Senior Customer Engineer, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, Database Focus at Harness

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Customer Engineer, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, Database Focus
Company: Harness
Location: U.S. (Remote)
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps, Technical Support
Date Posted: 2025-07-22
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Remote (U.S. or Canada, must be located in the Pacific time zone*)

🚀 Role Summary

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a unique blend of customer-facing technical support and software engineering, focusing on complex CI/CD issues, infrastructure automation, and database integrations. It requires a deep understanding of various technologies and the ability to empathize with customers while solving intricate problems.
Harness is seeking a Senior Customer Engineer with extensive experience in CI/CD systems, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and modern database architectures. This role is not traditional support; it involves solving highly technical issues, guiding implementation, and representing customer feedback to Product and Engineering.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities of this role revolve around troubleshooting complex customer issues, serving as a CI/CD subject matter expert, and providing advanced technical guidance on database integrations and service-to-service communication.
🔑 Own end-to-end resolution of complex customer issues across the CI/CD stack, including pipelines, deployments, runners, artifacts, integrations, and more.
🛠 Troubleshoot and debug infrastructure automation (Terraform, CloudFormation, Pulumi, etc.), pipeline misconfigurations, and environment-specific CI/CD behaviors.
🎓 Serve as a CI/CD subject matter expert to enterprise customers during onboarding, implementation, and expansion across Harness modules.
🔎 Lead incident triage and root cause analysis during escalations, coordinating cross-functionally and providing detailed feedback to engineering.
🔒 Provide advanced technical guidance on database integrations (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, etc.), secrets management, and service-to-service communication.
🛠 Create and improve tooling to automate common tasks, diagnostics, and troubleshooting steps.
👩‍🏫 Act as a senior escalation point for the Customer Engineering team and mentor junior engineers in best practices and tooling.
📚 Maintain detailed internal and external documentation, including implementation runbooks, troubleshooting guides, and customer playbooks.
📈 Surface patterns in customer issues to influence product roadmap, prioritize fixes, and advocate for usability improvements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience: 5-7 years of experience in a customer-facing engineering role, DevOps, or SRE with increasing scope and complexity.

Required Skills:

🛠 Deep experience supporting FinOps products and data-centric tools — such as LookerML or similar semantic modeling layers.
💻 Proficient in Linux systems, networking, and distributed architectures with strong debugging instincts and curiosity.
💡 Ability to dive deep into source code to understand how products work and where they may have defects.
🛸 Hands-on experience with Kubernetes (including Helm, CRDs) and cloud-native ecosystems.
📝 Strong scripting ability (Shell, Bash, JSON, YAML) and exposure to CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps tooling.
🌐 Familiar with major cloud platforms — AWS, GCP, Azure — and how enterprise customers utilize them at scale.
📈 Skilled in observability tools such as Datadog, Splunk, or Prometheus for diagnosing performance issues.
👨‍🏫 Excellent communicator with the ability to empathize with customer pain while diving deep into technical details.
📞 Experience working with CRM/support tooling like Zendesk, Jira, and Confluence.

Preferred Skills:

📝 Experience with Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi for infrastructure automation.
📚 Familiarity with CI/CD best practices and DevOps methodologies.
📊 Knowledge of database performance tuning and optimization techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly listed, having experience with customer-facing roles, problem-solving, and technical writing would be beneficial for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

🔑 A portfolio demonstrating your ability to troubleshoot complex CI/CD issues and provide technical guidance on database integrations.
🛠 Examples of infrastructure automation scripts and tools you've created to automate common tasks.
📚 Case studies showcasing your problem-solving skills and the ability to surface patterns in customer issues.
📝 Documentation samples highlighting your ability to create and maintain detailed technical documentation.

