Lead Software Engineer (Kubernetes)

appian

McLean, Virginia · McLean · United States

Posted Jul 17, 2026

Other
Engineering

Job description

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

As a Lead Software Engineer in our Foundational Infrastructure Group, you will be helping re-architect the platform on public clouds to allow for frequent, predictable and high impact changes. You will ensure that our world-class infrastructure is always available, responsive, and capable of meeting the diverse needs of a dynamic and high-powered development team. You will work as part of an agile and global team to transform our architecture to a modern services architecture that makes it easy for feature teams to leverage microservices and containerization technologies.

This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian.

To be successful in this role, you need:

Expertise in working with AWS or other cloud infrastructures like Azure or Google Cloud, and using Infrastructure-as-Code tools
Expertise working in Kubernetes ecosystem (e.g. Cilium, Istio, Knative, Keda)
Experience coaching junior engineers and driving projects to impact
Fluency in reviewing architecture / designs from team members, identify problems, and make suggestions for better practices
Familiarity with conducting code reviews looking out for the elegant approach, performance, maintainability, and security
Familiarity with DevOps, Release Engineering and trends including CI/CD
Familiarity with infrastructure as code (e.g. Terraform)
Familiarity with networking and information security in the cloud (e.g. VPN, compliance, etc.)
Focus on keeping automated infrastructure up-to-date as dependent technologies evolve and scale
Interest in automating every aspect of our development lifecycle and help us in our mission to achieve continuous delivery
Excellent spoken and written communication with both technical and non-technical people
Ability to identify dependencies between multiple teams. Ability to communicate blockers and escalate as needed
Familiarity with leading response for severe issues, minimizing pain for the customer, weighing trade-offs in the moment; communicating clearly and concisely to the customer about the problem and solution

Some of the tools and resources we will equip you with include:

Leveraging cutting edge technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, Gitlab, Prometheus, etc. to design and build new infrastructure features
Valuing innovation and investment in our people by providing opportunities for growth and leadership. Whether it’s through Engineering IndieTime (dedicated time to build whatever you want with whomever you want), or annual hackathons, we value activities that inspire others and get creative juices flowing
A large engineering team where you are made to feel autonomous by our engineering business group model. Working within an agile team allows our engineers and leaders to have a sense of community and accomplishment

Basic Qualifications:

At least 7 years experience designing, building and architecting software in an enterprise software or Saas/Paas environment
Fluency in at least one programming language, such as Python, Golang, or Java
At least 5 years of experience working in Kubernetes ecosystem
Bachelors in Computer Science or Engineering, or equivalent experience

The base salary range represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market and business conditions that exist when extending an offer. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance.

In addition, Appian provides generous benefits offerings that include a 401(k) plan with company match, flexible time off, paid parental leave, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions, an employee referral bonus program, and learning and development resources. Certain positions may be eligible for equity awards.

Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation, commission, bonus, or benefit plans.

Base Salary Range

$150,000—$300,000 USD

Tools and Resources

Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires.
Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.
Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

Benefits

Appian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future. Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family-forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country—please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for mission-critical work. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ReasonableAccommodations@appian.com. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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