We are seeking a highly skilled Operational/System Engineer with expertise in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Istio Service Mesh to join our team for a one-year mission. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in managing and optimizing Kubernetes environments, with a specific focus on implementing and maintaining Istio-based service meshes. ResponsibilitiesIntegrate into a team of technical architects and operational engineers to assist in the setup of the platformAutomate deployment processes and integrate with a shared AKS environmentRoll out multiple applications using Istio to interconnect hundreds of MicroServices and connect to other Azure resources, as well as on-premises and internet applicationsCollaborate with an external contractor who is implementing the solution, driving the architecture, making decisions, defining solutions and standards, and validating the contractor's proposals and solutionsEnsure the solution is manageable, monitored, robust, and well-documentedSupport different development teams in their migration to Azure Cloud, assisting with their integration into the service meshWork with the operational team to train them, explain the platform, install the platform on higher environments, and assist with debugging and troubleshooting Skills and experienceMinimum 5 years of experience as system or operational engineeringGood background on operational and support tasksProven experience in managing and optimizing AKS clustersIn-depth knowledge of Istio service mesh, including its deployment, configuration, and managementMultiple experience of Istio setup in large companies IT departmentStrong understanding of Kubernetes architecture and componentsExperience with containerization technologies such as DockerStrong understanding of Azure Identity management and access controlProficiency in scripting languages such as Bash, Python, PowerShell, BicepFamiliar with Azure CLI and other automation tools on Asure environmentFamiliarity with CI/CD pipelines and tools such as GitHub, GitLab, or Azure DevOpsStrong experience with ArgoCD and HelmExcellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skillsStrong communication and collaboration skills Preferred qualificationsCertification in Kubernetes (Cka, Ckad) or Azure (AZ-104, AZ-303)Certification on Azure Security (AZ-1002, AZ-1003)Experience with other service mesh technologies such as Linkerd or Consul (optional)Knowledge of monitoring and logging tools such as Dynatrace and SplunkExperience with cloud-native security practices and tools