Technical Documentation:

📝 Code quality and commenting demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to best practices.
🛠 Version control, deployment processes, and server configuration examples showcasing your understanding of CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps tooling.
📈 Testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques that you've employed in previous projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a customer-facing role, your portfolio should emphasize your ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The expected base salary range for this role is $125,000 - $165,000 USD per year, depending on factors such as location, experience, and skill level. In addition to base salary, total compensation includes equity in the company and may also include performance-based incentives.

Benefits:

🩺 Comprehensive healthcare benefits
💰 Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
🕒 Flexible work schedule
🧑‍⚕️ Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
📅 Flexible Time Off and Parental Leave
🎉 Monthly, quarterly, and annual social and team building events
💻 Monthly internet reimbursement

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness offers a competitive benefits package and is committed to providing equitable pay across all locations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

🌐 Industry: Harness operates in the software delivery market, focusing on enabling software developers to deliver code to their users reliably, efficiently, securely, and quickly.
🏢 Company Size: Harness is a high-growth company with a mission to empower the 30 million software developers in the world to deliver code to their users more efficiently.
📅 Founded: Harness was founded in 2016 by technologist and entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal, who previously founded AppDynamics and sold it to Cisco for $3.7B.

🌐 Team Structure:

👥 The Customer Engineering team works closely with customers to ensure they get the most out of the Harness Software Delivery Platform.
🔗 Cross-functional collaboration occurs with various teams, including Product, Engineering, Sales, and Marketing, to ensure customer feedback is integrated into the product roadmap.
🛠 The team uses Agile methodologies for sprint planning, code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
📈 Deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management are integral to the team's daily operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness' team structure and development methodologies are designed to foster a collaborative and customer-centric environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

🌟 Web Technology Career Level: This role is a senior-level position within the Customer Engineering team, focusing on complex technical issues and customer interactions.
🔗 Reporting Structure: The Senior Customer Engineer reports directly to the Director of Customer Engineering and works closely with various teams, including Product, Engineering, and Sales.
📈 Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on customer satisfaction, product improvement, and the overall success of the Harness Software Delivery Platform.

💡 Growth Opportunities:

🌱 Technical growth through working with cutting-edge technologies, solving complex problems, and learning from experienced team members.
🌟 Leadership opportunities may arise as the team grows and expands its offerings.
📚 Mentorship and knowledge-sharing opportunities within the Customer Engineering team and across Harness.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness offers numerous growth opportunities for individuals looking to advance their careers in a dynamic and innovative environment.

🌐 Work Environment

🏢 Office Type: Harness operates in a remote-first work environment, with employees located across the U.S. and Canada.

📍 Office Location(s): The company does not have a physical office, and employees work remotely from various locations across the U.S. and Canada.

📝 Workspace Context:

💻 Home office setup with appropriate equipment and tools to ensure a comfortable and productive work environment.
📞 Regular team meetings and one-on-ones to maintain open communication and collaboration among team members.
🌐 Virtual team-building activities and social events to foster a strong company culture and sense of community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness' remote work environment is designed to provide employees with the flexibility and resources they need to succeed in their roles.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

📝 Interview Process:

🔍 Phone or video screen to assess communication skills and cultural fit.
🛠 Technical deep-dive to evaluate your understanding of CI/CD systems, Infrastructure as Code, and database integrations.
📝 Customer scenario-based discussion to assess your ability to solve complex customer issues and provide technical guidance.
💼 Final interview with the Director of Customer Engineering to discuss your career goals, expectations, and fit within the team.

📝 Portfolio Review Tips:

🔑 Focus on your problem-solving skills and the ability to surface patterns in customer issues.
🛠 Highlight your experience with CI/CD systems, Infrastructure as Code, and database integrations.
📝 Prepare a concise and well-structured portfolio that showcases your technical expertise and customer-centric approach.

