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Raft Guide Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Engineer

El Segundo, CA ยท On-site

$56.25 - $77/hr

Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S ... Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational ...

Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$56.75 - $77.75/hr

Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S ... Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational ...

Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$56 - $76.75/hr

Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S ... Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational ...

Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$56 - $76.75/hr

Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S ... Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational ...

Engineer

San Diego, CA

$56 - $76.75/hr

Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S ... Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational ...

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA ยท On-site

$147K - $203K/yr

... sharding, Raft, Paxos, or Multi-Paxos for distributed consistency,Transaction Management (MVCC ... Demonstrates strong mentorship abilities, effectively guiding and developing teams while aligning ...

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA ยท On-site

$147K - $203K/yr

... sharding, Raft, Paxos, or Multi-Paxos for distributed consistency,Transaction Management (MVCC ... Demonstrates strong mentorship abilities, effectively guiding and developing teams while aligning ...

Raft Guide information

See California salary details

$7

$17

$28

How much do raft guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for raft guide in California is $17.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.79 and $20.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a raft guide?

Raft guides are trained professionals who lead and navigate groups of people on river rafting trips. They are responsible for the safety of their passengers, steering the raft, giving instructions, and ensuring everyone has an enjoyable experience. Raft guides are knowledgeable about river conditions, first aid, and rescue techniques. They often work for outdoor adventure companies and must have strong communication and leadership skills.

What is the difference between Raft Guide vs Kayak Instructor?

AspectRaft GuideKayak Instructor
CertificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, rafting guides licenseWilderness First Aid, CPR, kayaking instructor certification
Work EnvironmentRivers, outdoor water bodies, group settingsRivers, lakes, indoor/outdoor training facilities
Industry UsageTourism, adventure sports, outdoor recreationOutdoor sports education, adventure tourism
Common Search/ComparisonRaft Guide vs Kayak Instructor

Both roles involve water-based outdoor activities and require certifications like First Aid and CPR. Raft Guides typically work on larger group trips on rivers, focusing on safety and navigation, while Kayak Instructors often teach individuals or small groups, emphasizing technique and skills. The work environments overlap but differ in equipment and focus, making them related but distinct roles within outdoor water sports.

How much do raft guides make?

Raft guides typically earn between $200 and $400 per day during the peak season, with annual salaries ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 depending on experience, location, and the number of trips guided. Many guides also receive tips from clients, which can significantly increase overall earnings. Certifications in water safety and guiding skills can improve earning potential.

How do you become a raft guide?

To become a raft guide, individuals typically need to complete safety training, learn river navigation skills, and obtain certifications such as First Aid and CPR. Gaining experience on the water and demonstrating strong communication and leadership skills are also important for securing a guiding position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a raft guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Raft Guide, you need strong paddling skills, river navigation knowledge, and first aid/CPR certification, often supported by completion of professional guide training. Familiarity with safety equipment, rescue techniques, and communication radios is essential. Leadership, situational awareness, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are critical soft skills for guiding diverse groups safely. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring client safety, managing emergencies, and providing enjoyable outdoor experiences.

What are some common challenges faced by raft guides during a typical season?

Raft Guides often encounter rapidly changing river conditions, unpredictable weather, and the varying skill levels of guests. Managing safety while ensuring everyone has an enjoyable experience requires strong communication and quick decision-making. Additionally, guides need to maintain physical stamina for long days on the water and may be expected to assist with equipment maintenance or camp setup, depending on the outfitter. Teamwork and adaptability are essential to handle the dynamic nature of the job and to support both guests and fellow guides.
What are popular job titles related to Raft Guide jobs in California? For Raft Guide jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Raft Guide job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,448 per year, or $17 per hour.

DevSecOps Engineer with Security Clearance

Raft

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Engineer San Diego, Ca Apply This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S. Who we are: Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans. About the Role: We are seeking an DevSecOps Engineer with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance to play a pivotal role in automating and orchestrating our critical infrastructure. This position is ideal for a technical expert passionate about deploying, managing, and optimizing system infrastructures using the latest technologies in system automation, container orchestration, and open-source applications. You'll be based in San Diego, CA and work on projects vital to national security and technological advancement. Key Responsibilities: * Develop and maintain Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and automation solutions utilizing Ansible, GitOps principles, and declarative configuration management. * Design, implement, and maintain automated Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines supporting enterprise platform deployments. * Develop automation to deploy, configure, validate, and maintain Kubernetes-based applications and supporting platform services. * Support application onboarding through development, integration, testing, staging, and production environments utilizing automated deployment pipelines. * Develop and maintain GitOps workflows supporting application lifecycle management and platform deployments. * Establish and improve governance processes supporting application promotion across engineering environments. * Identify inefficiencies within existing DevSecOps workflows and develop automation to improve deployment reliability, consistency, and operational efficiency. * Collaborate with application vendors and software development teams to integrate new applications into the enterprise platform. * Develop automation supporting Configuration Management activities and improve visibility into configuration compliance across multiple environments. * Develop and maintain automation supporting operating system configuration, platform provisioning, application deployment, and infrastructure validation. * Implement systems engineering principles throughout the software development lifecycle to improve platform quality and reliability. * Collaborate with Platform Engineering, Cybersecurity, Software Development, and Operations teams to ensure secure, repeatable, and automated platform deployments. * Troubleshoot deployment failures and develop automated solutions to improve platform resiliency. * Prepare technical documentation, implementation guides, architecture documentation, and operational procedures supporting developed automation. Required Qualifications: * Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance. * Must be eligible to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. * Bachelorโ€™s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline and ten (10) years of relevant professional experience; or Masterโ€™s degree in a related technical discipline and five (5) years of relevant professional experience; or fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience in lieu of a degree. * Minimum five (5) years of experience developing automation utilizing Ansible. * Experience developing Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and configuration management solutions. * Experience supporting Kubernetes-based environments and containerized applications. * Experience with GitOps methodologies and Git-based development workflows. * Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines utilizing GitLab CI/CD or similar technologies. * Experience with Helm, Kubernetes, and container orchestration technologies. * Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and software development lifecycle methodologies. * Experience supporting Linux enterprise environments. * Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills. *   Preferred Skills: * Experience supporting classified or disconnected environments. * Experience with GitLab CI/CD. * Experience with ArgoCD or similar GitOps platforms. * Experience with Harbor or other OCI container registries. * Experience developing automation utilizing Puppet and Terraform. * Experience supporting enterprise Platform Engineering teams. * Experience with RKE2 or other enterprise Kubernetes distributions. * Familiarity with RMF, DISA STIGs, JSIG, DevSecOps Reference Design, and secure software supply chain practices. * Experience implementing Agile software development methodologies. * DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification (or ability to obtain within required timeframe if permitted by contract). Clearance Requirements: * Active Top Secret with ability to obtain and maintain SCI Work Type: * Onsite in San Diego, Ca * Relocation provided  * May require up to 10% travel Salary Range: $100,000 - $185000 * The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities What we will offer you:  * Highly competitive salary * Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage * 401(k) with company match * Take as you need PTO + 14 paid holidays * Generous Referral Bonuses * And More! Our Vision Statement:  We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.  Our Customer Obsession:  We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies. How do we get there?  Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.  Raftโ€™s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our โ€œnadiโ€ by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.  Your Rights: California residents have the right to request information about personal data collected and to request deletion, subject to certain exceptions. Note that employment-related information is subject to specific exemptions under CCPA. Contact Us: For questions about this notice or to exercise your privacy rights, contact: or (703)570-4820. Weโ€™re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.