Updates core backend systems when changes are necessary to support shared service functionality.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or other relevant field; equivalent work experience will be considered
• 2–4 years of experience in a DevOps, software development, or related role
• Working knowledge of Java and/or Spring Boot, bash & Linux shell scripting and SQL
• Familiarity or exposure to Typescript and C# are a plus
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI/CD or similar platforms
• Prior experience with containerization using Docker and container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes
• Proficiency with Git version control including branching strategies, merge workflows, and repository management
• Exposure to security scanning or vulnerability management tools in CI/CD workflows is a plus
• Ability to work within established architectural patterns and contribute to scalable backend services
• Experience with or interest in monitoring and observability tools for application and infrastructure health

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• No specific requirements: however, relevant certifications in Kubernetes (CKA/CKAD), Google Cloud (Professional Cloud Architect) or similar cloud platforms, GitLab, or DevOps practices are a plus

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL COMPETENCIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Solid troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with a methodical approach to diagnosing technical issues
• Good time management skills with ability to handle multiple tasks and shifting priorities
• Eagerness to learn and grow within the DevOps discipline, staying current with relevant tools and technologies
• Collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively within a team and communicate clearly with developers and stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documentation and day-to-day team interaction
• Self-motivated with ability to take ownership of assigned work and follow through with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities and emerging technologies
• Attention to detail with commitment to producing quality, secure, and maintainable work
• Customer service orientation with focus on supporting developer productivity and improving team workflows

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally
• May have occasional visits to a job site which would require periods of standing, walking and/or climbing stairs

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS

• Laptop Computer

Baker Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Baker Group will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.