📝 Technical Challenge Preparation:

🔍 Familiarize yourself with the Harness Software Delivery Platform and its various modules.
🛠 Brush up on your CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and database integration knowledge.
📝 Practice common customer scenarios and think about how you would approach solving them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the Harness team.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

🛠 CI/CD Technologies:

🛠 Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, or other CI/CD tools
🛠 Git, GitHub, or other version control systems
🛠 Artifactory, Nexus, or other artifact repositories

🛠 Infrastructure Automation Tools:

🛠 Terraform, CloudFormation, Pulumi, or other IaC tools
🛠 Ansible, Puppet, or other configuration management tools
🛠 Docker, Kubernetes, or other containerization platforms

🛠 Database Technologies:

🛠 PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or other database management systems
🛠 Redis, Elasticsearch, or other caching and search technologies

🛠 Other Technologies:

🛠 Linux, macOS, or other operating systems
🛠 AWS, GCP, Azure, or other cloud platforms
🛠 Datadog, Splunk, Prometheus, or other observability tools

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role is extensive and includes various CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and database technologies. Familiarity with these tools is essential for success in the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

💡 Web Development Values:

💡 Customer-centric: Put customers first in all decisions and strive to understand their needs and pain points.
💡 Collaborative: Work closely with team members, share knowledge, and support each other's growth.
💡 Innovative: Continuously learn, adapt, and drive change to improve our products and processes.
💡 Transparent: Communicate openly and honestly, fostering a culture of trust and accountability.
💡 Empowering: Empower team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions that drive results.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness' web development values are designed to foster a collaborative, innovative, and customer-centric work environment.

🤝 Collaboration Style:

🤝 Cross-functional integration between developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure products meet user needs and business objectives.
🤝 Code review culture to maintain high-quality code and share knowledge among team members.
🤝 Knowledge-sharing and mentoring opportunities to support the professional growth of team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness' collaboration style is designed to encourage open communication, knowledge-sharing, and continuous learning among team members.

🌱 Challenges & Growth Opportunities

💡 Technical Challenges:

💡 Complex customer issues that require deep technical expertise and problem-solving skills.
💡 Infrastructure automation challenges that demand a strong understanding of IaC tools and cloud-native ecosystems.
💡 Database integration challenges that require expertise in modern database architectures and performance optimization techniques.
💡 Emerging technologies that necessitate continuous learning and adaptation to remain at the forefront of the industry.

🌱 Learning & Development Opportunities:

🌱 Technical skill development through working on cutting-edge projects, attending industry conferences, and obtaining relevant certifications.
🌱 Conference attendance, certification, and community involvement to expand your network and stay current with industry trends.
🌱 Technical mentorship, leadership development, and architecture decision-making opportunities to grow your career and make a significant impact on the team and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Harness offers numerous challenges and growth opportunities for individuals looking to advance their careers in a dynamic and innovative environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

💡 Technical Questions:

💡 CI/CD fundamentals - Be prepared to discuss CI/CD pipelines, deployment strategies, and artifact management.
💡 Infrastructure as Code - Demonstrate your understanding of IaC tools, cloud-native ecosystems, and infrastructure automation best practices.
💡 Database integrations - Showcase your expertise in modern database architectures, performance optimization, and data management.
💡 Problem-solving - Prepare for scenario-based questions that assess your ability to solve complex customer issues and provide technical guidance.

💡 Company & Culture Questions:

💡 Company culture - Research Harness' company culture, values, and mission to demonstrate your fit within the team.
💡 Web development methodology - Be prepared to discuss Agile practices, code review processes, and quality assurance techniques.
💡 User experience impact - Think about how your work will contribute to improving the user experience and customer satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the Harness team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Customer Engineer, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, Database Focus position:

🔍 Prepare your resume highlighting your relevant experience, skills, and portfolio projects that demonstrate your technical expertise and problem-solving skills.
📝 Tailor your application to emphasize your fit with Harness' company culture, values, and mission.
📝 Research common customer scenarios and think about how you would approach solving them.
📝 Prepare a concise and well-structured portfolio that showcases your technical expertise and customer-centric approach.
🔍 Submit your application through the application link provided.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the Harness team.

Senior Customer Engineer, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, Database Focus